Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum
Constructing Broadmoor
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The concept of Broadmoor was modeled on the Dundrum Asylum in Ireland, which specialized in treating criminal lunatics. As legal doctrine defined criminal lunatics, they did not make provisions for the specialized detainment and care for this subcategory of lunatic. In 1852 the House of Lords proposed a plan to construct a separate State asylum for the criminally insane, fueled by the perceived injustice to "ordinary lunatics" who had to mix with the "criminal lunatics." BY 1860, the Criminal Lunatics Bill was crafted to "better provision for the custody and care of criminal lunatics." The Bill empowered the Home Secretary to select a Council of Supervision to manage the asylum. It also provided the Lunacy Commissioners to inspect the institution annually and publish its findings as they did the county and private asylums. The Council of Supervision was also tasked with appointing a Superintended to oversee the "medical and moral treatment of the asylum." Based on the structure and features of county asylums— for example, countryside location, far from urban centers with an abundance of fresh air and natural landscape to offer a therapeutic environment — Broadmoor was set to be built in Berkshire.
On May 27, 1863, the first patients — eight women, six of whom had committed infanticide — walked through the doors of the newly built Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum. The Asylum functioned as a female-only asylum for its several months as the men's buildings were finishing construction. In 1864, 221 male patients were admitted to the Asylum. The first Superintendent of Broadmoor was Dr. John Meyer (1863-1870). He studied medicine in Germany and gained much of his experience in asylums outside of Britain. Dr. William Orange (1879-1886), who worked as a medical officer under Meyer, took over the position in 1870.
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Photograph of Dr. William Orange (1879-1870), Image Source: Berkshire Records Office
Similarly to Meyer, Orange obtained his medical degree abroad and spent time traveling throughout Europe. Orange made many changes to daily life in Broadmoor that were applauded by his cohort. He was an active participant in medical debates and wrote many articles on the topic of criminal insanity. He encouraged interaction between patients as well as their communication with families and friends through letters. He encouraged recreational activities and even established a staff band that would play for the patients.
"The Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum," Illustrated London News, August 24, 1867. Source: History of Emotions Blog.
Orange's positive impact can be seen in the letters by patients on their experiences under his purview. Matthew Jackson Hunter, a patient, wrote in a letter in August 1883:
"It is a splendid block of buildings… has an extensive view and is very healthy… the patients spend most of their time… exercising in the gardens, reading the daily papers, monthly periodicals, etc., there is also a well selected library… a cricket club, billiards, cards, and other amusements."
While Broadmoor treated the most dangerous criminal lunatics in the country, it was run like an ordinary asylum as it offered work therapy, recreational tasks, a healthful diet, exercise, and access to religious services. David Nicholson (1886-1896) superseded Orange after he retired and shared many of his views on insanity. Nicholson published extensively on the topic of criminal insanity during his career at Broadmoor and continued to speak on the subject after he left the position to become a Visitor in Lunacy under the Lord Chancellor. Dr. Richard Brayn (1896-1910) became Superintendent in 1896 and faced many challenges caused by over-crowding. He was the first Superintendent to have not held a similar position at an asylum, and he utilized seclusion and restraints to deal with the lunatic populations.
Admittance to Broadmoor
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They also accepted the admittance of those considered "convict lunatics," as they became insane while serving a sentence in the gaols, rather than being found insane at their trial. Unlike "criminal lunatics." Convict lunatics were considered by the courts to be responsible for their crimes and therefore did not experience the same pity directed the former population. "Criminal lunatics" were admitted on an "HMP" warrant, which meant they were to be confined until "His/Her Majesty's Pleasure," which equated an indefinite sentence.
Leaving Broadmoor
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Those admitted under a "convict lunatic" status stayed until their recovery, after which they would be sent back to the gaols and released if their sentence was completed. HMP patients, by their definition alone, meant that many died in Broadmoor; however, many did leave once they recovered. A substantial portion of those who were released were women who had killed their infants.
The process to discharge a patient required the individual to apply to the Secretary of State who would then contact the Superintendent of Broadmoor to request a report into the mental and physical health of the patient. If the medical officers and Superintendent found the patient to be recovered and no longer a danger to themselves or others, the Secretary of State would issue a warrant for the conditional discharge of the patient into the care of family or friends. During their release, those tasked with supervising the patient would have to provide reports every three months to the superintendent of Broadmoor and the Secretary of State.
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