AN ACCOUNT BY A ROTHERHAM ‘LUNATIC AT LARGE’

ON WADSLEY ASYLUM.

Throughout the nineteenth century, many undercover journalists were writing about the lives of the poor working classes. The subjects they chose to cover were often controversial ones such as ‘A night in the Vagrant Ward of the Workhouse’ underlining the kinds of situations which drove people to sink to such depths. In this case this account was from an anonymous Rotherham reporter, simply calling himself ‘a vagrant journalist.’ His account, which was printed in the Sheffield and Rotherham Independent dated Saturday 5 December 1874, reveals an appalling attitude towards the inmates of the asylum. Using language, which would thankfully not be acceptable today, it does reflect societies attitudes of the period.

It seems that this unnamed reporter had been sent by his editor to visit Wadsley Asylum where the patients would receive treatment. I use the word ‘treatment’ advisedly as there simply was no treatment, apart from locking up the inmate in order to keep him or her safe and unable to harm themselves or others. Upon his arrival, the journalist states that he was courteously met by the Asylum Superintendent, Dr Mitchell on the steps of the building. The superintendent shook his hand and, to his surprise dealt with the reporter with much reverence. He stated that the superintendent treated him as if he was an official visitor, such as one of the a Commissioners for Lunacy, who were appointed to inspect all Yorkshire asylums.

Indeed the respect Dr Mitchell showed him he says, made him feel like he was an important Visiting Justice of the Peace or indeed a Guardian of the Rotherham or Sheffield Workhouse. The journalist states that Dr Mitchell informed him that the asylum was divided into three blocks, which were capable of holding up to 800 patients. Inviting him inside, he showed him that the central block comprised of reception rooms, administration rooms and kitchens. To the left were the women’s wards and the laundry, and to the right were the men’s dining rooms and workshops.

Dr Mitchell appeared happy to show the journalist around and they went first to the women’s ward. The superintendent told him that this section held 344 patients at that time and they were scattered among rooms of various sizes and shapes. The reporter says that all the rooms appeared to be cheerful, warm and comfortable. However, then his negative attitude towards the inmates began to creep through his account. The journalist wrote ‘the cleanliness was surprising, especially when we remember how dirty are the habits of some of the poor creatures, and how disorderly have been their homes.’ The report described how the walls were hung with bright coloured pictures and how ‘the decorations were simple, but cheerful.’

However, then the reporter writes ‘many of the women are old and most of them are ugly.’ He describes ‘one old crone of nearly 80, who was crouched on the floor by the fireside, poking among the cinders. It seems that she ‘resolutely declined the use of a chair.’ The report continues on how he was then approached by ‘another dame of portly build and voluble tongue who came forward with a letter. She told him that she was writing to the Queen asking her to instruct the superintendent that she should be released. The journalist concluded that ‘it needed no expert to tell that she was mad as a March hare.’

However he does admit that many others were sitting quietly in chairs and sofas, sewing or gazing vacantly about them. His description of the sick wards, which he said ‘were gratifying to think how much better the patients were tended and lodged than they could ever have been in their own homes.’ He states ‘the inmates, who were mostly old women reclining in their beds, seem to be held up only by the hook of their noses from slipping down under the bedclothes.’ The reporter was then taken into the men’s ward where his negative descriptions continued.

He said that at the time Dr Mitchell told him that there were only 259 patients in residence, which was much less that the inmates of the women’s wards. However, here he described the rooms as being much different to the women’s wards:

‘not only because these men differ in their habits from women, but because their dress is more sombre and untidy even though their faces are more repulsive. They talked much less, although mischief lurked in many a man’s eye.’

Dr Mitchell then proudly took our intrepid reporter through the men’s dining rooms where the inmates were dining on boiled bacon, potatoes and turnips. They entered the kitchens where the journalist recorded that he saw potatoes steaming, and porridge, tea and coffee being prepared in huge cauldrons. He was invited to taste the beer which the superintendent told him costs something in the region of 6d a gallon to produce. The reporter said that after tasting the alcohol ‘that it was not likely to make drunkards of anyone.’

Moving into the asylum workshops, he described two boilers which were constantly in use to provide hot water for heating, washing and cooking. The workers in the bakery were also in the process of making their daily batch of 200 loaves of bread. These Dr Mitchell boasted, were made completely by machinery and that the dough ‘never touched human hands until it comes out of the oven as loaves and is carried to the racks to cool.’ The reporter noted that during the visit, painters were busy painting scenery for a play which was to be performed for the inmates later that evening. He states that the audience was made up of both ‘sane and insane in unequal proportions.’

Nevertheless, this patronising report by the ‘vagrant journalist’ described his favour of the progressive attitude of the Wadsley Asylum staff. He says ‘now the old ideas of a straight jacket, the dark cell and chain are exploded, because the keepers actually think it desirable to amuse the unfortunates committed to their care.’ He concluded:

‘I must express my conviction that the Wadsley Asylum is an institution for the county to be very proud of. Its management is such as to reflect the highest credit on all concerned. So long as the insane are to be provided for in this way, this is the sort of retreat they should have.’