Brentwood, The Asylum 1897
Photo ref: 39874
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More about this scene

The County Lunatic Asylum was opened in 1853, though it was being constantly enlarged. 'The wards are airy, many commanding an extensive prospect', said Kelly's Directory. The grounds comprised 'a farm, kitchen-gardens & pleasure grounds; the farm and garden being cultivated by patients under the superintendence of attendants'. Visiting was limited to once a fortnight.

A Selection of Memories from Brentwood

For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our website to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was, prompted by the photographs in our archive. Here are some from Brentwood

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We moved to Pilgrims Hatch in 1971, such fun living on the Estate with a never ending hotch potch of mates to street rake with - knock down ginger, ipp dipp dog sh*t, duck duck goose, conkers and kiss chase. We'd bike to Ken Saunders sweet shop and get half ounce of Golden Virginia for Dad and penny chews or marshmallow mushrooms for us. There were Silly Syrretts the tiny grocery shop, the Butchers with ...see more
My father (Peter Winslow) was in charge of salaries and wages for the Brentwood District group of hospitals in the early 60s and he was based at Highwood Hospital. His offices were at one time in the Limes, the building in the photo to the right of the Admin Block. The Admin Block has the water tower. Previously Dad's office was in Poplars, c1962. After my parents separated in 68/69 my father lived at ...see more
Was the owner of the hardware shop called Hooker! I always remember it as H J Looker.
Marilyn Celico was for a time writing about stuff back in America about 15 years ago on a Brentwood website(before Facebook) and just chattering about the States.I remember her blonde hair and accent and her Dad at the Cafe called the Donut Bar down the small street beside Odeon cinema that was!. First the swimming pool off Ongar Road was sold off and we had to wait 20 years for the ...see more