A priory for the Order of the Star of Bethlehem, built in 1247 on Bishopsgate at Liverpool Street, started admitting mental patients in 1357. This was probably the world's first institution to specialise in mental illness. It developed into a horrible place, known as Bedlam, dedicated to the commitment of the insane. In 1676 it moved to the London Wall site and it was this building that was adorned with the Cibber statues of Raving and Melancholy Madness. In 1815 Bedlam moved to the St George's Fields site (at that time owned by the City of London) in Southwark and, when in 1930 it moved out to a site near Beckenham, the Southwark buildings became the Imperial War Museum.
This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Bethlehem Hospital 1&2
Commemorated ati
Bethlehem Hospital - first
Site of the first Bethlehem Hospital 1247 - 1676. The Corporation of the City...
Bethlehem Hospital - second
Site of the second Bethlehem Hospital, 1676 -1815. The Corporation of the Cit...
Gift from Lord Rothermere
This plaque was unveiled a second time, during the 75th anniversary celebrati...
Harmsworth - IWM
In 1926 Harold Harmsworth, the first Viscount Rothermere, bought the grounds ...
Other Subjects
Kensington Wells
In 1696 a mineral spring was discovered on the site, and the Kensington Wells developed from it. The first building to be erected at the spring was the Wells spa, which operated until the mid 18th...
1 memorial
Lady Jean Medawar
Wife of Sir Peter Medawar, the man in our picture, and thus known as Lady Medawar. Worked passionately in the promotion of family planning, especially for young girls. Chair of the Family Plannin...
1 memorial
Hannah Billig
Doctor. Born at 41 Hanbury Street, Spitalfields. Qualified as a doctor in 1925, she set up her first clinic in the east end of London in 1935. During WW2 she was the doctor in charge of air raid sh...
Person, Community / Clubs, Medicine, India, Israel/Palestine
1 memorial
1 memorial
Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson
Scholar and Humanist. Born at Langham Chambers, near Oxford Circus. Although qualified as a doctor, he decided to follow an academic career. He lectured at Cambridge and in 1896 published 'The Gree...
1 memorial
Previously viewed
Mrs J. Lynn
President of the British Women's Temperance Association, Holloway Branch.
1 memorial
Shandy Park / East London Cemetery
Shandy Park is a green space a few blocks due south of this site. It was opened in 1837 as the East London Cemetery with its own chapel, by local landowner, John Thomas Barber Beaumont. Beaumont ar...
1 memorial
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