St John’s hospital in Bracebridge heath has a long and interesting history. This grand Italian style designed hospital is set in grounds of 120 acres, this is now nothing but a shell of its former greatness hidden from the public behind scaffolding and barriers. The asylum grounds included the hospitals own burial site for those who unfortunately passed behind these walls. While excavating the grounds, work had to come to a stop when human skeletons were discovered.
This asylum has had many names since it first opened in 1852;
Lincolnshire Lunatic Asylum,
Bracebridge Mental Hospital,
The Lincolnshire County Pauper Lunatic Asylum,
Bracebridge Heath Hospital,
St John’s Hospital.
The hospital had male, female and children’s wings and used some of the traditional medical techniques in that day to cure insanity, including electric shock treatment. Brain surgery was believed to cure mental illness and was commonly used in asylums such as this. Conditions such as depression and post natal depression were classed as a mental illness and treated the same as someone with schizophrenia.
Bacebridge hospital_040 by moorebag, on Flickr
Despite all the horror story's i had heard before embarking on this adventure i found it to have a very calming atmosphere while exploring this beautiful building. Dont get me wrong i found some parts of the building a little disconcerting such as the children s ward. Despite it been an emotional journey i am keen to take this adventure again and will be very soon.
Bacebridge hospital_198 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_194 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_193 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_187 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_175 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_144 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_109 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_072 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_064 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_057 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_089 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_079 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_161 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_157 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_122 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_118 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_142 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_013 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_014 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_018 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_002 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_003 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_021 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_033 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_037 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_008 by moorebag, on Flickr
Keep your eyes open for another trip full of history.
This asylum has had many names since it first opened in 1852;
Lincolnshire Lunatic Asylum,
Bracebridge Mental Hospital,
The Lincolnshire County Pauper Lunatic Asylum,
Bracebridge Heath Hospital,
St John’s Hospital.
The hospital had male, female and children’s wings and used some of the traditional medical techniques in that day to cure insanity, including electric shock treatment. Brain surgery was believed to cure mental illness and was commonly used in asylums such as this. Conditions such as depression and post natal depression were classed as a mental illness and treated the same as someone with schizophrenia.
Bacebridge hospital_040 by moorebag, on Flickr
Despite all the horror story's i had heard before embarking on this adventure i found it to have a very calming atmosphere while exploring this beautiful building. Dont get me wrong i found some parts of the building a little disconcerting such as the children s ward. Despite it been an emotional journey i am keen to take this adventure again and will be very soon.
Bacebridge hospital_198 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_194 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_193 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_187 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_175 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_144 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_109 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_072 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_064 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_057 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_089 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_079 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_161 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_157 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_122 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_118 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_142 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_013 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_014 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_018 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_002 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_003 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_021 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_033 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_037 by moorebag, on Flickr
Bacebridge hospital_008 by moorebag, on Flickr
Keep your eyes open for another trip full of history.
