Description

Admin History:

The asylum was established in 1849 by the Borough magistrates under the Lunatic Asylum Act of 1845 (8 & 9 Vict. c.126). It was taken over by the Corporation in 1882. Under the Act a Committee of Justices was appointed in 1846. The Justices were to fix rules, appoint a clerk and a surveyor, a chaplain and a resident medical officer. Out of their number, a visiting committee was chosen which met frequently to inspect the condition of the asylum and the treatment of patients (at least four times a year), hence their title 'Visitors'. A weekly journal was to be kept and deaths etc were to be recorded. To cover the expense of the asylum the Justices were to assess the cost, and charge the Borough, and the Borough Council were to levy a general Borough rate. Several attempts were made to improve the Hull Borough Lunatic Asylum in the 1860's until, eventually, in 1879, a proposal by the Justices to purchase the De La Pole Estate in Willerby was accepted by both the Commissioners in Lunacy and the Corporation. However, the Corporation, fearing that the Justices would involve them in a very expensive project, took advantage of a Bill then before Parliament to insert a clause whereby the managerial powers of the Justices with respect to the Hull Borough Lunatic Asylum were transferred to them. The resulting Act (The Hull Extension and Improvement Act, 1882), gave the Corporation of Hull the power to undertake the duties of the Visiting Justices at any time within 6 months after 1st Sep 1883. Notice to this effect was given, by the Town Clerk, to Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Home Department on 12 Sep 1883. A month later an Asylum Committee was appointed.

Description:

The collection includes the minutes of the committee of the Justices of the Peace 1846-1851, minutes of the Committee of Visitors 1865-83, annual reports of the Visitors 1864-73, material relating to property 1772-1850, correspondence 1854-73, annual accounts 1868-70.