grandaughter82
master brummie
hi was this the high croft hospital and not a house? just received death certificate for back in 1953 of my great great nan.
it states 18 Highcroft Road U.D
it states 18 Highcroft Road U.D
when did he work there? wonder what it was like in 1953? ive also got a birth certificate stating the same great great nan gave birth in 1910 same place who dies at birth but when im googling it comes up saying its an asylum or was it used as a public hosiptal? can u access medical records?My Uncle was a nurse there for some years. Not sure why but he moved to Essex and started work on the Track at Fords - less stress maybe?
in 1948 when the NHS was formed.psychiatric hospital caring for long-term chronic and short-term acute patients with mental and nervous disorders
Hi grandaughter82
There is a burial at Warstone Lane for an Emily Jane Steeles. Register No. 101984.
The only thing is, it states year of burial as 1954 and I note she died in 1952 and was registered JFM 1953.
I wonder if the burial record on BMSGH has the incorrect year?
Just a thought
Suzanne
I should imagine that Highcroft had no part in it, I think it would be the family wanting to keep it hidden, that is if that is what happened to her. It all sounds rather sad to me. My grandfather's sister who was not mentally ill, was put in Highcroft in about 1913. She claimed her brother made her pregnant and that is what happened to pregnant girls quite often in those cruel times. She did have epilepsy, but that is no reason to have anyone put away. Her father then disappeared off to London. I would think that she may have suffered from something like depression, which although carried little or no stigma today, was treated differently in those days because no-one really understood it. Either that or a long-term mental condition - hence the birth in Lodge Road Asylum. My gt gt grandmother, who was seemingly fine for most of her life died in Gloucester Lunatic Asylum. I feel lucky because they were at the forefront in Gloucester of good and kind treatment to those with mental illnesses. Her granddaughter had died, aged 5 in 1875, and as she had depression, I was wondering if the death caused the illness? Her DC states 'atrophy due to melancholia'. Terribly terribly sad I think.
I think for you, it would be worth looking at the Lodge Road admissions before you take on Highcroft - that should give you an idea, and as it's the first time you have a hint of any problem, there may be something in the admissions. This all sounds very interesting, so do let us know.
Maggiebee - the DC I have also says senility, however, he had bronchial pneumonia, myocardial degeneration, and arterial stenosis too. I did wonder if the 'senility' was just the fact he was old. His grandson who is still alive at nearly 98 does not remember any mental incapacity at all, and it was he who registered the death. It's also worth remembering that Rubery Hill also catered for the chronically sick as well as the mentally ill, so maybe Highcroft did also. I am meeting the grandson again shortly, so I shall enquire further - maybe the length of time he was in the hospital would indicate whether there was a mental impairment or if senility just meant aged.