Useful, harmless, and demented | Arthur Henry Banner

A postcard of Angelton Asylum, Bridgend.

Those who follow my work will know that I am currently researching and writing about the patients of Glamorgan County Lunatic Asylum. This is my second blogpost about a patient of Angelton Asylum, the first post being about Thomas 'King' Rees. It is interesting to note that the gentleman I am writing about in this post would have known Thomas.

In this post, I write about Arthur Henry Banner. 

Arthur was the son of one of the first members of the rural police force at Newbridge. He was a husband, a father and a grocer. He was one of the few who were not buried in the Angelton Asylum Cemetery. His family paid for his body to be removed from the asylum and to be buried with his family.





Although not much is known about his life, I have found that his case file gives us a detailed insight into his time at the asylum. Other information has been drawn from census records and burial records. 

A view of St Nicholas Village, Vale of Glamorgan.

Arthur Henry Banner was born in March 1837 at Regent Place, Bedminster. He was the youngest of three children born to Esther and her husband Philip Banner. Their eldest child, Henry Arthur died in 1834 aged 9 months. Hannah, their middle child, Arthur's older sister was born in December 1835.

The 1841 Census tells us that the Banner family had moved from Bedminister to Newbridge (now Pontypridd) At this time Philip Banner was employed as a Policeman. Both Hannah and Arthur are listed as scholars. An article in The Glamorgan, Monmouth and Brecon Gazette and Merthyr Guardian published in March 1841 details an arrest made by Philip Banner at Newbridge. In this article, he is described as being “one of the rural police.”

In 1843, Arthur's mother, Esther died aged 44. By this time the family were living in the village of St Nicholas in the Vale of Glamorgan. She was buried in what is now the Banner Family plot at St Nicholas Parish Church.

In 1846 Philip married his second wife, Elizabeth Hopkins. The 1851 Census tells us that the Banner family (with the exception of Hannah) were living in the village St Nicholas. Hannah was living at Dyffryn House where she worked as a scullery maid. Again, Philip was employed as a Policeman and Arthur is listed as being a scholar.

In 1853, Philip Banner became the innkeeper of The Three Tuns Inn, St Nicholas (now a private residence) – Sadly, he died the following year and was buried with his first wife at St Nicholas Parish Church. Hannah Earl (nee Banner) inherited The Three Tuns Inn and it stayed in the family until her the death of her niece in 1946.

The 1861 Census tells us that Arthur, now 24, was employed as a grocer and was staying at a house in Main Street, Pembroke. It was during this year that he met his soon to wife Anne Danson Strawson.

Anne was born at Smith Street Llanishen in July 1835. She was one of nine children born to George Smith Strawson and his wife Ann. The 1841 Census tells us that the Strawson family were living at Smith Street, Llanishen. Her father, George, was a self-employed architect.

After her mother's death in 1847, Anne lived with her grandparents at Blue House Farm in Llanishen. She lived here until her marriage to Arthur in 1861.

Marriage Banns for Arthur and Anne Banner.

On December the 16th 1861, Arthur married his wife Anne Danson Strawson at St Isan's Church in Llanishen. At the time of their marriage, Arthur was employed as a grocer. Anne was employed by her grandmother as the housekeeper at Blue House Farm in Llanishen. The following year, Anne gave birth to a son Philip William Banner. He was baptised at St John the Baptist Church, Cardiff on 26th November 1862.

“A tall respectable-looking man – speaks quite rational, though with very marked hesitation of speech.”

The events that led up to Arthur being admitted to Angelton Asylum are unknown. He was admitted to Angelton Asylum on the 15th of April 1870. His admission record tells us that this was his first attack and Arthur had been suffering from insanity for nine months prior to his admission to the asylum. His reason for admission is noted as General Paralysis and was thought to have been caused by “over-free indulgence” in alcohol.

“Having the delusion that a neighbour wishes to shoot him. Great hesitation in answering questions – timid manner – loss of memory – fancying he hears people talking about him – one of the facts indicating insanity given in statement.” 

The Angelton Asylum Case File of Arthur Banner. 

Below are extracts from his case file – You will notice gaps between the dates as during those times he is described as being “the same.”

16th April 1870: Had a very good night and slept well – is quite rational.

20th April 1870:  Very apprehensive of evil befalling his friends and himself.

23rd April 1870:  Extremely miserable – declares that his wife and boy have been shot and that their bodies are lying uncovered and weltering in blood “outside somewhere” - will not be pacified – tonight a dose of Chloral Hydrate has composed him. 

28th April 1870: Rather better again, laughs at his late delusions but replaces them by other of a less miserable nature. 

11th May 1870: More composed -assists in the ward.

20th May 1870: Getting more confused and lost – frequently wets himself. 

10th June 1870: Disease slowly progressing and he is now in Ward 3.

22nd June 1870: Is labouring under a congestive attack and is restless and excited – is much prostrated and quite unable to stand.

12th July 1870: Better and going about again though still very shaky.

10th August 1870: The same – mind much weakened.

14th February 1871: In much better BH – but is very week mentally although he can speak quite rationally.

7th June 1871: Sometimes irritable and disconnected and threatens the asylum officers with lawsuits to get damages for his detention here. Generally quiet, ill and well behaved. 

15th December 1871: Calmer and more contented. About six weeks ago had a severe pneumonic attack but is now much as usual again.

16th March 1872: Quiet and contented, mind much weakened.

26th September 1872: Unchanged, quiet, useful, harmless and demented.

23rd December 1872: The same – assists Porter in the Dining Hall.

12th June 1874: Quiet, useful, demented. Assists in the hall and at door. Writes long rambling incoherent letters to his friends.

11th December 1875: Speech and BH failing markedly, but is still able to assist in Dining Hall.

"Has been failing much in B.H of late. 

Is now in Ward resting quietly."

- 

September 1876 

Arthur died at 8:45am on the 14th of November 1876. He was 39 years old and his cause of death was given as 'Disease of the Heart.' The extracts from his case file below detail the days leading up to his death. 

8th November 1876: Very ill and constantly confined to bed. Has for some time been suffering for symptoms of cardiac disease which is now fully developed Oedema of the legs and face considerable and dyspnoea very great.

14th November 1876: Has been gradually getting worse becoming more feeble daily and died today at 8:45 am.

Arthur was one of the few people who were not buried in the Angelton Asylum Cemetery. His family paid for his body to be removed from the asylum to be buried at St Nicholas Church. He was buried in the Banner Family Plot on the 20th of November 1876.

Anne Danson Banner never re-married and continued to live in Cardiff until her death in 1921. Their son Philip married his wife Catherine in 1902. He became a well-known salesman to the Naval Collieries. He survived his mother by five years and died in 1926. They are all buried together in the Banner Family Plot at St Nicholas Parish Church in the Vale of Glamorgan.

The gravestone of Arthur Banner and his wife Anne Danson Banner at St Nicholas Church, Vale of Glamorgan. 

(Sources: Glamorgan Archives | National Library of Wales)