Timeline:
1880:
Building of Cane Hill Asylum commenced.
Building of Cane Hill Asylum commenced.
1882:
Cane Hill Asylum completed;
Dr James Moody was appointed as the medical superintendent.
Cane Hill Asylum completed;
Dr James Moody was appointed as the medical superintendent.
1883:
Cane Hill Asylum opened in February;
Had 1124 patients (480 male and 644 female).
Cane Hill Asylum opened in February;
Had 1124 patients (480 male and 644 female).
1886:
Had patients 1094 (474 male and 620 female).
Had patients 1094 (474 male and 620 female).
1887:
The State Legislator of Pennsylvania, USA asked Dr Daniel Tuke for advice on asylums in the UK. Dr Tuke then went on to reccomend Charles Howell’s asylum design for Cane Hill;
Had 1075 patients (457 male and 618 female) and 103 staff members.
The State Legislator of Pennsylvania, USA asked Dr Daniel Tuke for advice on asylums in the UK. Dr Tuke then went on to reccomend Charles Howell’s asylum design for Cane Hill;
Had 1075 patients (457 male and 618 female) and 103 staff members.
1890:
Extension of the hospital is carried out adding extra wards to both the male (F, G and H) and female (H, I, K and L) sides around the back;
Had 1099 patients (464 male and 635 female).
Extension of the hospital is carried out adding extra wards to both the male (F, G and H) and female (H, I, K and L) sides around the back;
Had 1099 patients (464 male and 635 female).
1892:
Extension completed;
Had beds for 2000 patients (860 male and 1140 female).
Extension completed;
Had beds for 2000 patients (860 male and 1140 female).
1896:
Coulsdon Station was renamed to Coulsdon and Cane Hill.
Coulsdon Station was renamed to Coulsdon and Cane Hill.
1898:
Charlie Chaplin’s mother was taken in as a patient at Cane Hill Asylum.
Charlie Chaplin’s mother was taken in as a patient at Cane Hill Asylum.
1900:
Had 2210 patients.
Had 2210 patients.
1903:
Charlie Chaplin’s mother was referred from Lambeth Infirmary back to Cane Hill Asylum.
Charlie Chaplin’s mother was referred from Lambeth Infirmary back to Cane Hill Asylum.
1904:
Had 2138 patients.
Had 2138 patients.
1905:
Charlie Chaplin’s mother was, again admitted as a patient at Cane Hill Asylum.
Charlie Chaplin’s mother was, again admitted as a patient at Cane Hill Asylum.
1907:
Work commenced on the 200 foot subway system for steam and hot water pipes;
Had 2109 patients.
Work commenced on the 200 foot subway system for steam and hot water pipes;
Had 2109 patients.
1909:
Dr James Moody received a Knighthood.
Dr James Moody received a Knighthood.
1912:
Had 2195 patients (959 male and 1236 female).
Had 2195 patients (959 male and 1236 female).
1914:
Start of World War 1 the hospital was used as a military hospital;
No new civilian mental patients were taken in;
females were now permitted to work on the male wards.
Start of World War 1 the hospital was used as a military hospital;
No new civilian mental patients were taken in;
females were now permitted to work on the male wards.
1915:
Superintendent Sir James Moody died.
Superintendent Sir James Moody died.
1912:
Had 2408 patients.
Had 2408 patients.
1918:
World War 1 ends and the hospital was returned to its former use with a new name: Cane Hill Mental Hospital.
World War 1 ends and the hospital was returned to its former use with a new name: Cane Hill Mental Hospital.
1929:
Had 2120 patients (870 male and 1250 female).
Had 2120 patients (870 male and 1250 female).
1931:
Dr George Lilly became new medical superintendent.
Dr George Lilly became new medical superintendent.
1942:
ECT first used in the hospital.
ECT first used in the hospital.
1943:
Had 2313 patients;
First mentioned cases of labotomies/leucotemies.
Had 2313 patients;
First mentioned cases of labotomies/leucotemies.
1944:
Had 2423 patients.
Had 2423 patients.
1945:
Had 2248 patients and 379 staff members.
Had 2248 patients and 379 staff members.
1947:
Had 2247 patients.
Had 2247 patients.
1948:
Had 2281 patients(781 male and 1452 female);
Comes under the control of the NHS;
Now known as Cane Hill Hospital.
Had 2281 patients(781 male and 1452 female);
Comes under the control of the NHS;
Now known as Cane Hill Hospital.
1949:
Dr Alexander Walk replaced Dr George Lilly as the medical superintendent.
Dr Alexander Walk replaced Dr George Lilly as the medical superintendent.
1950:
Last burial takes place on the grounds.
Last burial takes place on the grounds.
1951:
Hospital wards were renamed from letters to names of well-known locals and artists by medical superintendent Alexander Walk.
Hospital wards were renamed from letters to names of well-known locals and artists by medical superintendent Alexander Walk.
1953:
The health minister announced that all farming and market gardening activities performed at hospitals shall cease;
The farming equipment was sold off and the greenhouses were allowed to enter a state of dereliction.
The health minister announced that all farming and market gardening activities performed at hospitals shall cease;
The farming equipment was sold off and the greenhouses were allowed to enter a state of dereliction.
1954:
Had 2400 patients.
Had 2400 patients.
1956:
Completion of Industrial Therapy Unit to the south and a new Nurses Accommodation block for females to the rear.
Completion of Industrial Therapy Unit to the south and a new Nurses Accommodation block for females to the rear.
1959:
Introduction of the Mental Health Act 1959 states that people are allowed to voluntary admit as well as discharge themselves thus causing the start of many falls in both patient and staffing numbers.
Introduction of the Mental Health Act 1959 states that people are allowed to voluntary admit as well as discharge themselves thus causing the start of many falls in both patient and staffing numbers.
1960:
Had 1600 patients.
Had 1600 patients.
1962:
Medical superintendent Dr Alexander Walk retires.
Medical superintendent Dr Alexander Walk retires.
1964:
Another Nurses Accommodation block is added to the north of the site;
York and Unwin wards are shut due to fall in admissions.
Another Nurses Accommodation block is added to the north of the site;
York and Unwin wards are shut due to fall in admissions.
1968:
The Salter Narcotic Addiction Unit is closed.
The Salter Narcotic Addiction Unit is closed.
1971:
Had 1451 patients.
Had 1451 patients.
1980:
Completion of the new purpose built boiler house.
Completion of the new purpose built boiler house.
1981:
The cemertary is cleared and the land sold off for housing.
The cemertary is cleared and the land sold off for housing.
1985:
Change occurred in patient make-up as numbers of mentally ill patients were replaced with the elderly, mentally infirm;
Patient numbers dropped to 643;
Nightingale ward turned into a social centre for the patients.
Change occurred in patient make-up as numbers of mentally ill patients were replaced with the elderly, mentally infirm;
Patient numbers dropped to 643;
Nightingale ward turned into a social centre for the patients.
1986:
Long-term care beds were no longer available;
Wren ward changed from a mixed, elderly, mentally infirm to male schizophrenics and acute senile dementia.
Long-term care beds were no longer available;
Wren ward changed from a mixed, elderly, mentally infirm to male schizophrenics and acute senile dementia.
1987:
Cane Hill appears in the Bromley Times regarding the death of a patient on Wren ward;
Staff and patient numbers dropped to 400 and 299 respectively;
The SASS Unit opened with 23 beds.
Cane Hill appears in the Bromley Times regarding the death of a patient on Wren ward;
Staff and patient numbers dropped to 400 and 299 respectively;
The SASS Unit opened with 23 beds.
1990:
One of the Nurses accommodation blocks is refurbished;
Nightingale ward is closed.
One of the Nurses accommodation blocks is refurbished;
Nightingale ward is closed.
1991:
The staff are told of their imminent redundancy;
A section of Ellis ward is dedicated to promoting the Positive Futures idea surrounding the closure of Cane Hill and the re-homing back into the community;
Keats ward is closed;
Towards the end of this year, the hospital had to stay open for a further 6 months to re-home patients whose care had not been finalised;
Patient mix consisted of 70 elderly, mentally infirm patients and 33 patients sectioned under the mental health act awaiting confirmation of release from the Home Office;
Pop-inn, Top to Toe, the laundry, the chapel and the dentist are closed;
Just before Christmas a patient receives the last recorded use of ECT.
The staff are told of their imminent redundancy;
A section of Ellis ward is dedicated to promoting the Positive Futures idea surrounding the closure of Cane Hill and the re-homing back into the community;
Keats ward is closed;
Towards the end of this year, the hospital had to stay open for a further 6 months to re-home patients whose care had not been finalised;
Patient mix consisted of 70 elderly, mentally infirm patients and 33 patients sectioned under the mental health act awaiting confirmation of release from the Home Office;
Pop-inn, Top to Toe, the laundry, the chapel and the dentist are closed;
Just before Christmas a patient receives the last recorded use of ECT.
1992:
Cane Hill finally closed;
A study is commissioned into following up those that had been re-housed back into the community;
Staff took up positions either witin other hospitals in the area or at the SASS Unit.
Cane Hill finally closed;
A study is commissioned into following up those that had been re-housed back into the community;
Staff took up positions either witin other hospitals in the area or at the SASS Unit.
2001:
Fire destroyed the main hall.
Fire destroyed the main hall.
2003:
Fire destroyed Vincent and Vanbrugh ward.
Fire destroyed Vincent and Vanbrugh ward.
2007:
Land was sold to Government quango English Partnerships;
The chapel, Administration block and water tower received a local listing status.
Land was sold to Government quango English Partnerships;
The chapel, Administration block and water tower received a local listing status.
2008:
SASS Unit finally closed;
The newer of the two nurses accommodation blocks caught fire just before demolition began;
Demolition of site commenced, with an estimated cost of £8m.
SASS Unit finally closed;
The newer of the two nurses accommodation blocks caught fire just before demolition began;
Demolition of site commenced, with an estimated cost of £8m.
2010:
Demolition and clean up of the site ends;
The chapel, Administration block and water tower are left standing;
English Partnerships becomes the Homes and Communities Agency;
Fires raged through the Administration block and the water tower causing it to collapse.
Demolition and clean up of the site ends;
The chapel, Administration block and water tower are left standing;
English Partnerships becomes the Homes and Communities Agency;
Fires raged through the Administration block and the water tower causing it to collapse.
2011:
The HCA are currently awaiting tenders for the site, news of which is due at the end of this year.
The HCA are currently awaiting tenders for the site, news of which is due at the end of this year.