Ethan Rhodes
Bethlem Royal Hospital, also known as St Mary Bethlehem, Bethlehem Hospital, and Bedlam, is a psychiatric hospital in Bromley, London. Founded in 1247, it is the oldest mental health hospital in Europe. Originally located just outside the city walls, the hospital has moved four times throughout its history. It was founded by the Bishop-elect of Bethlehem, Goffredo de Prefetti, following a donation of personal property by the London alderman and former sheriff, Simon FitzMary. The hospital was initially intended as a centre for the collection of alms to support the Crusader Church and to link England to the Holy Land. Over time, it transitioned into a hospital and began accommodating the sick, including those with mental health disabilities. The hospital became notorious for its poor conditions and the inhumane treatment of its patients, including starvation, beatings, and other brutal medical practices. The word Bedlam became associated with chaos and confusion and was used generically for all psychiatric hospitals. Despite its controversial history, Bethlem Royal Hospital continues to operate as a psychiatric institution today.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year founded | 1247 |
| Founder | Goffredo de Prefetti |
| Original name | Priory of the New Order of our Lady of Bethlehem; Priory of St. Mary of Bethlehem |
| Original purpose | To raise funds for the Crusader Church and to link England to the Holy Land |
| Became a hospital | By the early 1300s |
| Became a psychiatric hospital | By 1377 |
| Became England's first asylum for the treatment of mental illness | 1547 |
| Became notorious | 1630s |
| Became known as Bedlam | 1700s |
| Current location | Monks Orchard, Bromley, London |
| Number of moves | 4 |
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What You'll Learn
- The hospital was founded in 1247 by Goffredo de Prefetti, a bishop from Italy
- It was initially a priory, or monastery, for the Order of the Star of Bethlehem
- The hospital has moved five times since its founding and is currently in Beckenham, Kent
- It was the first asylum for the mentally ill in England and is the oldest in Europe
- The hospital's conditions were poor, with patients subjected to horrific treatments
The hospital was founded in 1247 by Goffredo de Prefetti, a bishop from Italy
The Bethlem Royal Hospital, also known as St Mary Bethlehem, Bethlehem Hospital, and Bedlam, was founded in 1247 by Goffredo de Prefetti, a bishop from Italy. It is the oldest mental illness treatment institution in Europe.
Goffredo de Prefetti was the Bishop-elect of Bethlehem. The hospital was founded as the Priory of the New Order of Our Lady of Bethlehem in the city of London during the reign of Henry III. It was established following a donation of personal property by the London alderman and former sheriff, Simon FitzMary. The original location was just beyond London's wall, in the parish of St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate, which for civil purposes was coterminous with the Bishopsgate Without area. The hospital was located where the southeast corner of Liverpool Street Station now stands.
Bethlem was not initially intended as a hospital in the clinical sense, but as a centre for the collection of alms to support the Crusader Church and link England to the Holy Land. De Prefetti's need to generate income for the Crusader Church and restore the financial fortunes of his see was occasioned by two misfortunes. The hospital's role as a centre for alms collection persisted throughout the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, but its linkage to the Order of Bethlehem unravelled, putting its purpose and patronage in doubt.
By the 1370s, the Bethlem Royal Hospital had been converted exclusively into a mental institution, making it one of the oldest mental hospitals in Europe. The hospital has operated for around six hundred years and is regarded as one of the world's celebrated and infamous institutions for caring for and treating mental illness patients.
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It was initially a priory, or monastery, for the Order of the Star of Bethlehem
Bethlem Royal Hospital, also known as St Mary Bethlehem, Bethlehem Hospital and Bedlam, is a psychiatric hospital in Bromley, London. It was founded in 1247 as the Priory of the New Order of Our Lady of Bethlehem during the reign of Henry III. It was established by the Bishop-elect of Bethlehem, Goffredo de Prefetti, following a donation of personal property by the London alderman and former sheriff, Simon FitzMary. The original location was just beyond London's wall, in the parish of St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate.
The hospital was not initially intended as a hospital in the clinical sense, but as a centre for the collection of alms to support the Crusader Church and to link England to the Holy Land. De Prefetti's need to generate income for the Crusader Church and restore the financial fortunes of his see had been occasioned by two misfortunes. As a medieval hospital and religious priory, Bethlem initially functioned very little as a hospital in the modern-day sense of the term. Medieval hospitals served several functions: as leper communes, almshouses, hostels, or infirmaries. Bethlem was intended to act as a hostel, or temporary home for travelling persons of the Order, in addition to its role as a priory.
The priory, obedient to the Church of Bethlehem, also housed the poor and, if they visited, provided hospitality to the bishop, canons, and brothers of Bethlehem. Thus, Bethlem became a hospital, in medieval usage, "an institution supported by charity or taxes for the care of the needy". The subordination of the priory's religious order to the bishops of Bethlehem was further underlined in the foundational charter, which stipulated that the prior, canons, and inmates were to wear a star upon their cloaks and capes to symbolise their obedience to the church of Bethlehem.
Over the years, other developments within the precinct of Bethlem included an inn called the Black Bull and potentially a tavern. Far from being only a place where the sick or insane received care, Bethlem in its first two centuries housed a variety of individuals, private and religious. At some point in its early history, Bethlem began to acquire some of the characteristics of a modern-day hospital, admitting the sick and caring for them. It may have done so as early as 1292, but certainly by 1403 it had begun to accommodate the sick.
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The hospital has moved five times since its founding and is currently in Beckenham, Kent
The history of Bethlem Hospital, also known as St Mary Bethlehem, Bethlehem Hospital, Bethlem Royal Hospital, and Bedlam, is a long and fascinating one. Founded in 1247 by Simon Fitzmary, an alderman and former sheriff of London, the hospital was originally located just outside the city walls in the Bishopsgate Without area of the City of London.
Over the centuries, the hospital has moved several times. In 1676, it relocated to Moorfields, and then to St George's Fields in Southwark in 1815. It is notable that the hospital's early history was marked by its function as a charitable institution and a centre for alms collection, rather than a clinical hospital in the modern sense. It was not until the late 16th and early 17th centuries that Bethlem began to take on more characteristics of a modern hospital, with efforts to improve sanitation and patient care.
In 1930, the hospital moved again, this time to the suburbs of Croydon, specifically to the site of Monks Orchard House between Eden Park, Beckenham, West Wickham, and Shirley. This move brought the hospital to its current location in what is now Bromley, London. The site in Beckenham, Kent, was a former country house estate, and the hospital has remained there ever since, solidifying its place as a major centre for psychiatric research and care.
The hospital's move to Beckenham, Kent, marked a new chapter in its long history. The previous site in St George's Fields became home to the Imperial War Museum, while Bethlem Royal Hospital continued its mission of providing psychiatric care and contributing to advancements in mental health research. The hospital's association with King's College London and its partnership with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience further enhanced its reputation as a leading centre for psychiatric research and education.
Today, Bethlem Royal Hospital remains a vital part of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, serving the community and continuing its legacy of innovation and dedication to psychiatric healthcare.
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It was the first asylum for the mentally ill in England and is the oldest in Europe
Bethlem Royal Hospital, also known as St Mary Bethlehem, Bethlehem Hospital and Bedlam, is a psychiatric hospital in Bromley, London. It is part of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and is closely associated with King's College London. Founded in 1247, it is the oldest asylum for the mentally ill in England and the oldest in Europe.
The hospital was founded by the Bishop-elect of Bethlehem, Goffredo de Prefetti, following a donation of personal property by the London alderman and former sheriff, Simon FitzMary. The original location was just beyond London's wall, in the parish of St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate. It was established as the Priory of the New Order of our Lady of Bethlehem, or the Priory of St. Mary of Bethlehem, devoted to healing sick paupers.
In the early 1300s, the priory transitioned into a hospital, and by 1377, Bethlem Hospital was strictly used as a mental health institution. It was the first of its kind in England and soon became notorious for its noise and disorder. It was also a popular London attraction, with patients on display for the public to observe. The conditions in the hospital were poor, with chronic infestations of rats and insects, and an inadequate water supply. Patients were subjected to horrific treatments, including starvation, beatings, bloodletting, and rotation therapy.
Over time, the hospital moved locations several times due to issues with the building and attempts to improve conditions. In 1676, it relocated to Moorfields, where latrines were introduced, and efforts were made to instigate regular cleaning regimens. However, the hospital continued to struggle financially, and in 1815, it moved again to a new building at St George's Fields, south of the Thames. This move brought about significant reforms, and by 1818, patients were found to be well-cared for and the hospital well-managed.
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The hospital's conditions were poor, with patients subjected to horrific treatments
Bethlem Royal Hospital, also known as St Mary Bethlehem, Bedlam Hospital, or Bedlam, is a psychiatric hospital in Bromley, London. Founded in 1247, it is the oldest mental health hospital in Europe.
The hospital was not initially intended as a clinical institution, but as a centre for the collection of alms to support the Crusader Church and to link England to the Holy Land. However, over time, it began to acquire some of the characteristics of a modern-day hospital, admitting and caring for the sick.
The conditions at Bethlem Hospital were often poor, and patients were subjected to horrific treatments. In the 17th century, the hospital was notorious for its noise and disorder. Lady Eleanor Davies, who spent time at the hospital in the 1630s, compared it to "hell, such were the blasphemies and the noisome scents." The image of Bethlem as a place of chaos and confusion was further perpetuated by contemporary accounts, such as that of Donald Lupton, who wrote of the "cryings, screechings, roarings, brawlings, shaking of chaines, swearings, frettings, [and] chaffings" that filled the hospital. Rats and insects infested the hospital, and the sole water supply came from a single cistern, from which water had to be carried via bucket.
The hospital regime during this period was a mixture of punishment and religious devotion. Chains, manacles, locks, and stocks were used, and patients were subjected to corporal punishment and isolation. While these treatments were considered acceptable at the time, they would be considered horrific by modern standards.
In the 19th century, inspectors at the hospital made several appalling discoveries, including finding a woman named Anna Stone naked, filthy, and chained to a wall in a damp, dark stone cell. The inspectors described the hospital as having "the appearance of a dog kennel."
Instances of financial scandals and staff misconduct have also plagued the hospital. In 1346, the hospital treasurer, Peter Taverner, was found guilty of embezzlement and theft. In more recent times, in 2014, a 15-year-old patient named Chris Brennan died of asphyxiation while at Bethlem Hospital after repeated self-harming. The hospital has also been criticised for its handling of racial stereotyping and the brutal treatment of a young man, Seni Lewis, who collapsed and died during restraint by police officers.
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Frequently asked questions
Bethlehem Hospital, also known as Bethlem Royal Hospital, was founded in 1247 and is the oldest mental health institution in Europe. It was the first asylum for the mentally ill in England.
The hospital was founded by the Bishop-elect of Bethlehem, Goffredo de Prefetti, following a donation of personal property by the former Sheriff of London, Simon FitzMary. It was initially a priory or monastery for the Order of the Star of Bethlehem and was intended to be a centre for the collection of alms to support the Crusader Church. Over time, it transitioned into a hospital and began accommodating the sick and treating people with mental health disabilities.
Today, Bethlehem Hospital is also known as St Mary Bethlehem, Bethlem Royal Hospital, and Bedlam. It is a psychiatric hospital and a major centre for psychiatric research, located in Bromley, London.
