10 most notorious mental asylums throughout history
I've always had a morbid fascination with mental asylums. If there's a movie about an insane asylum, you can bet your ass I'll be watching it; Shutter Island, Madhouse, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, you name it. You can imagine my excitement when I came across a list detailing the 10 most notorious and crazy asylums in America. I almost got a lady boner!
![[Image: 20q4a]](https://lic.me/i/20q4a)
Apparently, these nut houses are nothing compared to the most crazy asylum of all, Bethlam. It started innocently enough, as a charitable institution in 1247. But eventually, Bethlem Royal Hospital in London became known as Bedlam, one of the worst places on earth.
![[Image: 20q7i]](https://lic.me/i/20q7i)
No one understood much about psychiatry in those days. People who had conditions we now know as depression, dementia, schizophrenia, epilepsy, anxiety, learning disabilities, and other mental illnesses were all housed together and prescribed the same treatment at Bethlem.
![[Image: 20q6j]](https://lic.me/i/20q6j)
The patients were kept in filthy conditions and "cared for" by monks who had no experience of working with the mentally ill. The treatment, administered by the monks, included daily punishments and lessons in Scripture. The diet was plain and vegetable-free. Inventory records show the monks purchased chains, locks, manacles, and stocks, presumably devices with which to issue treatment.
![[Image: 20qaw]](https://lic.me/i/20qaw)
When the city of London took over the management of the hospital in 1546, the Governors appointed their own keepers. Things got much worse after that. After an inspection in 1598, the hospital was deemed “not fit for any man to dwell in,” and called “loathsomely filthily kept.” At that time, there were 21 patients who had been locked up for the better part of a decade. One had been there for more than 20 years.
![[Image: 20qcj]](https://lic.me/i/20qcj)
King James I later appointed Helkiah Crooke to administer the hospital, but he should have picked someone else. Crooke embezzled money, stole from patients, and took the charitable donations for himself. Whatever he did not keep, he sold to the patients. The patients who had no money starved.
![[Image: 20qc0]](https://lic.me/i/20qc0)
The new king, Charles I, ordered an inspection of Bethlem in 1631 and launched an investigation when it was determined that most of the patients were probably going to starve to death. Crooke was fired two years later. Charles I put a new system in place that included a physician, a visiting surgeon, and an apothecary.
The hospital closed in 1667 and re-opened in a new building at Moorfields. This new hospital was lavish expensive, and became known as a “palace for lunatics.” After 13 years, it was opened to the public as an attraction.
![[Image: 20qeq]](https://lic.me/i/20qeq)
Even though the building was nicer, but that was all. The patients were still cruelly treated, regarded as prisoners instead of ill people. They were neglected, starved, and locked away in isolation. The visitors to the hospital were allowed to interact with patients, and visited them like they were seeing animals in a zoo. Visitors from all over London life gave the patients money to encourage them to perform songs and dances. Some of the patients were forced to meet the visitors against their will.
![[Image: 20qfw]](https://lic.me/i/20qfw)
A new manager came in 1795 who believed he could cure madness, and practiced his own brand of therapy. They were beaten severely until they could behave the way he demanded. Patients were given cold baths, and made to sit in swings for rotation therapy.
![[Image: 20qg7]](https://lic.me/i/20qg7)
In 1814, an outsider visited the hospital and saw the terrible conditions. Sketches of the inside of the hospital were published in the newspaper, forcing another investigation and the manager was fired. Things really changed when Resident Physician William Hood took over in 1852. His techniques were peaceful and quiet. He brought in magazines and crafts to keep patients busy. He even held monthly dances where patients could mingle with staff and visitors—but no longer in a weird, creepy way.
![[Image: 20qg9]](https://lic.me/i/20qg9)
A new building was purchased in 1926, and the entire operation moved to Beckenham in 1930. Bethlem remains there to this day. A museum was opened in 1970 that displays artwork from patients and archives from the hospital’s history. Bethlem continues to provide psychiatric care but he days of chaining patients to the walls and starving them are over. We hope! It's still referred to as Bedlam though. I might have to pay a little visit to that museum.
![[Image: 20qga]](https://lic.me/i/20qga)
Apparently, these nut houses are nothing compared to the most crazy asylum of all, Bethlam. It started innocently enough, as a charitable institution in 1247. But eventually, Bethlem Royal Hospital in London became known as Bedlam, one of the worst places on earth.
No one understood much about psychiatry in those days. People who had conditions we now know as depression, dementia, schizophrenia, epilepsy, anxiety, learning disabilities, and other mental illnesses were all housed together and prescribed the same treatment at Bethlem.
The patients were kept in filthy conditions and "cared for" by monks who had no experience of working with the mentally ill. The treatment, administered by the monks, included daily punishments and lessons in Scripture. The diet was plain and vegetable-free. Inventory records show the monks purchased chains, locks, manacles, and stocks, presumably devices with which to issue treatment.
When the city of London took over the management of the hospital in 1546, the Governors appointed their own keepers. Things got much worse after that. After an inspection in 1598, the hospital was deemed “not fit for any man to dwell in,” and called “loathsomely filthily kept.” At that time, there were 21 patients who had been locked up for the better part of a decade. One had been there for more than 20 years.
King James I later appointed Helkiah Crooke to administer the hospital, but he should have picked someone else. Crooke embezzled money, stole from patients, and took the charitable donations for himself. Whatever he did not keep, he sold to the patients. The patients who had no money starved.
The new king, Charles I, ordered an inspection of Bethlem in 1631 and launched an investigation when it was determined that most of the patients were probably going to starve to death. Crooke was fired two years later. Charles I put a new system in place that included a physician, a visiting surgeon, and an apothecary.
The hospital closed in 1667 and re-opened in a new building at Moorfields. This new hospital was lavish expensive, and became known as a “palace for lunatics.” After 13 years, it was opened to the public as an attraction.
Even though the building was nicer, but that was all. The patients were still cruelly treated, regarded as prisoners instead of ill people. They were neglected, starved, and locked away in isolation. The visitors to the hospital were allowed to interact with patients, and visited them like they were seeing animals in a zoo. Visitors from all over London life gave the patients money to encourage them to perform songs and dances. Some of the patients were forced to meet the visitors against their will.
A new manager came in 1795 who believed he could cure madness, and practiced his own brand of therapy. They were beaten severely until they could behave the way he demanded. Patients were given cold baths, and made to sit in swings for rotation therapy.
In 1814, an outsider visited the hospital and saw the terrible conditions. Sketches of the inside of the hospital were published in the newspaper, forcing another investigation and the manager was fired. Things really changed when Resident Physician William Hood took over in 1852. His techniques were peaceful and quiet. He brought in magazines and crafts to keep patients busy. He even held monthly dances where patients could mingle with staff and visitors—but no longer in a weird, creepy way.
A new building was purchased in 1926, and the entire operation moved to Beckenham in 1930. Bethlem remains there to this day. A museum was opened in 1970 that displays artwork from patients and archives from the hospital’s history. Bethlem continues to provide psychiatric care but he days of chaining patients to the walls and starving them are over. We hope! It's still referred to as Bedlam though. I might have to pay a little visit to that museum.
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