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  2. Bethlem Museum Of The Mind

Bethlem Museum of the Mind

We are delighted to be working in partnership with Bethlem Museum of the Mind.

Founded in 1247, Bethlem Royal Hospital was the first institution in the United Kingdom to specialise in the care of the mentally ill. The hospital is still in operation today and has been based in South London since 1930.

Bethlem Museum of the Mind sits within the hospital grounds and was formally opened in 2015. The museum hosts an internationally renowned collection of archives, art and other historic objects which helps to support and share the history of mental healthcare and treatment.

You can now explore a fascinating collection of patient and staff records from Bethlem Royal Hospital here at Findmypast.

Bethlem Hospital Patient Admission Registers and Casebooks, 1683-1932

Was your ancestor admitted to Bethlem hospital? Or maybe your relative helped to treat patients? Delve into thousands of historic records from admission registers, staff books, governors’ minutes and even patients’ casebooks. Read descriptions of your ancestor’s behaviour, physicians’ notes and medical histories.

The records also include those of the criminally insane. Discover where and when your ancestor was convicted and the duration of his/her stay in Bethlem. The records also include the names of some famous assassins. The records include the name of James Norris, the American seaman who spent ten years in confinement and restraint in Bethlem in appalling conditions. His story led to a government enquiry and the passing of England’s Mad House Act of 1828.

Search Patient Admission Registers and Casebooks

Additional information

You can find out more about the fascinating collections held at Bethlem Museum of the Mind, browse the online archives or arrange a visit on the museum website.