MANCHESTER POOR LAW AND WORKHOUSES AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS

I am just going to deal with records from 1834 onwards when The Poor Law Amendment Act replaced the old poor law system. The new law was administered by the Boards of Guardians of the newly formed Poor Law Unions. Manchester was divided into three Unions, the Manchester Union, the Prestwich Union and the Chorlton Union.

PLEASE NOTE that besides the material available in Manchester Archives, there are also some very useful gems of information in the Local Studies stacks. Abstracts of Accounts (Ref 339M7) are helpful for finding details of staff. From the 1890's they give details of people working at Crumpsall Workhouse, New Bridge Street Workhouse and the Swinton Industrial Schools. The 20th Century accounts are more detailed, all employees are named and details of pay, addresses, length of service etc are given. There are even details of some former employees. The last volume (1915-1930) gives these details for all the Manchester Union and includes such places as Withington Hospital, Delaunay's Hospital, the Langho Colony, Styal Cottage Homes, Rose Hill School and the Dr Rhodes Memorial Home.

If you have landed on this page via search engine and you have not found what you were looking for, just take a few minutes to look around the site. There is a vast amount of information here about Manchester and the surrounding districts. If you follow this link you may find a few facts about Manchester that you did not know.

MANCHESTER UNION AND PRESTWICH UNION

This was formed in 1841 and was made up of Manchester, Blackley, Cheetham, Failsworth, Harpurhey, Moston, Newton, Prestwich, Great Heaton and Little Heaton. In April 1850 the Manchester Township was declared a separate Union. The remaining townships became the Prestwich Union. In 1858 Beswick became part of the Union as did Clayton in 1894. Great Heaton and Little Heaton were removed from the Union in 1891.

CHORLTON UNION

This Union consisted of Ardwick, Burnage, Chorlton-Upon-Medlock, Chorlton-Cum-Hardy, Didsbury, Gorton (divided into Gorton and West Gorton in 1894), Hulme, Levenshulme, Moss Side, Openshaw, Rusholme, Stretford and Withington. Barton upon Irwell, Flixton and Urmston were added in 1841 but removed in 1849*. In 1910 the Chorlton Union became the Township of South Manchester for Poor Law purposes.

In 1915 a major reorganisation of the Poor Law Unions took place. The Township of Manchester, the Township of South Manchester and the Prestwich Union were united to form the Manchester Union.

NEW BRIDGE ST

The Manchester Union Workhouse was originally the one at New Bridge St but it was superseded by a new workhouse in Crumpsall. As early as 1865 the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company had approached the Manchester Board of Guardians with a view to buying a portion of the workhouse grounds. This was necessary for the expansion of Victoria Station. This was rejected, but instead the Guardians offered to sell the the whole plot. Reports in 1866 and 1867 stated that the New Bridge Street Workhouse was in need of renovation and needed more space. The Guardians were reluctant to invest funds in the existing site with the activities of the LYR in the area. In September 1872 LYR agreed to purchase more 167,562 sq ft of land, leaving the Guardians with 50,472 sq ft. This portion of land was redeveloped and several wards were built including those for the infirm, lunatics, laying in, and female lock patients. The later being a euphemism for those suffering from gonorrhoea or syphilis. There were also administrative buildings for indoor and outdoor relief. The War Office took over the building during the First World War. Eventually even this last portion of the New Bridge Street site was swallowed up, by what was then, the London Midland and Scottish Railway Company. The land was cleared c1929.

Records available: Creed Registers 1881 to 1914. Most of these are available on microfilm at Elliot House. The last couple of years have not been filmed but they are available to view at Marshall Street with two working days' notice. ref: Archives GB127.M4/11/29-31.

This is an example of the information given in these registers.

Date of Admission: 24th June 1891. Name: BOWMAN Joseph. Year Born: 1882. From Whence Admitted: No 3 District. Religious Creed: Hebrew. Name of Informant: Self. Discharged or Dead: 24th June. Admitted: 16th July. Discharged: 17th July. Admitted: 17th July. Discharged: 20th July.

As you can see from the dates he was admitted and discharged on the same day on two separate occasions.

CRUMPSALL HOSPITAL AND INSTITUTION

Even before the reports to the Guardians of 1867 and 1868, it was evident that the accommodation available at the New Bridge Street site was not large enough and in 1854 The Manchester Board of Guardians purchased an estate on which to build new workhouse and also a new infirmary. The new workhouse was situated adjacent to the Prestwich Workhouse. Some inmates were in Crumpsall as early as 1857 but the main block was not occupied until the following year.

Courtesy of Manchester Local Image Collection

By 1930 the Manchester Union Workhouse had become known as Crumpsall. It was renamed Park House Hospital in 1939. When the National Health Service came into existence it was again renamed. This time it was known as Springfield Hospital. The Infirmary later became known as Crumpsall Hospital. In 1972 the Springfield Hospital, Crumpsall Hospital and the Delaunay's Hospital amalgamated to form Manchester General Hospital.

Some of the records available are: Birth Registers 1934-1948; Death Registers 1933-1945; Death Registers indexes 1924-1954; Admission and Discharge Registers (hospital) 1937-1949; Admission and Discharge Registers (institution) 1933-1938; Register of Admissions to receiving wards 1944-1946 and Mortuary Particulars Book 1946-1948.

Manchester Archives and Local Studies have a collection of signs that were displayed in this workhouse. Below are some examples. I think that they give an insight into the conditions.

TOWNSHIP OF MANCHESTER

THE WORKHOUSE, CRUMPSALL

VISITING DAYS

From and after 1st NOVEMBER, 1879, the sick and infirmed

inmates of the Workhouse will be allowed to be Visited

ON THE FIRST SATURDAY IN EACH MONTH ONLY

VISITS TO BE MADE

From 1st April to 30th September between the hours of 2 and 6 p.m.

From 1st October to 31st March between the hours of 2 and 4-3o p.m.

No visits to exceed half - an - hour's duration.

(By Order,) GEO. MACDONALD

7th October 1879 Clerk to the Guardians

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MANCHESTER WORKHOUSE, CRUMPSALL

SPECIAL NOTICE

NO VISITING will be allowed to

Inmates of this Establishment on

NEW YEAR'S DAY Next.

The Visiting Day for January 1881 will be on

the SECOND Saturday instead of the first of that month.

BY ORDER

GEO. MACDONALD

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FIRE ALARM

INSTRUCTIONS FOR OFFICERS & NURSES

Whoever discovers an outbreak of Fire must at once report it to

the Man on duty at the Boilers, who will sound the alarm.

The Porter at the main Entrance Lodge will at once phone

for the Town Fire Brigade.

The sounding of the Steam Fire Alarm is at all times to be

regarded as an imperative call for the immediate

attendance of Officers for Fire Duty, or Practice, except that

at 11a.m. ON SATURDAYS, which is to test the efficiency

of the apparatus, and is not on such occasions to be regarded

as a call.

At the sound of the Fire Alarm all Officers, Male

and Female, and as many from the Epileptic Wards as

can be spared, must promptly parade for Fire Duty at the

Workhouse end of the Glass Passage, and the Nurses must

all go to their own Wards. Any Officer failing to do so

must, as soon as possible, give an explanation to the master.

Having reported themselves for Fire Duty, the Male Officers will

at once proceed to the nearest Hydrant to where the Fire

has broken out, attach the Stand - Pipe, run out the hose

and play on the Fire until the arrival of the Town

Fire Brigade, or the Fire is extinguished, while the

Female Officers, and Nurse must marshal such inmates

and Patients as may be liable to danger, and conduct

them, without panic or disorder, to a place of safety.

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NIGHT ALARM

The Night Officer on duty, or whoever discovers an

outbreak of fire, is to immediately connect up the nearest

Hydrant, and SEND to warn the man on duty at the

Boilers, who will sound the alarm.

The Night watchman at the Main Entrance Lodge will

telephone to the Town Fire Brigade, and report as soon as

possible to the master that there is an outbreak of Fire.

The Clerk of Works' messenger will at once be sent to

warn the Clerk of works.

By Order,

F. CASSWELL (Captain)

MANCHESTER WORKHOUSE, CRUMPSALL, MASTER

October, 1910

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NOTICE

SMOKING will

be permitted in the

Wards during the

following hours only:

MORNING - 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.

NOON- 1p.m. to 2 p.m.

NIGHT- 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

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SMOKING IN THE WARDS BY

VISITORS IS STRICTLY

PROHIBITED

BY ORDER

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PRESTWICH UNION WORKHOUSE

A new Prestwich Union workhouse was built at Crumpsall in around 1868. After the unification of the Prestwich Union and the Manchester Union in 1915 it was known as Crumpsall Infirmary Annexe. In 1918 it was renamed Delaunay's Road Institution, which later became Delaunay's Hospital, which in turn became part of North Manchester General Hospital in 1972. Records of inmates of the Prestwich Union have not survived. Some records of the Guardians of The Poor of Manchester Unions and Prestwich (1837-1948) have survived.

I have included below a copy of the Prestwich Union Standing Orders of the Board of Guardians.

1 That at the Meetings of the Board, every Guardian addressing such Meeting shall rise from his seat, and whilst speaking remain standing.

2 That whenever amendments are made upon original proposition, no second amendment shall be taken into consideration until the first amendment is disposed of.

3 That if the first amendment be carried, it displaces the original question, and becomes itself the question whereupon any further amendment may be moved.

4 That if the first amendment be negatived, then a second may be moved to the original question under consideration; but only one amendment shall be submitted to the Board for discussion at one time.

5 That no guardian shall speak more than once on the same business or question, unless in explanation of what has previously fallen from him, if misconstrued, or in answer to a personal call, and in that case shall confine himself strictly to the requisite explanation; or unless the attention of the Chair be called to a point of order. The mover of every original resolution, but not of any amendment, shall in all cases be entitled to a final reply, immediately after which the question shall be put from the Chair.

6 Any member of the Board may simply second a motion and be entitled to to speak to the question at any time during the debate before the reply of the mover of the question.

7 Any Guardian intending to bring forward any subject not connected with or arising out of the business of the Board, shall give notice thereof at a previous meeting.

8 That these standing orders shall be read over at the annual meeting of the Board immediately after the minutes of the preceding meeting, and whenever any Guardian, rising to order, shall call upon the Clerk to read them; and shall in no case be suspended at any meeting, unless by the votes of two-thirds of the members present thereat.

Well I am sure that the residents who lived in the area covered by the Union, slept more soundly in there beds, in the knowledge that the Guardians were operating within the confines of these standing orders.

BOOTH HALL INFIRMARY

Built in 1908 it was originally the general hospital of the Prestwich Union. The Manchester and Prestwich Unions amalgamated in 1915. During the First world war is was used as a hospital for wounded soldiers. After this period it became a children's hospital.

Records available; Admissions Register 1938-1955: Summary of Admissions 1956-1966: Creed Registers 1909-1945: Mortuary Register 1942-1948 and other assorted register.

WITHINGTON WORKHOUSE AND HOSPITAL (CHORLTON UNION WORKHOUSE)

The first Chorlton Union Workhouse was on Stretford New Rd and catered for 300 inmates. As the population grew it became inadequate and a new workhouse had to be built. the Chorlton Union Workhouse at Nell lane opened in 1855. The site also included a cemetery which also served the area as well as the workhouse until 1920. The cemetery was formerly closed in 1970 and the remains removed and re-buried in Southern Cemetery. Some remains had been removed earlier when Princess Road was built and later in the 1970's when some other work was necessary. A record of the memorial inscriptions on the headstones removed to Southern Cemetery can be seen on film at the National Archives on film number RG 37/98 . I have now obtained a copy of this document. It consists of a letter from the Medical Officer of Health of Manchester City Council to the Registrar dated December 1971 and the transcriptions from three memorial stones.

The letter states that from 16th February, 1971 to 19th October, 1971 that experienced grave diggers from Manchester Corporation Cemeteries Department removed human remains from the portion of of the old workhouse Burial Ground which was consecrated in September 1875. A total of 4,422 human remains were removed from unidentifiable poor persons graves. The remains were placed in 149 strong wooden boxes and re-interred in Southern Cemetery. They were placed in the consecrated ground of Section M and a suitably engraved stone was laid flat to indicate the location of the mass grave. In addition the identified remains of nurse Grace Jones, Martha-Thenun and the cremated remains of Mrs. Fanny Howell were exhumed and placed in new coffins. The coffins were buried in Section G of the non-conformist section of Southern Cemetery. The original headstones, from which the transcriptions were taken, were re-erected on the graves. Mrs. Howell was a former matron of the workhouse and the MI for Martha-Thenun states that she was a Sister of the Poor from All Saints.

The remains were removed in accordance with Section 18(7) of the Manchester Corporation Act, 1967 - Part IV. The exhumations were necessary so that a major road improvement scheme at Princess Rd could go ahead. During the First World War the Institution was used as a Military Hospital.

Withington Workhouse Courtesy of Manchester Local Image Collection

Records available: Birth Registers 1857-1920; Death Registers 1857-1959; Death Register indexes 1907-1949; Admission Registers and Discharge Register 1870-1884; Creed Registers 1869-1916; Registers of Inmates 1914-1946; Register of Patients 1930-1948; Interment Registers 1898-1951; Cemetery Reference Book 1857-1891; Chaplaincy Registers of Baptisms 1849-1924; Auxiliary Hospital Admission and Discharge

Register 1940-1948 and the Register of Paying Patients 1926-1948. There are some medical records available some of which have restricted access. Records are available of the children sent overseas by this Union and again some of these records have restricted access (see below).

The Interment Registers, depending on the year, can be a fabulous source of information. Not only do they record the burials of people who were buried in the workhouse or the area later reserved for their bodies in Southern Cemetery, but they record the details of those buried elsewhere and name where there were buried. There are also some records of people who died elsewhere and whose bodies were brought to the workhouse to be dispatched. Other details that can be available are the names and addresses of the next of kin and the name of the Undertaker. Manchester Archives has a collection (M218) of records kept by one local Undertaker (of Funerals) which include Funeral Books from 1894 to 1933.

PUBLIC ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE

The Manchester Board of Guardians was dissolved on 31st March 1930, by the Local Government Act, 1929 and its functions transferred to the Public Assistance Committee, later the Social Welfare Committee, of Manchester. The National Assistance Act 1948 and National Health Service Act 1946 came into effect from 5th July 1948 and brought the end of the Poor Law. Public Assistance Committees ceased to exist and their functions were transferred to various Government and Local Government Departments.

Some minutes of the Public Assistance Committee, 1930-1939 (4 volumes) and the Social Welfare Committee, 1937-1948 (7 volumes) are available for consultation at Manchester Archives. However advance booking is necessary in order to see them.

Government attitude towards the institutions had gradually been changing over the previous years. After 1904 the birth certificate of a child born in a workhouse should not state that a birth took place in a workhouse, giving instead the street and number as the place of birth, for instance, 123 (later 223) Crescent Road (Crumpsall Workhouse) or Nell Lane (Withington Workhouse). Alternatively a euphemistic name might be used such as Twyford Lodge for Willesden Workhouse Infirmary. This was an attempt to recognise the fact that most women giving birth were not inmates but patients and this was to reduce any stigma that may have been attached to the institutions. Similar guidance relating to deaths was issued much later, in 1919 and at the same time the often used practice of putting a letter W in the margin of the entry was also discouraged.

CHORLTON UNION REGISTER OF CHILDREN SENT TO CANADA

This register covers the period 1892 - 1947. The Manchester Archives reference is M4/60/2. The register is named indexed and Manchester Archives will do searches in the restricted sections on a request subject to certain conditions. Although the register title suggests that all the children were sent to Canada, a few of the children were sent elsewhere. There are details relating to children who had been at Styal Cottage Homes. For images of the Cottage Homes see here. The records can be a bit patchy in the quality of information, but others give quite a lot of detail. Below is an example of one of the better entries that I was allowed to study.

Name of Child: John Henry JONES. Date of Birth: 1896. Particulars re Parentage etc: Blank. School or Institution in which Child was Chargeable prior to Emigration: Styal Cottage Homes. Date of Discharge from School or Institution: 16/03/1905. Name and Address of Society under whose auspices the Child was Emigrated: Manchester & Salford Refugees. Date of Sailing: 06/04/1905. Destination: Ontario. Name and Address of Employer: J E Stephens, Hastings P O, Ontario.

General Remarks: Good report from Canadian agent sent by Mr Ackroyd, received 09/11/1905.

Unfavourable report received 30/08/1906. Boy is said to be untruthful.

Poor report of boy's physical condition and capacity for work from Mr Boyce Smart dated 26/10/1906.

Improved report from B S [Refuge] received 15/10/1907.

Good report received dated 24/10/1907 K T Henry.

Good report received dated 30/06/1908 Mr Ackroyd.

Good report received dated September 1908 Mr Ackroyd.

Report dated 28/04/1908 received 05/11/1908 says boy leaving Stephens K J Henry.

Name and Address of (new) Employer: Mr J Howes, Blessington. General Remarks: Good Report received 11/02/1910 Mr Ackroyd.

Good report dated 04/09/1909 R W Hillyard.

Good report dated 02/03/1910 received 17/08/1910 K J Henry.

Good report received 09/09/1910 Mr Ackroyd received 13/10/1910.

Good report received 01/11/1911 dated 07/08/1911.

Name and Address of (new) Employer: C H Weise, P O Belleville, Hastings, Co Ontario. general Remarks: Bad report 07/06/1911 received 22/12/1911.

Special report received 28/02/1912 dated 14/02/1912.

Report (boy missing) received 28/06/1912 dated 23/01/1912.

Report (boy missing) received 28/06/1912 dated 14/02/1912.

Report (boy missing) received 08/11/1912 dated 10/07/1912.

Report (boy missing) received 19/05/1913 dated 23/01/1913.

Report received 09/06/1915 dated 08/05/1915. Boy doing well.

Name and Address of (new) Employer: (06/08/1915) Arthur McFarland, Shannonville, Ontario. General Remarks: Report received 06/06/1917 killed in action April 11th 1917.

Report received 14/06/1917 & letters. See file.

Report again received killed in action April 11th 1917 dated 07/05/1917.

For other general information and images see links page and click on link for Styal cottage homes. Manchester Children's' Services, hold some admission registers 1903-1956 for the Styal cottage homes. Enquiries regarding these records should be made in writing to Children's Services Department, Contact Centre, Carisbrooke Resource Centre, Wenlock Way, Gorton, ManchesterM12 5L.

OTHER INSTITUTIONS

PRESTWICH LUNATIC ASYLUM

MY GREAT GRANDFATHER - PAUPER LUNATIC

The records for Prestwich Asylum are split between Lancashire Record Office and Greater Manchester County Records Office. The registers for 1851 to 1890 are held at LRO. The registers for 1891 onwards are held at GMCRO and in most case there are images of the patients. The Asylum Admission Registers for 1851 to 1901 have been indexed and copied to disc available from the local FHS. Most of the admission records at GMCRO have images of the patients, sadly only those admissions records from about May 1890 at LRO have images. There are one or two earlier admission records that do contain images, the earliest one I spotted was from December 26th 1889 for a Henry Yates.

My great grandfather, Charles Lodge had the dubious pleasure of being an inmate in this Institution. His records can be seen at the Lancashire Record Office. Fortunately for him, he was only in there for a few months. The medical records make quite sombre reading. He is described as being a Pauper Lunatic. He was certainly ill, but if he was a lunatic, he was cured without a lot of treatment. These records contain a lot of interesting material.

It was the strangest feeling reading the two reports about my great grand father. The first was his Medical Case Book which described the symptoms of his ailment. The reception order was also very interesting to read. Although most of it was pre printed it was still fascinating to read. Charles appeared before the County Police Court, Strangeways, Manchester on 7th Nov 1889. He had been committed to Prestwich Asylum by a Justice of the Peace on 19th Oct. The court on the 7th Nov declared him to be a "Pauper Lunatic", which I thought was somewhat strange as he was a man of some property. The court charge The Chorlton Union with the sum of �1 17s 6d for expenses in and about the examination of the said Pauper Lunatic and bringing him to court. The court also ordered the Union to pay the Asylum the sum of �1 2s 2d for lodging, maintenance, medicine etc. In addition the Union had to pay the weekly sum of 8s 2d until his death or release.

A Form of Medical Certificate had to be issued by a member of the Royal College of Surgeons, or as in this case a man from the RCS & P in Edinburgh. It stated that he was of unsound mind and needed to be detained under care and treatment. Charles was observed to be restless and talking in a silly incoherent way. He had difficulty in articulation and walking with an impaired memory. So with this Medical Certificate and the signature of two JPs he was committed. When my great grand father was admitted the Medical Record described him as a beer house keeper married with 7 children and a pregnant wife. He was said to be epileptic and suicidal. He was 50 and had suffered fits for about a month. His ailments were possibly caused by the fits or drink.

His family history was summarised under the headings:

Insanity Drink and Phthisis.

Insanity - Brother, 2 paralytic strokes
Drink - No
Phthisis [any disease that causes wasting of the body, especially pulmonary tuberculosis] - Father
State on Admission- Average height, very thin, grey hair, childish expression. Very poor body condition but no injuries, fowl tongue (the colour not the language). weight 8st 7 lbs(119lbs). Diagnosis - Organic dementia. Prognosis - Hopeless

The next main heading on the register was:

DATE PROGRESS OF CASE

Oct 22nd Has been very restless at night, untidy and inclined to refuse food. PRESENT MUTUAL CONDITION: Increasing dementia and unable to answer the simplest question, cannot tell where he is, has no idea as to time etc. Gets out of bed at night constantly and rambles about in an aimless way. Is much better in the daytime but at times insists on undressing himself. His speech is thickened and there is a marked loss of expression.
Nov 18th Slightly stronger. MUTUAL CONDITION: No change.

1890
Jan: Very much improved, no fits.

Feb22nd 1890 Discharged: Recovered
Weight on Discharge 10 st 5 lbs (145lbs)

He seems to have made a remarkable recovery. In four months he went from being "hopeless" to "recovered". He lived for another twenty years. My grand father was killed in 1917 and my grand mother fell out with her in-laws, so there have been no stories about the old boy passed on down to me. It was a bit of a shock but no I don't really feel upset. Often these asylums were used as a convenient places to get people out of society, sometimes for life...but maybe that's another topic. When I read the medical records my thoughts were that Charles was suffering from the DTs (delirium tremens ). It was certainly possible, as he was in the licence trade, he could easily have been sampling too much of his own product. These thought are somewhat back up by the fact that in previous times the DTs were referred to as being a temporary form of madness.

Until recently I was slightly perturbed by the fact that Charles was referred to as being a "pauper lunatic". However in the guide to the collection GMCRO states that the term refers to those patients whose upkeep was charged to there local Poor law Union as opposed to fee paying patients. Some other patients were referred to as Private Patients, the majority of these were criminals and their upkeep was paid for by the Government after the Home Office became responsible for prisons. The term "Pauper Lunatic" was later replaced by "Rate Aided Patient".

PRIVATE PATIENT

One of these Private Patients was Tom Brooke, patient number 322. The register entry states that he was admitted September 14th 1895. He had been committed for trial on August 9th 1895 "charged with wilfully murder of his girl child - cut her throat at London Road Railway Station, Manchester. Certified insane September 2nd 1895". This entry does reveal the bare facts of the case, but it does not give any insight into the reasons behind the crime. Little snippets like this always leave me asking for more details, and in this case more details can be discovered by looking at the report in the Manchester Guardian from August 8th 1895. The report being in the typically embroidered journalistic style of the times.

A terrible murder was committed at London Road Railway Station, Manchester late last evening, when a girl called Mary Ann Brooks, aged 15, daughter of Tom Brooks, a labouring man, was killed by her father. Brooks is said to be a native of Worcestershire, where he has several relations. He has been living apart from his wife for some time, his wife Mrs. Brooks having come to Manchester, where she has friends. She has since the two separated, lived at 89 Edensor Street , Ashton New Road. On Bank holiday the man Brooks, who is just passed middle age, came up to Manchester, and stayed for the night at Woods lodging house in Whitworth Street. He appears to have gone the next day to his wife's house to endeavour "to make it up" with her and induce her to live with him again. She, however, refused to have anything to do with him, as he was apparently under the influence of liquor and somewhat violent in his demeanour. Later in the day he went to the house again, and repeated his visit again yesterday morning. He then said that he should return to Stourbridge, Worcestershire, by the 9 20 pm train, and asked his wife, with the daughter, who was their only child, to go with him to the station. They accompanied him to London Road Railway Station, and got there about half an hour before the time fixed for departure of the train. All three sat down on one of the seats on the departure platform and entered into conversation. Brooks suddenly said that he he dropped his "railway pass" in the lavatory, and suggested that the girl should help him find it. She did so, and the mother followed a little way off. Suddenly the mother heard the daughter scream "Oh dad! dad! dad!". She ran to the lavatory, and reached it just in time to catch her daughter in her arms. A terrible wound had been inflicted on the girl's throat. Brooks himself went out of the lavatory by the opposite door, and was observed by a cabman in the station to throw away a large butcher's knife on which was blood. The cabman followed the man down the station approach until he met a policeman, and then gave Brooks into custody. The girl was at once taken to the Royal Infirmary, but she died in about half an hour. As a possible motive for the crime it is said that Brooks was some time ago sent to the Worcestershire Lunatic Asylum, and that he had the belief that his daughter had something to do with his confinement there...

Another good source of information are Asylum Death Books (July 1891 to 1960 with some gaps) They contain the following information: Age; occupation; address; next of kin; poor law union from where they were sent (or if a private patient); hospital number; name of deceased; date of entry, person present at death; date and time of death; date of record entry and apparent cause of death. If the inmate died unexpectedly, the results of the inquest were also recorded. In the records I was inspecting, the deaths of people who died at Rochdale Workhouse were recorded.

Patient Records Include: Patient Casebooks ; Private Patients Casebooks - Men , Women , Index; Chronic Patients Casebooks - Males, Females ; Notice of Death Books ; Registers of Deaths ; Death Books Addresses of Relatives and Friends ; Admissions Registers ; Civil Registers - Certified Male Patients, Certified Female Patients, Voluntary Patients, Temporary Patients; Registers of Removals, Discharges and Deaths; Discharge Registers ; Registers of Departures, Discharges and Transfers ; Registers of Departures, Discharges and Deaths; Register of Patients Discharged to Friends; Escape Books; Index Books ; Index Books, Transfers to Rochdale Workhouse (Females). Not all years are covered, so consult the GMCRO website for dates. An insight into life inside the asylum can be seen here.

The Census References for the Asylum are listed below:

1851 - Not filmed, they are amongst the returns which were water damaged, however transcriptions are available on CD from M & LFHS.

1861 - RG 9 2976 folio 135 - 140 (Initials only for patients)

1871 - RG 10 4067 folio 162 - 184

1881 - RG 11 4033 folio 93 - 96 (Mostly staff with a few patients, initials only) RG 11 4033 folio 99 - 122 (Initials only)

1891 - RG 12 3272 folio 65 - 86 (Initials only) RG 12 folio 89 - 98 ( about two thirds staff, patients initials only)

1901 - RG 13 3799 folio 72 - 138

MANCHESTER & SALFORD PENITENTS ASYLUM

There were many small missions, asylums, refuges and the like run by other organisations on a subscription basis. Sadly not many records from these places survive. The above was one of these such places. The institution was located at 99 Embden St, Greenheys. Its previous home was in Rusholme Rd, Chorlton on Medlock. It was run by two committees, a Gentlemen's Committee and a Ladies' Committee. The asylum was a safe haven to women and girls who had "fallen from grace".

The following is an extract from the Gentlemen's Committee "Minutes of Examination of Girls previously to their Admission into the Institution". In other words it's a description of the circumstances of the girls and women wishing to enter the institution on a permanent basis.

Committee Meeting 25th June 1873

No 77 Eliza NEWBOLD. Age 38, no parents, is a widow - Husband died two years ago. has two sons aged 18 & 20. Has been 10 years in Manchester. Husband was a Sergeant in the Army - Native of Leicestershire - Brought up in the Church of England. Can read & write, worked at serving - Has been in the house 12 weeks.

No 23 Jane FERRIS. Age 15 next March, Father and Stepmother living in Hulme, former works at Sharps, the latter keeps a mangle. Worked at mill. Can neither read nor write. Very unhappy life through the parents drinking - which led to her going astray - continued so for three weeks only. Came to the house 3 months ago of her own accord having heard of this place from one of her companions - Promises to amend and abide by the rules.

The following is a typical advert that would have have appeared in most of the local papers. It sends a chill down the spine.

ROYAL ALBERT ASYLUM

For Idiots and Imbeciles of the Northern Counties,

LANCASTER

Under the Patronage of Her Majesty the Queen

TRUSTEES

The Most Hon. The MARQUIS of LONDONDERRY

The Most Hon. The MARQUIS of RIPON K. G.

The Right Hon. EARL of SEFTON

The Right Hon. EARL of BECTIVE, M. P., Esq, J. P. Ashton Hall, Lancaster

The Right Hon. LORD of MUNCASTER

Chairman of the Central Committee - The Right Hon. LORD WINMARLEIGH

Vice Chairmen of the Central Committee - EDWARD LAWRENCE. Esq. J. P., Liverpool

Sir ANDREW FAIRBURN Knt., M.P. Leeds

Vice Chairmen of the House Committee - THOMAS STOREY Esq., J. P., Westfield, Lancaster

J. P. C. STARKIE

Chairman of the Finance Committee - HENRY GARNETT Esq., J. P., Wyreside Lancaster

Chairman of the Lancashire Committee - J. T. HIBBERT Esq., M. P.

Manchester District Treasurer - EDWARD S. HEYWOOD, Esq., Light Oakes, Manchester

Local Bankers - ST ANN'S STREET BRANCH of the MANCHESTER & SALFORD BANK

General Treasurers - LANCASTER BANKING COMPANY, Lancaster

General Secretary - JAMES DIGGENS, Lancaster

Resident Medical Superintendent - GEO. E. SHUTTLEWORTH, B. A. (Lond.), M. D.

THE ROYAL ALBERT ASYLUM has been established for the care, education, and training of Idiots and Imbeciles belonging to Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cheshire, Westmorland, Cumberland, Durham, and Northumberland.

THE ASYLUM is about a mile from Lancaster, and the Estate upon which it is erected consists of about ninety-seven acres of excellent land, in a charming and salubrious situation, commanding fine views of Morecambe Bay and the Lake Mountains. Accommodation has been provided for 600 inmates, exclusive of staff, and the arrangements comprise every convenience for the specific treatment of idiots and imbeciles. The system of training pursued in the Asylum is designed to secure, by special means, the physical, mental, and moral improvement of the patient, and is under the immediate of a Medical Superintendent. It includes gymnastic training, school education of a suitable kind, and instruction in a simple handicraft or other useful occupation. There are now 530 inmates. The Rodgett Infirmary, an excellent and well-furnished building, has recently be provided by the munificence of a Subscriber.

Two classes of patients, of both sexes, are admitted into the Asylum:-

Free patients, between the ages of Six and Fifteen, whose friends are proved to be unable to meet the lowest payment. They are elected by the votes of Subscribers, and received for Seven years.

Paying patients admitted by the Central Committee, without Election, and at any time. The charges vary from 25 to 200 Guineas per annum, according to the requirements and circumstances of the friends of the applicants. All patients not belonging to the Seven Associated Counties must be paid for at the full rate of 60 Guineas an upwards per annum.

Applications must be addressed to the General Secretary, from whom all the necessary information may be obtained. The general Committee will institute inquiries to ascertain if there be a reasonable probability that the candidate will be benefited by the system adopted in the Asylum, and decide the terms on which they ought to be admitted.

Epileptic, Paralytic, and Insane persons are NOT eligible for admission; and idiocy complicated with blindness or deafness, is also a disqualification.

The Central Committee, whilst gratefully acknowledging the generous support which they have hitherto received, earnestly APPEAL for DONATIONS and ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS. Legacies are invested, under rule 36, for the permanent benefit of the Institution.

Reports, Pamphlets, Regulations of Admissions, Application Forms, and other information will be gladly supplied by:

JAMES DIGGENS, General Secretary

Offices:

Royal Albert Asylum, Lancaster.

Exchange Chambers, Bank Street, Manchester.

SOURCE; MANCHESTER ARCHIVES AND LOCAL STUDIES, GMCRO, LRO AND LOCAL NEWSPAPERS

*This coincides with these areas being included in the Chorlton Registration District

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Last update: 3rd July 2010