Today’s speaker was Anne Littlewood, who told us about her working life at Storthes Hall.
Despite working for the hospital for 32 years, it was not an occupation that she initially aspired to, but when her husband became a mature student at 30, family income dropped dramatically. In 1968, therefore, after a friend’s recommendation, she applied to the then lunatic asylum for employment, and was surprised to be taken on with immediate effect, starting shift duties on “The Nibbs” ward looking after large numbers of elderly inmates who’s actions and antics often left her petrified. But she persevered and finally retired in 1997, after a lifetime of student nurse, nurse, sister and manager.
She was persuaded to write a book about her experiences, and Huddersfield University were so interested in the project that, after 4 years work, they agreed to publish the book.
In the 1700’s the 613 acres of land and mansion was established away from the general population, to cater for people, usually from wealthy families, considered insufficiently capable to be accepted into general society. Eventually, government decided that purpose-built lunatic asylums should be established, and 3 were initially established in the West Riding, Wakefield, catering for 2000 inmates, Menston, catering for 1200, and Sheffield, again catering for 2000.
During WW2 understaffing again became a problem, but the hospital and patients were not deprived, and in 1948 money was again invested in structural improvements, giving patients more individuality. This also heralded the first batch of immigrant nurses from Ghana and Mauritius, who found the English climate somewhat at odds with their aspirations.
Gradually in the 1980’s, other NHS hospitals began to develop their own mental health facilities, and the writing was on the wall; Storthes Hall Hospital closed in June 1991.