The exhibition in our chapel traces the beginnings of the asylum from its instigation in 1848. It follows it through to the Victorian/ Edwardian period looking at the medical theories of that time, the use of medications and the belief in the “Moral Treatment of the Insane” which prevailed until the early 20th century.
There are photographs and histories of the patients and their stories.
There are staff pictures and stories and the theories of the benefits of the use of entertainment and music as part of therapy.
There is an important section on the saving of the site after it was put up for sale by the N.H.S for housing in 2000 and the amazing efforts of local residents and politicians to save the site to preserve its place in the history of the community.
This enabled the stories of these 3,000 forgotten people to be remembered and their lives recorded for the future instead of lying forgotten in unmarked graves. It is important to remember them and give them their rightful place in the social history of Somerset.