Bedlam: Britain’s Most Notorious Lunatic Asylum
Exploring the fascinating history of psychiatric medicine at the Wellcome Collection, London

Victorian lunatic asylums have always been a source of fascination for me, so when after an appointment in London, I passed the Wellcome Collection, promoting its exhibition entitled ‘Bedlam: the asylum and beyond’, I couldn’t not take a look!
The exhibition explored the history of lunatic asylums in the UK, the lives of the patients and the treatments they were given.
Bethlem Royal Hospital opened in 1247 and although it’s moved several times, it still exists today, operating as an NHS hospital. It was supposed to be a place of sanctuary, but the squalid conditions and terrible treatment methods were far from what we’d consider a sanctuary today.
In 1598 visitor tours began. It became part of the tour of London, alongside the royal palaces and London Zoo. Public reaction led to an inspection — the first in 40 years!
The inspectors reported it was unfit for habitation. A programme of repairs and improvements was initiated, but the restraints, screaming, and trauma of those hospitalised gave it a reputation of being like hell on earth.
It continued to operate with some improvements after the inspection but remained notorious, using treatments such as electroshock therapies that patients claimed cured their symptoms, just so they didn’t have to endure it any more.
Over time a more compassionate society emerged, and the use of restraints was lessened, then abandoned. The quality of British asylums was very mixed, with some offering good care, and other neglecting patients.
Even in the 1940s, electroconvulsive therapy continued to be used, causing all sorts of problems for patients, including convulsions, memory loss, and a feeling of suffocation.
Today there are many different approaches to therapy, but more are drug based.
The Wellcome Collection’s exhibition was fascinating, with old images of Bethlem Hospital on display. There were books and papers going back to the 19th century, portraying the hospital in an unflattering light, and artworks to reflect more modern approaches to mental healthcare.
The Bedlam exhibition was temporary and has since closed, but the topic continues to fascinate visitors, and if you visit the Welcome Collection today, you’ll still gain fascinating insight to the history of Medicine.
Read more about it here…
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