The Fulborn Asylum Cambridge

The Speaker this month was David Edwards, and his chosen topic was ‘Lunatic Asylums’, based on the County Pauper Lunatic Asylum for Cambridgeshire, opened in 1858, but more recently known as Fulborn Hospital. David divided his talk into two sections, talking firstly about the various forms of information available about the residents of the Asylum, and how they might be useful in tracing missing persons from a family tree, and secondly about the origins of Fulborn Hospital, its growth and final fate.
It is necessary to see the actual records of an Asylum to trace anyone who might have been a patient, Census returns are of no help in this case as they were only allowed to print the initials of patients to protect their privacy. Workhouse details on census returns were much fuller, but few actual records have survived, whereas Asylum records, including Reception orders; Deaths, Removals and Discharge Orders etc have survived in greater numbers and can provide a great deal of information about the individuals. The very latest records before Asylums closed included a photo of each patient with their notes.
David had been trying to locate a married woman with children, who had suddenly disappeared from the census returns. She had married in 1849 and was in the 1851 Census with husband & 1 child, 1861 + 5 children, by 1868 there were 9 children + 1 dead, but by 1871 only husband and 3 eldest children, 1881 husband but no wife or children, 1891 husband was listed as a widower.
Further research revealed that three of the younger children were in the Doddington Workhouse, but still no mother to be found.
It was quite by chance that he discovered the missing woman listed in the records of Fulborn Hospital, she had been admitted there on 5th November 1869 and she died there at the age of 82.
The three main classifications of patients in a Asylum are: Imbecile [late life loss of memory etc.]; Lunatic [loss of reason, partially at times]; Idiot [ congenital mental deficiency].
Death records gave full details of cause; post mortem results [necessary in all cases] : where buried e.g. Asylum cemetery, family church, or Cambridge University Anatomy.
Families had to claim bodies within 48 hours or bodies were either buried in Asylum Cemetery or sent to Cambridge for Anatomy research. Research bodies were buried 2 to 6 months after death.
The history of the County Pauper Lunatic Asylum for Cambridgeshire: 1845: The County Asylum Act . 1848: Committee of Visitors formed [Board of the Asylum]. 1850: Site purchased, and plan & costing by Mr Kendal of London [£25,000. too expensive].
1854: New plans by Fowler Jones of York [£ 40,000.] 1856 foundation stone laid by Earl of Hardwick. 1858: Opened on 2nd November 1858 . Fifty local patients transferred in from other Asylums.
The original limit was 300 patients, but as demand for places increased further separate wings were added for male and female occupants. The Asylum was originally intended for Cambridgeshire members only, but soon places were contracted for other counties and also for ‘private’ patients [ non-paupers].
To-day Fulborn is back to its original size, and is a business park. The cemetery is marked by a metal plate only. Most Asylums closed in the 1980’s .
David suggested the ‘Story of Mental Hospitals’ by David Clarke as a useful book to read. It can be found on line.
[Judy Green]