National Lottery Open Week: History in your Hands
Victorian patient portraits
A talk with Dr Paul Tobia: Thurs 19th March 2026, 7.30pm
Whilst researching the patients of the Bristol Asylum Dr Paul Tobia found that from the early 1890’s many of the patients were photographed.
These photographs became something of an obsession! He has now collected and restored over 1000 of them.
Unlike the sometimes sterile notes of the medics, these photos brought back their humanity, though often pose more questions:
What were they like?
Can you tell what was wrong with them?
Did they like having their photos taken?
In this talk, Dr Tobia will discuss how people with psychiatric problems have been portrayed, how photography changed that, and how our asylum used these photographs.
It is also a chance to see a number of these photographs and the stories behind them.
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Hidden history in Fishponds, Bristol
This spring at Glenside Hospital Museum in Bristol, we invite you to an engaging history talk, exploring the photography of patients admitted to the city's lunatic asylum.
We hope to pique the curiosity of everyone from curious museum visitors, through to students, educators and researchers, all for the very affordable price of just £8.
Known for hosting thoughtful, inclusive and enjoyable events, Glenside Hospital Museum is a popular Bristol venue.
Based in the chapel at UWE Glenside, our museum is a perfect fit for those interested in social history, local history, mental health and medical heritage, making this talk an ideal cultural experience to enjoy during the spring season.
