St Audry’s Hospital
‘To heal sometimes, to relieve often, to comfort always’
– St Audry’s Hospital Motto
St Audry’s Hospital began life as the Suffolk County Asylum in 1832. When St Audry’s closed in 1993, its museum collection and archive went to the Museum of East Anglian Life, Felixstowe Museum and the Suffolk Record Office. St Audry’s Hospital was pioneering in its treatment of mental illness. Dr John Kirkman, who was the Hospital’s Medical Superintendent between 1829 and 1876, believed that ‘No restraint can be employed which is so powerful as tenderness.’
St Audry’s Timeline
1765-1826 Melton House of Industry for the relief of the poor
1829 The Suffolk County Asylum for Pauper Lunatics opens
1832 Dr John Kirkman appointed Medical Superintendant
1876 Dr W Eager takes over as Physician Superintendent
1896 Dr Eager retires and Dr J R Whitwell takes over
1902-1904 Period of expansion with new wards, isolation hospital, farm buildings,
bakehouse and mortuary
1906 Hospital renamed Suffolk District Asylum – a name that lasted until 1930
1917 Asylum became known as St Audry’s Hospital for Mental Diseases
1924 Dr W Brooks-Keith replaces Dr Whitwell as Medical Superintendent
1930 Mental Treatment Act enables patients to be voluntarily admitted
1934 Occupational Therapy starts for some male patients
1935 Patient numbers reach a peak of 1200
1940-5 Part of the Hospital serves as Emergency Medical Service Hospital during WWII
1947 Occupational Therapy starts for women
1948 NHS act brings St Audry’s and St Clement’s under central control of Suffolk Mental
Hospital Management Committee.
1950 Dr Brooks-Keith retires and Dr I J Davies appointed
1960 Open days introduced
1963 Dr Davies retires and Dr Rixon appointed
1972 Amalgamation with St Clements as part of East Suffolk Health Authority
1974 Museum set up for visitors in old dormitory
1993 St Audry’s Hospital closes and the last 100 patients are transferred