What
The Glenside Hospital Museum is in Bristol in the grounds of the hospital on Blackberry Hill, Stapleton, and is housed in the former hospital chapel, a Grade II-Listed building.
Now within the campus of the University of the West of England, the hospital opened as the Bristol Lunatic Asylum in 1861 and during the first world war was converted to the Beaufort War Hospital (artist Stanley Spencer worked there as an orderly). The hospital closed in 1994.
“The museum’s remit is the history of mental health care,” says Stella Man, a freelance consultant who works as the project manager and is managing its funding bids. “We aim to educate visitors about mental illness and learning difficulties.”
Opened
1994. The museum was started by the last medical superintendent of the hospital, Dr Donal Early. In those days the museum operated from the canteen balcony – “Rather a nice one,” says Man.
Collection
“Big and quirky,” says Man. There is a wide range of paintings and photographs, mostly describing life in an institution. “A glass case full of boxes with dials – ECT machines – tells us that there is still so much we don’t know about the brain,” says Man.
The museum has a large selection of artworks by Denis Reed, a patient at the hospital in the 1950s and 60s. “There’s also an eclectic collection of hospital paraphernalia such as bedpans, pharmacy items and an oral history project,” Man says.
Highlights
“Apart from the Reed drawings, one of my favourite things is a key made by a patient from a six-inch nail,” Man says. “It was reputed to be able to open every door in the hospital.”
Help at hand
The museum is run by a group of volunteers – former hospital staff, local residents and students. “We are always on the lookout for more volunteers,” says Man.
Budget
None, except income from donations and funding applications. “We are run on a shoestring,” says Man. The museum is open every Wednesday and Saturday morning and by appointment; admission is free. Man recently secured £30,800 from the Heritage Lottery Fund for its oral history project and £52,000 from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation to look at its first world war postcard collection.
Visitors
2,000 a year.
Sticky moment
“We’ve had them,” says Man, remembering when the lead was stolen from the chapel roof, leading to a big flood.
Survival tip
“Have plenty of chocolate biscuits handy,” says Man. “And be nice to your volunteers.” She recalls how Luke Pomeroy, now at the Museum of London, deferred his MA to volunteer with the museum. “He is a real star,” says Man.
Future projects
The Esmée Fairbairn-funded project will make links between the way postcards were used a hundred years ago and modern social media, Man says.
The museum is also digitising its collection of films, photographs and paperwork for the many researchers who come to the museum. Man is hoping that the museum’s oral history project will raise its profile. “We are a hidden gem at the moment.”
www.glensidemuseum.org.uk
The Glenside Hospital Museum is in Bristol in the grounds of the hospital on Blackberry Hill, Stapleton, and is housed in the former hospital chapel, a Grade II-Listed building.
Now within the campus of the University of the West of England, the hospital opened as the Bristol Lunatic Asylum in 1861 and during the first world war was converted to the Beaufort War Hospital (artist Stanley Spencer worked there as an orderly). The hospital closed in 1994.
“The museum’s remit is the history of mental health care,” says Stella Man, a freelance consultant who works as the project manager and is managing its funding bids. “We aim to educate visitors about mental illness and learning difficulties.”
Opened
1994. The museum was started by the last medical superintendent of the hospital, Dr Donal Early. In those days the museum operated from the canteen balcony – “Rather a nice one,” says Man.
Collection
“Big and quirky,” says Man. There is a wide range of paintings and photographs, mostly describing life in an institution. “A glass case full of boxes with dials – ECT machines – tells us that there is still so much we don’t know about the brain,” says Man.
The museum has a large selection of artworks by Denis Reed, a patient at the hospital in the 1950s and 60s. “There’s also an eclectic collection of hospital paraphernalia such as bedpans, pharmacy items and an oral history project,” Man says.
Highlights
“Apart from the Reed drawings, one of my favourite things is a key made by a patient from a six-inch nail,” Man says. “It was reputed to be able to open every door in the hospital.”
Help at hand
The museum is run by a group of volunteers – former hospital staff, local residents and students. “We are always on the lookout for more volunteers,” says Man.
Budget
None, except income from donations and funding applications. “We are run on a shoestring,” says Man. The museum is open every Wednesday and Saturday morning and by appointment; admission is free. Man recently secured £30,800 from the Heritage Lottery Fund for its oral history project and £52,000 from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation to look at its first world war postcard collection.
Visitors
2,000 a year.
Sticky moment
“We’ve had them,” says Man, remembering when the lead was stolen from the chapel roof, leading to a big flood.
Survival tip
“Have plenty of chocolate biscuits handy,” says Man. “And be nice to your volunteers.” She recalls how Luke Pomeroy, now at the Museum of London, deferred his MA to volunteer with the museum. “He is a real star,” says Man.
Future projects
The Esmée Fairbairn-funded project will make links between the way postcards were used a hundred years ago and modern social media, Man says.
The museum is also digitising its collection of films, photographs and paperwork for the many researchers who come to the museum. Man is hoping that the museum’s oral history project will raise its profile. “We are a hidden gem at the moment.”
www.glensidemuseum.org.uk