Brownlees Prv Lunatic Asylum, Inveresk

Mo-anne · Post by **Mo-anne** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 11:45 pm

I'm (still) looking for an elusive relative and found a potential candidate on the 1841 census in Milnholm House, Inveresk which appears to be part of Brownlees Private Lunatic asylum. From the census info, it seems to have been run by Mr and Mrs Brownlees and have about fifty patients.
I've tried the links to institutions listed on TS but not managed to find any relevant references.

Any ideas on where I can look to find any info about it - or info about private (as opposed to public) asylums in general? The occupations of patients include shepherd, labourer, clerk etc - not just "well-off" people - so did relatives pay for the care or the "state"?

Thanks in advance

Mo-anne

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 11:54 pm

Hi Mo-Anne
I did a fair amount of rummaging into Inveresk asylums at one point and Andrew posted or sent this...

At the time of the 1851 census, Musselburgh (Inveresk Parish) seems to have been a popular place to house the insane. The following institutions are listed in the census of that parish.
Inveresk Private Lunatic Asylum
Mr Aitkenhead's Private Lunatic Asylum, Lilybank House
Mr Mackay's Private Lunatic Asylum, Millhouse, Musselburgh
Mr Moffat's Private Lunatic Asylum, Newbigging House
Miss C Reid's & Mr G Reid's Private Lunatic Asylum, Hallcross House
Mr David Munro's Private Lunatic Asylum, High Street, Fisherrow
Mrs Brownlee's Private Lunatic Asylum, Newbigging, Musselburgh

There is also:
Care of the Mentally Disabled in and around Edinburgh c.1680-c.1820 (earlier than the date you are interested in, but gives an illuminating picture of the times)

http://www.rcpe.ac.uk/publications/arti ... sabled.pdf

I would think that the payment for the upkeep of inmates was the responsibility of relatives in the private establishments. I'd be tempted to try the NAS site to see if there is any futher info.

Best wishes
Lesley

Post by **AndrewP** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 1:11 am

The 1841 census for Inveresk Parish shows a similar list of private lunatic asylums (each with its own enumeration book).

ED 16 Hill Cross House, Private Lunatic Asylum, Musselburgh
ED 17 Newbigging House, Private Lunatic Asylum, Newbigging, Musselburgh
ED 18 Brownlee's Private Lunatic Asylum, Newbigging, Musselburgh
ED 19 Milnholm House Private Lunatic Asylum, Musselburgh
ED 20 Campie Lane House Private Lunatic Asylum, Fisherrow, Musselburgh
ED 21 Eskside Private Lunatic Asylum, Musselburgh
ED 22 Private Lunatic Asylum, Market Street, Musselburgh
ED 23 Private Lunatic Asylum, Market Street, Musselburgh
ED 24 Millfield Cottage Private Lunatic Asylum, Musselburgh
ED 25 Inveresk Private Lunatic Asylum, Musselburgh

I don't know if this was some of the wealthier Edinburgh people sending their "lunatic" relatives out of sight in Musselburgh, rather than have them associated with themselves in the city.

All the best,

AndrewP

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 4:31 am

Hello Mo-anne,

Lots of information about the Brownlee establishment in this Google Book – Report into Lunatic Asylums in Scotland, 1857.
http://www.google.com.au/books?id=cwcfA ... 1#PPR32,M1

Search for Brownlee in the “search in this book” box on the right and you’ll find references on pages 109 (page 110/111 is missing), 287, 292, 416, 539, 564, 565 and others not highlighted.

Alan

Mo-anne · Post by **Mo-anne** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 6:34 pm

Never occurred to me that Inveresk might boast more than one such establishment - sounds like it was a main source of employment in the area in the 1840s/1850s.
Not sure if the person I've found is my relative or not but these are fascinating insights into an aspect of life in those times - well worth exploring for their own sake.
Many thanks for all these - riveting reading
Mo-anne

Mykayla's Gran · Post by **Mykayla's Gran** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 8:32 pm

Hello Mo-anne

Re Millholme House Asylum, I contacted the address below a few years ago regarding a relative who was a patient there around 1860, and they were very helpful. The hospital records were kept there then, but from what I can see from their website they’re in the process of redevelopment and have relocated some records. Also, I did have a solid line of enquiry. There is an email address lhsaATed.ac.uk which might be of help.

Lothian Health Services Archive
Special Collections
Edinburgh University Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ

Good luck!

Vee