More Facts on Life in a Victorian Lunatic Asylum

When it was it opened?

1. The Asylum first opened its doors on 23rd November 1818 in Wakefield. It was ‘H’ shaped and cost a total of £36,448 1s 4d.
2. It was the sixth asylum to open in the whole of the country.
3. At first it was intended to provide care and treatment for 150 patients but it grew quickly and by the year 1900 there were 1469 patients from all over Yorkshire.
4. Dr Ellis was the first Superintendent with his wife acting as matron.

Why it was opened?

1. To try and make sure that people with a mental illness were looked after properly.
2. Before Victorian times people there were many myths about people with mental health problems – in the 14th and 15th Centuries they were seen as witches and persecuted.
3. Victorians believed that it was important to remove people who were mentally ill from society and help them to recover in a disciplined environment.
4. This would hopefully cure them as well as protecting other people from any violent or unpredictable behaviour.

Where does the word 'lunatic' come from?

1. The word lunatic has its origins in Latin where it meant a type of madness affected by the phases of the moon (Luna)