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Highcroft Hall Erdington circa 1936 to 1950
- Thread starter owerkid
- Start date
Just off the top of my head, it was Aston Union Workhouse and then became Highcroft Hospital. I am wondering if highcroft Hall was a local name?
I do know it was a geriatric ward for the elderly, and it was also home to a lot of people with both mental and physical disabilities. There were a lot of ‘stories’ associated with the site. Some say it used to home quite dangerous inmates in padded cells etc. I was asked to develop and print a set of photos from an exhibition showing some of the restraint devices used at the hospital.
With changes in medical care and new drugs, these practices fell out of use.
I do know it was a geriatric ward for the elderly, and it was also home to a lot of people with both mental and physical disabilities. There were a lot of ‘stories’ associated with the site. Some say it used to home quite dangerous inmates in padded cells etc. I was asked to develop and print a set of photos from an exhibition showing some of the restraint devices used at the hospital.
With changes in medical care and new drugs, these practices fell out of use.
Seems to be what the developers call the central buildings of Highcroft
http://www.birminghamconservationtrust.org/2014/04/18/the-friday-photo-highcroft-hall/
http://www.birminghamconservationtrust.org/2014/04/18/the-friday-photo-highcroft-hall/
Highcroft is now a beautiful development of house and flats fronted by the original entrance.
My mother in law worked there in the50s/ 60s and some of the patients were challenging but I think the padded cells were no longer in use.
It housed a mixture of what then were called Mental patients and Geriatric patients.
I visited a friend who was a patient in 1969 ( she had suffered what was called a nervous breakdown), The place was still Dickensian and dismal , not an environment to lift your spirits.
My mother in law worked there in the50s/ 60s and some of the patients were challenging but I think the padded cells were no longer in use.
It housed a mixture of what then were called Mental patients and Geriatric patients.
I visited a friend who was a patient in 1969 ( she had suffered what was called a nervous breakdown), The place was still Dickensian and dismal , not an environment to lift your spirits.
Lady Penelope
master brummie
My Aunt was in Highcroft for a while in the early 70's I think it was. May have been late 60's. She had what was then called 'disseminated sclerosis'. I couldn't understand why she was so upset about going there if she would be made better but Mom said it was because everyone remembered it as a workhouse and there was a stigma attached. Understandable perhaps.
Have you any of those photos still available for purchase please?
Trying to get the book Julian Cleaver refers. There was no luck from Amazon. Any ideas
devonjim
master brummie
Hi Lyn,
Highcroft was being used as a routine maternity hospital at this time, I have a family member who was born there in June '48.
Unfortunatley not. It was a job I did for someone who worked there over 30 years ago.
We used to live opposite Highcroft Hall at 452 Slade Road in the early 60s. There was an event one summer with Jimmy Clitheroe and a puppet show which amazed me - I must have been 6 at the time. I remember being told that a patient had 'escaped' and murdered (tried to murder?) someone at the bus stop near our house. The institution did have a real fear attached to it - my sister and brother used to threaten each other with 'being sent to Highcroft Hall'.
hi jim the mother in this case was a patient at all saints in 1939...so it could be she was there due to mental health reasons or because the hospital was used as an overflow..
lyn
Julian Cleaver
proper brummie kid
Affordable history of Highcroft still available.
Published in 2001, HIGHCROFT:FROM WORKHOUSE TO MODERN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE describes the beginning of the Aston Union Workhouse to the present day, 72 pages in bound A4 with approx 30 photos and illustrations, this work was edited by the late Mike Hinson and has many references and footnotes for further delving into public records. With a preface by Prof. Carl Chinn this has an easy, readable, concise style compiled by a group of former staff.
New copies of the book are still available at the reduced price of £5 plus £2.50 postage. Proceeds to the charitable funds of Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health NHS Trust.
Enquiries here or by email to radley-cleaver@blueyonder.co.uk.
Published in 2001, HIGHCROFT:FROM WORKHOUSE TO MODERN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE describes the beginning of the Aston Union Workhouse to the present day, 72 pages in bound A4 with approx 30 photos and illustrations, this work was edited by the late Mike Hinson and has many references and footnotes for further delving into public records. With a preface by Prof. Carl Chinn this has an easy, readable, concise style compiled by a group of former staff.
New copies of the book are still available at the reduced price of £5 plus £2.50 postage. Proceeds to the charitable funds of Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health NHS Trust.
Enquiries here or by email to radley-cleaver@blueyonder.co.uk.
Attachments
Julian Cleaver
proper brummie kid
OWERKID.. If you are still interested in the history of Highcroft further down this thread i have posted details about the book we produced in 2001 which gives an illustrated history from WORKHOUSE TO MODERN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE with all the name and status changes from 1936 to 2000. Best wishes.. I have been out of the Forum lately.. Julian
My brother went into mental health nurse training in the 80s at high Croft he always carried a lighter with him to light their cigarettes but he decided it was not for him as he found it quite dangerous he said you could never turn your back on the patients .He was assaulted a few times mainly by patients throwing things at him he was hit at the back of the head with a flower pot and bruised his neck.He stayed in nursing but ended up a district nurse for 30 years.I am sure in the 80s he stayed in high Croft where they had nurses accomodation in the same grounds.
My mum was a nurse probationer there in the early 1950's and always referred to it as Highcroft Hall. Had some very interesting stories about her experiences too
Was being used as a wartime hospital from 1939. Viv.
Source: British Newspaper Archive
Source: British Newspaper Archive
Lady Penelope
master brummie
What a wonderful use for a coalhouse Viv!
Highcroft Hospital 1959 silver psychiatric nurses badge
An extremely well designed scarce badge from the 'Highcroft Hospital'; from an ornate floral decorated bar depends a circular medal, bearing fine quality guilloche translucent yellow enamel title suround, the centre depicts 'Asclepius god of medicine and healing' superimposed over crossed staffs and lamp, the reverse impressed with Birmingham silver hallmarks for 1959 to both parts, maker's details "M&B" (Marples & Beasley). Very good condition, retaining original pin fittings, enamel perfect, an excellent example.
Height 50mm.
Situated in Birmingham it was originally named 'Aston Union Workhouse', renamed 'Erdington House' and then 'Highcroft Hall Hospital' in the early 1940's, later to become known as 'Highcroft Hospital' until in 1996 it was closed.
RRJ
Brummie Boomer
My aunt was a resident at Highcroft Hall. As a child I remember sometimes seeing and talking to her when I visited
my Nan. She periodically spent a weekend at home (Nans)
A lovely, sweet young woman who to me at least showed no signs of mental illness. Her death certificate in 1972 showed
she had died of pneumonia, she was 27 years old, so bloody sad....
my Nan. She periodically spent a weekend at home (Nans)
A lovely, sweet young woman who to me at least showed no signs of mental illness. Her death certificate in 1972 showed
she had died of pneumonia, she was 27 years old, so bloody sad....
My mother worked as a psychiatric nurse at Highcroft during the early 50s. I too remember the patients asking children to buy cigarettes for them, through the railings on Slade Road (the shop on the corner of Kings Road, I think charged 6d for two loose fags). I also went to a couple of the summer fairs that were held in the 60s on and around the cricket field there (see below).
Julian Cleaver
proper brummie kid
Just a reminder for those reading this thread, I still have copies of the Book HIGHCROFT:FROM WORKHOUSE TO MODERN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE for sale.
Published in 2001, by Highcroft History Group and edited by Mike Hinson, it has 72 pages on A4 size, with many photos and illustrations, and reference to historical documents and events. Price now reduced to £7.50 including UK 2nd class postage. Proceeds to the charitable funds of the Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health NHS Trust.
contact: Julian Cleaver member of group (retired) jcleaver1950@gmail.com Sorry the scan is so large!
Published in 2001, by Highcroft History Group and edited by Mike Hinson, it has 72 pages on A4 size, with many photos and illustrations, and reference to historical documents and events. Price now reduced to £7.50 including UK 2nd class postage. Proceeds to the charitable funds of the Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health NHS Trust.
contact: Julian Cleaver member of group (retired) jcleaver1950@gmail.com Sorry the scan is so large!