A Survey of Residents of the Eastbridge Hospital, Canterbury
Nathan shares the results of his exhaustive study of the residents of Eastbridge Hospital, Canterbury.
The Many Lives of Alice Marie Lillie: Part One – Her Illness and Treatment
Maxine looks at the notes of another resident of Chiswick House, and finds a troubled woman gradually retreating into a world of make believe.
The Many Lives of Alice Mary Lillie: Part Two – Who Was Alice?
In her second look at the casenotes of one inmate of Chiswick House, Max focuses on her life in the years before she was admitted, and asks whether there are any clues here as to why she developed her illness.
Robert ‘Dixie’ Smith, ‘the blind leader of the blind’.
Trade unionist and political activist described as ‘the most cheerful man in the Labour movement’.
The Chinese Dragon Gate Legend
Phil has been taking part in painting classes at Stoke Mandeville hospital, reflecting on independent living. He explains how his picture associates two Stoke Mandeville residents who wanted to live together with a Chinese legend.
What Became of Violet H Thompson?
Ann Newman looks at the case notes of a female patient of Chiswick House, finds evidence of Victorian attitudes percolating into 20th century medical thought, and discovers more loose ends than satisfying conclusions…
The Inheritance of Arthur Knowles
Maxine uncovers the story of an inmate of Manor House Asylum, Chiswick who may have been suffering from a hereditary degenerative disease. But further digging suggests there may be more to her initial diagnosis…
Ada Vachell: a life
The story of feminist and champion of the rights of disabled people, Ada Vachell, and how she created the Bristol Guild.
Our evacuation diary, 1939
Ann, a volunteer researcher in Liverpool, shares excerpts from a handwritten diary that was kept by students of the Royal School for the Blind, Liverpool upon their evacuation in 1939.
‘Poor pilgrims falling sick’
Ann continues tracing almshouses beyond the medieval period, and discovers what happened to pilgrims who fell mortally ill.