Monument record 1796/1 - Berrywood Asylum/St Crispin's Hospital (Formerly the Northampton County Asylum)
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Summary
Berry Wood Asylum was constructed in 1876 to designs by Robert Griffiths (the architect of a number of other mental hospitals generally regarded as in advance of the time). Major additions and alterations were made within the first 20 years of its life as patient numbers rapidly increased. By the end of the First World War Northampton had cared for 22,558 casualties, mostly at the War Hospital in Berrywood Road, Duston.
Map
Type and Period (2)
Full Description
{1} Architect R.Griffiths was the county surveyor of Staffordshire and won a competition to design the hospital. He was also the architect of a number of other mental hospitals and in that field was "….generally in advance of the time".
{5} The original design and subsequent alterations to the Berry Wood Asylum main block are well documented. It was constructed in 1876 to designs by Robert Griffiths; major additions and alterations were made to the structure, particularly within the first 20 years of its life, to cope with the rapid increases in patient numbers. The basic layout of the asylum throughout this early period was as originally designed.
{8} Desk-based survey on the former Berry Wood County Lunatic Asylum, Northampton has charted its development and tried to recreate the original use of the building, from its foundation in 1876 through until its closure in 1996, largely using primary hospital records now held in the Northamptonshire Record Office. The Hospital was designed for a total of 540 'inmates' though it rapidly became overcrowded with over 1000 patients from 1913, despite many extensions added to the modular building plan. During the First World War the building was converted for use as a war hospital, with c 25,000 casualties treated during 1916-19. After the War, the Asylum became a centre for pioneering treatment of mental conditions which is reflected in the range of new buildings added within the grounds, with a shift away from the institutional nature of patient care. With the advent of the National Health Service, the re-named St Crispin's Hospital continued to strive for the treatment and cure of patients. More recently the Government's policy of Care in the Community ultimately led to its closure in 1996, except for the new Princess Marina and Pendered Hospitals.
The report constitutes a detailed documentary survey of the hospital.
{14} It is believed that by the end of WWI Northampton had cared for 22,558 casualties, most being sent to the War Hospital in Berrywood Road, Duston.
{16} Built in 1873-6 by Robert Griffiths of Stafford. A large red building with a prominent tower, vaguely Rhineland Romanesque in inspiration. Many later additions. The hospital closed in 1995 and since the early 2000s partly converted for residential use with some new housing also built. The main central buildings and the tower remain derelict and partly fire damaged (2013).
<1> HINE G.T., 1901, Asylums and Asylum Planning, p.166 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN46939.
<2> 1936, Kelly's Directory (1936), (unchecked) (Trade Directory). SNN59661.
<3> AYRES H., 1976, A Changing Community: The Brief History of St Crispin Hospital, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN54659.
<4> SCULL A.T., 1979, Museums of Madness, p.216-8 (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN59662.
<5> Thorne L.; Lean S.; Harding J., 2003, Historic Buildings Recording of St Crispins Hospital, Upton, Northamptonshire (Illustrations), (checked) (Report). SNN103455.
<6> BROWN J., 2005, An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment of Land at Pendered Wards, St Crispin's Hospital, Upton, (unchecked) (Report). SNN105616.
<7> Thorne A., 2002, Desk-Based Survey Of St Crispin's Hospital, Upton, (unchecked) (Interim Report). SNN105876.
<8> Thorne A.; Soden I., 2002, Desk-Based Survey Of St Crispin's Hospital, Upton, (checked) (Report). SNN105705.
<9> Beamish H., 2003, Proposed Link Road at Land North of Weedon Road Upton South West Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Report). SNN103242.
<10> Thorne A.; Foard A.; Lean S., 2003, Historic Buildings Recording of St Crispins Hospital, Upton, Northamptonshire, 2002, (unchecked) (Report). SNN103454.
<11> Northamptonshire Record Office, 2009-12, Northamptonshire Archives and Heritage Service Newsletter, p.14 (unchecked) (Newsletter). SNN106548.
<12> Morton R., 2002, Princess Marina Hospital, Northampton: Desk-based Assessment, p.16 (checked) (Report). SNN107443.
<13> Richardson H. (Editor), 1998, English Hospitals 1660-1948: A Survey of Their Architecture and Design, (unchecked) (Book). SNN62723.
<14> Brosnan A., 2013, Tribute To Those Who Served In Wartime, (checked) (Newspaper cuttings). SNN108509.
<15> Hickman C., 2013, Theraputic Landscapes: A History of English Hospital Gardens Since 1800, (unchecked) (Book). SNN109142.
<16> Bailey, B, Pevsner, N, and Cherry, B, 2013, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p. 486-7 (Book). SNN111989.
Sources/Archives (16)
- <1> SNN46939 Journal: HINE G.T.. 1901. Asylums and Asylum Planning. The Royal Institute of British Architects Journal. R.I.B.A.. p.166 (unchecked).
- <2> SNN59661 Trade Directory: 1936. Kelly's Directory (1936). Kelly's Directory. Northamptonshire. (unchecked).
- <3> SNN54659 Uncertain: AYRES H.. 1976. A Changing Community: The Brief History of St Crispin Hospital. (unchecked).
- <4> SNN59662 Uncertain: SCULL A.T.. 1979. Museums of Madness. p.216-8 (unchecked).
- <5> SNN103455 Report: Thorne L.; Lean S.; Harding J.. 2003. Historic Buildings Recording of St Crispins Hospital, Upton, Northamptonshire (Illustrations). Northamptonshire Archaeology Fieldwork Reports. N.C.C.. (checked).
- <6> SNN105616 Report: BROWN J.. 2005. An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment of Land at Pendered Wards, St Crispin's Hospital, Upton. Northamptonshire Archaeology Fieldwork Reports. 05/043. N.C.C.. (unchecked).
- <7> SNN105876 Interim Report: Thorne A.. 2002. Desk-Based Survey Of St Crispin's Hospital, Upton. N.C.C.. (unchecked).
- <8> SNN105705 Report: Thorne A.; Soden I.. 2002. Desk-Based Survey Of St Crispin's Hospital, Upton. Northamptonshire Archaeology Fieldwork Reports. N.C.C.. (checked).
- <9> SNN103242 Report: Beamish H.. 2003. Proposed Link Road at Land North of Weedon Road Upton South West Northamptonshire. Oxford Archaeology. (unchecked).
- <10> SNN103454 Report: Thorne A.; Foard A.; Lean S.. 2003. Historic Buildings Recording of St Crispins Hospital, Upton, Northamptonshire, 2002. Northamptonshire Archaeology Fieldwork Reports. N.C.C.. (unchecked).
- <11> SNN106548 Newsletter: Northamptonshire Record Office. 2009-12. Northamptonshire Archives and Heritage Service Newsletter. NRO. p.14 (unchecked).
- <12> SNN107443 Report: Morton R.. 2002. Princess Marina Hospital, Northampton: Desk-based Assessment. Cotswold Archaaeological Trust Reports. 02095. Cotswold Archaeol. Trust. p.16 (checked).
- <13> SNN62723 Book: Richardson H. (Editor). 1998. English Hospitals 1660-1948: A Survey of Their Architecture and Design. RCHME. (unchecked).
- <14> SNN108509 Newspaper cuttings: Brosnan A.. 2013. Tribute To Those Who Served In Wartime. Northampton Chronicle & Echo. 3rd January. Chronicle And Echo. (checked).
- <15> SNN109142 Book: Hickman C.. 2013. Theraputic Landscapes: A History of English Hospital Gardens Since 1800. Manchester Univ Press. (unchecked).
- <16> SNN111989 Book: Bailey, B, Pevsner, N, and Cherry, B. 2013. The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire. Yale University Press. p. 486-7.
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (15)
- Parent of: Beechwood House, St Crispins Hospital (Building) (1796/1/4)
- Parent of: C20th Well & Pump House (Building) (1796/1/13)
- Parent of: Connolly Lodge, St Crispin Hospital (Building) (1796/1/3)
- Parent of: Nurses' Home, St Crispins Hospital (Building) (1796/1/5)
- Parent of: St Crispin's Chapel Store (Building) (1796/1/14)
- Parent of: St Crispin's Hospital Cemetery (Monument) (1796/1/12)
- Parent of: St Crispin's Hospital Chapel (now St Neophyte's Greek Church) (Building) (1796/1/2)
- Parent of: St Crispins Hospital & Attached Former Superintendent Doctor's House (Building) (1796/1/1)
- Parent of: St Crispins Hospital Stables (Building) (1796/1/7)
- Parent of: The Block for Idiot Children, St Crispins Hospital (now Keystone House) (Building) (1796/1/6)
- Parent of: The Fire Station, St Crispins Hospital (Building) (1796/1/8)
- Parent of: The Grafton & Eden Lodges, St Crispins Hospital (Building) (1796/1/10)
- Parent of: The New Laundry, St Crispins Hospital (Building) (1796/1/11)
- Parent of: The Old Laundry, St Crispins Hospital (Building) (1796/1/9)
- Related to: St Crispins Hospital Farm (Building) (1796/2/1)
Related Events/Activities (0)
Location
Grid reference | Centred SP 71355 61254 (996m by 972m) Approximate |
---|---|
Civil Parish | UPTON, West Northamptonshire (formerly Northampton District) |
Protected Status/Designation
Other Statuses/References
- None recorded
Record last edited
Jun 5 2024 12:51PM