{"id":6173,"date":"2014-01-15T21:10:44","date_gmt":"2014-01-15T21:10:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thetimechamber.co.uk\/beta\/?page_id=6173"},"modified":"2022-06-01T20:44:58","modified_gmt":"2022-06-01T20:44:58","slug":"somerset-and-bath-asylum-wells-somerset","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.thetimechamber.co.uk\/beta\/sites\/asylums\/somerset-and-bath-asylum-wells-somerset","title":{"rendered":"Somerset and Bath Asylum, Wells"},"content":{"rendered":"

History<\/h2>\n
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During the 1840s the Somerset Justices, along with many other counties, decide to enact the 1808 County Asylums Act and levy a rate to build an Asylum. \u00a0This was also in response to the incoming 1845 Act that required every County to provide an Asylum. \u00a0In 1844 the County made the decision to buy a plot of land on the outskirts of the City of Wells, over \u00a36,000 was paid for the land of Mr Perkins that was\u00a0abundant\u00a0in construction materials. \u00a0Apparently building stone and lime scattered the plot. \u00a0An Architects competition was held in 1844, and\u00a0George Gilbert Scott and William Moffat were the winners. \u00a0The design represented the common Corridor Layout<\/a> of the time and was very similar to the Shropshire and Montgomery Asylum<\/a> in Shelton, the\u00a0building\u00a0was designed to\u00a0accommodate\u00a0350 patients. \u00a0Interestingly, a few years before the hospital was to close, one of the other competition design was found and it represented a\u00a0wildly\u00a0different design common to the times; there were two\u00a0administrative\u00a0cores and the wards radiated outwards. \u00a0Construction was completed in 1848 by\u00a0Mr. Kirk of Lincoln\u00a0and cost a total of \u00a341,000, including land costs.<\/p>\n

The hospital accepted its first patient on the 1st of March, 1848 and the\u00a0first Resident Physician and Superintendent was Dr. Boyd, who served the hospital until 1867. \u00a0The first patients were drawn from local Workhouses, Licensed homes and private homes. \u00a0In 1852, there were only two padded cells within the hospital, but through caring management they were rarely used. \u00a0Less than five years after opening, the hospital was already becoming crowded and future extension was foreseen. \u00a0In 1850, a new cottage ward was constructed adjacent to the farm and was used by\u00a0convalescent males to tend to the Farm. \u00a0In 1860, after an experiment with Male and Female mixed dining – in those days, the sexes were separated – a new dining and recreation Hall was constructed. \u00a0In 1867, a 30 Bed Villa was constructed to the North of the Hospital to accommodate Female Patients. \u00a0At the same time, 20 patients started quarrying stone in the Asylum Quarry for a new chapel.<\/p>\n

In 1867 Dr Boyd retired and was succeeded by Dr Medlicott, who served the hospital for 14 years before being dismissed for unknown reasons. \u00a0During his Tenure, he set about closing the onsite brewhouse and changing the daily ration of Beer\/Cider to Tea\/Coffee. \u00a0He opened the new chapel and burial ground and also set about claiming more space for the Asylum by converting the loft spaces into dormitories. \u00a0Dr Wade took up the post of Superintendent in 1881 and set about rapidly improving the buildings. \u00a0In 1882 he commissioned and new 100 bed villa to the north of the Hospital to alleviate the overcrowding, costing \u00a38,000. \u00a0In 1901, Dr Laing took the helm and but a much needed isolation hospital to the North of the main buildings, and opened a Private Asylum, which was later moved to the Hillside Villa. \u00a0No further significant buildings were constructed at the Wells Asylum, but continual improvements to the building fabric were made. \u00a0Electricity was introduced in the 1920’s, a cinema in the 1930’s and various health facilities were installed throughout the buildings.<\/p>\n

The hospital eventually closed its doors in 1991 and has since been converted into 300 luxury homes and apartments.<\/p>\n

Further Information<\/h2>\n
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Wells Asylum Archive Photographs<\/a><\/h3>\"Wells<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n

Gallery<\/h2>\n
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