Catalogue description OAKWOOD HOSPITAL, MAIDSTONE

This record is held by Kent History and Library Centre

Details of MH/Md2
Reference: MH/Md2
Title: OAKWOOD HOSPITAL, MAIDSTONE
Description:

NB: Records formerly catalogued as C/MD have been incorporated into this collection

 

See also the following Quarter Sessions and County Clerk's records:

 

Q/GLb Early works to building and site

 

Applications for posts

 

Agreements for reception of pauper lunatics 1815-50

 

Q/GLr Returns 1825-90

 

Registers and Returns of deaths and discharges 1845-53

 

Q/GF1 Building Accounts for repair and maintenance 1829-86

 

Q/GC1 Reports of Building Committee, Committee of Visitors, Superintendent 1828-90

 

Q/GB8 Letter regarding proposed County Lunatic Asylum 1826

 

Q/GB11 Report of Committee to superintend erection of the County Lunatic Asylum 1828

 

Q/GB113 Dietary Table for County Lunatic Asylum 1878

 

C/A7/8 Site Plan of Hospital nd

 

CC/MC1 Minutes of Asylum Committee 1889-1948
Date: 1829-1977
Held by: Kent History and Library Centre, not available at The National Archives
Language: English
Creator:

Oakwood Hospital, Maidstone
Access conditions:

NB:Some of these records, containing confidential medical information, are closed to the public for 100 years: Note entries under "content summary" for details of embargo period for individual documents.

 

Access may be granted under certain very particular circumstances: see staff for details
Immediate source of acquisition:

Received as follows:

 

A705 May 1974 (Old Numbers; C/Md/B55-63) Hospital Secretary, Oakwood

 

A924 June 1979 Hospital Administrator, Oakwood

 

A1287 Jan 1986 Plans Mrs S Atkinson, OT Dept, Oakwood

 

April 1986 Reception Orders Mrs S Atkinson, OT Dept, Oakwood

 

A1625 Jan 1992 Attendants' and Servants Books Mr M W Hicks

 

A1687 July 1992 Workmistress' material and conversion book Mrs G A Procter

 

A1775 May 1993 Chaplain's Journal 1943-49 Maidstone Museum

 

A1823 Dec 1994 Maps, Oakwood Historical Society Files OT Dept, Maidstone Hospital

 

C646 Aug 1998 Female attendants wages book 1902-05 Heritage Conservation Planning Dept.

 

A2077 May 2000 Baptism and burial registers of St Saviours chapel, 1913-83 The Revd N Taylor, Maidstone Hospital
Subjects:
  • Maidstone, Kent
  • Mental health
Administrative / biographical background:

The provision of a county lunatic asylum, known at various times over the years as The County Mental Hospital, Barming Asylum, Barming Mental Hospital, Kent County Mental Hospital, Barming Heath Lunatic Asylum and Oakwood Hospital, was first raised by the County Justices in 1825, and on 18 November 1828 an order was made for its establishment, a 37 acre site being purchased on Barming Heath near Maidstone for the purpose. The first patients were admitted in 1833.

 

Originally designed for 168 patients, new sections were added in 1836, 1837, 1842, 1845 and 1847, by which time the capacity had risen to 443.

 

From the start overcrowding was a problem, and additional buildings were added in 1850 (the Chronic/Additional Building) and in 1867-72 (Third Asylum/New Building). Accomodation problems were eased somewhat by the opening of Chartham Asylum in 1875.

 

The new County Council took over the running of the asylum in 1889, which in 1890 had beds for 1522 patients, with a medical superintendant, four other doctors, a chaplain, a clerk of the asylum, a matron and 171 attendants.

 

Up to 1900 the hospital continued to receive up to 600 patients from those areas of Kent by now part of London County Council.

 

Two blocks taking 100 patients each were added in 1906, with another ward for 50 in 1912, and a new Nurses' Home and Training School in 1927, which freed up space for 157 beds.

 

By the time it passed out of County Council care in 1948, to that of the South East Metropolitan Hospital Board, Barming Hospital was authorized to accomodate 2055 patients, although the actual number there was in excess of this.

 

Under successive NHS reorganizations the hospital has become part of the Maidstone Group of hospitals (1974), Maidstone Health Authority (1982), West Kent Health Authority (1994), Mid Kent Healthcare NHS Trust and the Invicta Community Care NHS Trust.

 

The function of the hospital has now (2000) been taken over (in a much reduced form) by the psychiatric wing of the new Maidstone Hospital, and the original building vacated.

 

"A History of Oakwood Hospital 1828-1982" by (1) Staff at the Hospital (1828-1927) and (2) Geraldine Procter (1928-1982) (published by Kent County Library and catalogued in this collection under ref. Z7/5) provides a useful history of the Hospital and introduction to these records
Link to NRA Record:

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