1909 - 2000
Learning
Disabilities
Hospitals
Stoke Park’s Dower House is arguably one of the most iconic buildings in Bristol. It has been part of the skyline since the 16th Century and now sits above the M32 motorway.
Its history as the beginning of Stoke Park Colony of hospitals is revealed in the museum, telling stories of learning disabilities care in Bristol in the 20th Century.
patients
The Burdens
Reverend Harold Nelson Burden was an early pioneer of mental healthcare for children and adults. He founded Stoke Park Colony with his first wife Katherine in 1909.
It was the first institution certified for patients under the Mental Deficiency Act 1913. It was initially occupied by children with learning disabilities, then adult females too, until the last patients were removed by 1985 and it officially closed in 1997.
Expansion
Stoke Park Colony expanded by buying surrounding land and building new accommodation. In 1917 it was granted a licence for 1,528 "inmates", making it Britain's largest licensed institution. The Colony expanded to include:
- Purdown Hospital (1914-1992) over 650 beds.
All patients and residents were men with the exception of Elms Ward for blind women - Hanham Hall (1916-2000) for 240 people,
varying between men and women - Leigh Court (1917-1985) for 260 women
- Anchor Lodge, Clifton
You might not expect...
This photo captures one of the activities children were engaged in as recreation.
Children at Stoke Park
A glimpse into early 20th Century education for children with learning disabilities
Stoke Park was potentially ahead of its time, a book published in 1911 advertises the extent of the holistic provision provided for children including schooling, recreation and occupational work experience. At this time there were some 78 boys and 211 girls resident.
Transfer to NHS and closure
In 1948 the newly-founded National Health Service took over the operation of Stoke Park’s colony of hospitals for people with learning disabilities, including Purdown, Leigh Court and Hanham Hall.
It was run by Stoke Park Hospital Management Committee with 1,930 beds for patients. Little development took place and gradually the hospital became overcrowded and understaffed. A report in 1971 led to terrible conditions at the hospital being raised in Parliament, resulting in £1 million being spent on new wards and an increased budget.
Care in the Community
Slowly through the ‘80s and ‘90s houses and wards were closed. In 1992 all remaining learning disability services were absorbed into the new Phoenix NHS Trust. The purpose was to transition into the ‘Care in the Community’ model of healthcare and away from these old residential institutions. Stoke Park was officially closed in March 31st 1997.
