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| Group of Nurses and Doctors |
18th March 1880
The board of the Office of Commissioners
in Lunacy proposed that an additional asylum should be built in the Glamorgan
area. This new asylum would accommodate
500 lunatic papers that were deemed incurable.
The proposed site for Parc Gwyllt was a portion of two farms. The land
consisted of approximately 127 acres and formed the northern part of the farms
of Parc Gwyllt and Gelliau.
1883
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| Nurse Betty Thomas holidng a baby of one of the patients. |
The contract for the asylum was signed.
1885
The asylum was near completion but could
not be opened due to problems with damp, amongst other things.
1885
The first psychiatric nursing handbook is published. It is known as the Red Handbook.
1886
Parc Gwyllt Asylum is completed at a cost
of approximately £60,000.
January 1887
Parc Gwyllt Asylum is opened. Many
patients deemed incurable were move to the asylum from Angelton Asylum (Glanrhyd)
to receive specialised care.
Dr. Finlay was draft to Parc Gwyllt from the
neighbouring Angelton Asylum at the requested of Dr. Pringle (the Medical
Superintendent) to look after the rapidly growing population of Parc Gwyllt. The cost per patient (weekly) at this time was
8 shillings. The name Parc Gwyllt itself translates to Wild Parc – Wild Field. At this time the asylum was self-sufficient with
a farm, vegetable and fruit gardens and a church. The patient population was approximately
1000.
1st April 1889
Parc Gwyllt Asylum became known as the
Glamorgan County Asylum. The asylum itself is now under the responsibility of
the Glamorgan County Council.
1890
The Lunacy Act states that patients had to
be certifiably insane before they could be admitted to Parc Gwyllt or any other
Psychiatric facility.
1895
The cost per patient (weekly) is 8
shillings and 2 pence (per patient).
1896
Nurse Training commenced by the Medical
Officers. Several of the attendants obtained certificates which were awarded by
The Psychological Association of Great Britain and Ireland.
1898
The infectious nature of Tuberculosis is recognised.
Steps are then taken to enforce cleanliness to the highest of standards.
The working hours for attendants were
very unsatisfactory for a system of doubling day and night duty was in
operation. For example an attendant may start work at 6:00am and finish 8:00pm
the next day. At this time the attendants only had 4 hours rest for the whole
time
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| Christmas Photograph |
1900 – 1910
As the patient population continued to increase
the average (weekly) cost of maintenance rose to 9 shillings and 3d (per
patient). The number of nurses obtaining qualifications also increased.
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| Cricket Team 1900 - 1910 |
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| Betty Westcott with colleagues c.1915 |
1910 – 1920: Female Uniforms
Female attendants wore full length dress
of a dark colour with long sleeves. Wide white starched cuffs were worn around
the wrists and starched white collars were worn around the neck. A full length white
apron with a wide bib that reached to the collar was worn with cross straps
tied behind the back. The female’s hair
was pinned up and covered with a white cap.
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| Gorup of Nurses. |
1920 – 1930
1922
The name of the hospital changed to
Glamorgan County Mental Hospital.
1929
The wages for attendants were £2 per week
with 17s. 6. deducted for board at lodging. At that time all of the staff were
required to be resident. The first 3 months of an attendants work at the
hospital was seen as a probationary period.
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| Dr. Brown and Nurses |
At that time the hospital was very strict
on discipline. Any slightest misdemeanour or rule breaking resulted in either a
caution, reprimand or a fine of 2s. 6d. – the fine was deducted from the ‘Good
Conduct Money’ which was paid every 3 months and could amount up to 10
shillings.
Female patients were employed in the laundry,
kitchen or at domestic duties on the wards. The males on the other hand were
employed in trenching gardens, in keeping the grounds in order and construction
work. Several of the patients were employed at the Tailor’s and Shoe-makers
shops on site.
Dr. Yellowlees believed that recreation and
occupational treatments were very vital to the health of the patients, with the
occupational treatments taking over the priority of the recreational
treatments.
When the patients had finished their work
they were allowed to take part in recreational activities. Cricket became an outside
favourite with cards, draughts and dominos being an inside favourite. It was
usually male patients that took part on sporting activities as it was seen that
the best recreational activities for females were sewing and knitting.
The gardens and farm, which were completely
cultivated by the patients at the hospital, provided ample supplies of potatoes
and vegetables. The farm cottage,
piggeries and cattle proved to make economic gains.
The patients work extremely hard and were
rewarded with an allowance of tobacco, tea, snuff and sometimes beer!
There was a long waiting list for people seeking
work at Parc Gwyllt and for a long period of time it was considered a desirable
attribute and even an asset whilst applying for work at the hospital if the applicant possessed any sporting or
musical abilities.
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| Dr. Brown and Nurses c.1928 |
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| Thomas Thomas and Nurse Esther Thomas |
1930 – 1940
1932
Outpatient Clinics opened at Bridgend and
Pontypridd.
1934
Occupational Therapy commenced. Weekend
leave of absence was inaugurated,
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| Football Team - 1934 |
1939
The average (weekly) cost of patient
maintenance was £1.8s 4.d (per patient).
1940 to 1950
1946
The day management of the hospital became
to responsibility of the Morgannwg Hospital Management Committee.
Much work was commenced in the upgrading
and modernisation of the Hospital.
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| Cricket Team - 1947 |
5th July 1948
Hospitals vested in the Minister.
1950 – 1960
31st March 1950
At this time the average population of
the hospital was 1,500 people and the weekly cost of the maintenance of the patients
was £3.18s.9d (per patient).
On this date a serious fire occurred in
which all of the trees that lined the entrance drive were burnt and completely destroyed.
The fire burnt the main administration centre entrance block; this is why the façade
is different from its initial design. This is also why there have never since been
any trees lining the entrance.
May 1956
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| Mrs. Yvonne Morris - Ladies Hairdresser at Parc. |
Farming ceased at the hospital when the
farm was sold.
Wards were numbered, for example – Males;
1 -8 and Female; 1-10 but during this decade they were given names in endeavour
to enhance the more homely individual personalisation of each ward.
1959
The Mental Health Act of 1959 was
implemented and all of the other acts were repealed.
April 1959
During this month Dr. J. M. Cuthill was
appointed the first Consultant Psychiatrist at Parc Hospital.
1960
This year was designated World Year in
Mental Health.
1960 – 1970
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| Miss Annie Roberts |
October 1963
New heating installation was commenced during
this month.
1963
(Matron) Miss Annie Roberts retired; a
farewell dinner was arranged for the 27th of December.
1963
Miss Marion Jones was appointed the new
Matron and at the same time Mr. Blackwell was appointed Deputy Male Nurse.
October 1968
The Minister of Health decided a start should
be made on the General Introduction of the Salmon Structure as advised to
reorganise the Senior Nursing Staff Structure (Ward Sister and above).
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| Female Ward 10 - Sister Margaret . |
August 1969
The First Inter Hospital Holiday Exchange
between Parc Hospital and St. David’s Hospital, Carmarthen was arranged and “very
much enjoyed”.
1969
In this year Parc Hospital broke
tradition by arranging the first mixed gender holiday. Prior to this holidays had been organised on
a single sex basis. 21 one patients enjoyed “a happy week” at a hotel in
Southsea in Hampshire. They were accompanied by a married couple who were bot h
nurse at Parc Hospital, Mr. and Mrs. Ray and Sheila Hatch.
1970
During this year the enclosure wall were
demolished.
Winnie Orchard (Catering Staff) is
awarded and B.E.M for services to Parc Hospital. She had completed 41 years’
service from January 1939 to January 19800 with only 2 sick days.
Closure
1988 saw the publication of the consultative
document that was to change the live of the patients and staff at Parc Hospital.
The Health Authority proposed the closure of one of the major psychiatric hospital.
Under pressure from staff organisations they conceded that it was Parc Hospital
that was to close. This drew a close to
107 years of care.
Ward 17 was transferred to Penyfai
Hospital and Ward 3 went to Tyntyla.
Over the next 6 year the patients and staff of Parc Hospital were
transferred to Rhondda, Taff Ely, Ogwr, Merthyr, Cynon Valley, Rhymney and West
Glamorgan.
Parc Hospital was the first major psychiatric hospital to close in Wales.
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| Parc Hospital during the Autumn. |
Source/Images: "A Tribute to Parc Hospital"
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