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
1 memorial
Dame Sheila Sherlock
Born Dublin shortly before her parents moved to London. 1929 the family moved to Kent. With difficulty (due to her gender) she managed to gain a place to study medicine at the University of Edinbur...
1 memorial
1 memorial
S. H. Vilven
Assistant Commissioner in the St John Ambulance Brigade, Metropolitan Corps, 1893-1925. Officer in the Order of St John.
Person, Emergency Services, Medicine, Politics & Administration
1 memorial
L. C. Parkes
Louis Coltman Parkes. A medical doctor. Medical Officer of Health for Chelsea in 1909. Authored a good number of medical books - held by the Wellcome Collection. Obituary in the BMJ 31 October 19...
1 memorial
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