The West Riding Pauper Lunatic Asylum
5. The female case books
The female case books cover the period 1818 to 1902 and provide a unique insight into the day-to-day life of a Victorian lunatic asylum. They uncover the forgotten lives of women diagnosed as mentally ill and record the personal details of each patient. Information includes: address, occupation, length of illness, family members who have been ill, cause of illness and details of progress.
6. Elizabeth Clafton
Admitted on 14 September 1864, Elizabeth was a 12 year old rag picker from Ossett. Her notes describe her as having a "dull aspect and sulky manner", her behaviour is mischievous, and she does not pay attention to what is said to her. Questions are answered in an "ill tempered tone". She is described as using violent language and acts, tearing her clothes, rambling from home and threatening her parents and the diagnosis of her illness was "dementia". From May 1866 Elizabeth starts to improve and by 1868 when she would have been 16, she is described as working industriously in the wards. Expected to clean, sew, wash and iron for 6 or 7 hours a day she is finally discharged on 14 January 1868. After 3 and half years she became a success story for the asylum! |
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