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:
Bethleham 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
Francis T. Gregg
M.A. Secretary of Institute of The Ophthalmic Opticians, Refraction Hospital in 1929.
1 memorial
James Parkinson
Physician, geologist, political activist. Parkinson's disease is his. Born 1 Hoxton Square. Died at home, 3 Pleasant Row, Kingsland Road.
1 memorial
Josef Dallos
Hungarian-born British ophthalmologist, invented living eye impression technique, 1930. Moved to London with George Nissel in May 1937 and, in Cavendish Square, set up the first contact lens only p...
1 memorial
Great Plague
Europe suffered a number of bubonic plaque epidemics from 1347 – 1750. The last major outbreak in England was in 1665-6 and killed about 100,000 people, 20% of London’s population at the time. It...
1 memorial
1 memorial