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
Endell Street Military Hospital
Established in the disused St Giles workhouse buildings during WW1 under the command of Dr Flora Murray & Dr Louisa Garrett Anderson (both suffragettes), this 573-bed hospital is the only Briti...
W. J. Church Brasier
Brigade Chief Superintendent in the St John Ambulance Brigade, Metropolitan Corps, 1887-1905. Honorary Serving Brother in the Order of St John. The Museum of the Order of St John have an full desc...
Person, Armed Forces, Emergency Services, Medicine, Politics & Administration
Finsen light cure
The Faroese/Icelandic physician, Niels Ryberg Finsen, (1860 - 1904) won a Nobel Prize for inventing this while working in Denmark. After a time it was found to be dangerous rather than healing.
Receiving House
In 1774 a group of London doctors, concerned at the number of people who were mistakenly being given up for dead, wanted to promote new techniques of resuscitation. They decided to concentrate on d...
Miss F. E. Cherry
Lady District Officer in the St John Ambulance Brigade, No. 1 District, 1915-1942. Serving Sister in the Order of St John.
Person, Emergency Services, Medicine, Politics & Administration
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