“How We Care”, Gloucestershire Archives and Mental Health

The subject of mental health is very much in the news these days, but the historic record shows that the topic is anything but new. In fact, Gloucestershire Archives holds the largest collection of mental health records of any repository in the country. These are on the whole related to the City’s three mental health institutions Barnwood House Private Mental Hospital and Trust, Horton Road County Lunatic Asylum and Coney Hill Hospital.

The Famous

Our tale this time takes us to Cheltenham. Or as it was known when I was a wee boy “Chelpenum”. Cheltenham is the second biggest town in Gloucestershire after Gloucester which is the county town. Cheltenham is famed as a spa town and the home of the Cheltenham races. Cheltenham stands on the small River Chelt, which rises nearby at Dowdeswell and runs through the town on its way to the Severn. It was first recorded in 803, as Celtan hom; the meaning has not been resolved with certainty, but latest scholarship concludes that the first element preserves a Celtic noun cilta, ‘steep hill’, here referring to the Cotswold scarp; the second element may mean ‘settlement’ or ‘water-meadow’.

Gloucestershire Archives accessions, January-March 2024

It is that time of the year again when we look at the accessions of the first quarter of the year, January to March 2024. The accessions can be from any place, person or organisation in Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire.

Look at my Big Drawers! It’s the Cabinet of Curiosities.

I am so grateful to have a nose. Without having a nose and its scent detecting abilities, I would, for example, be unable to take in and fully appreciate the delightful, fragrant odours of hyacinth blooms in springtime.

But more importantly, without a nose there would be no way of easily homing in on hot dog stands with their alluring onion- and sausage-based aromas filling the air, acting as a huge smell-flag for me and my stomach to notice and then act upon.

Whilst we’re thinking about enticing food smells, one cannot fail to mention the ever-pleasurable sizzling bacon. Or the homely and comforting freshly baked bread. Recently brewed coffee too, that must be given plenty of consideration.

Actually, put all those three together, preferably into my stomach – bacon, fresh bread and coffee – and me and my nose will be satisfied for the rest of the day.

New faces at Gloucestershire Archives

In this blog post we want to welcome two new faces here at Gloucestershire Archives. We were recently joined by Archivist Briony and Apprentice Archives Assistant Ethan, they have both written a short piece to introduce themselves, read more below.

Cataloguing South Gloucestershire Councils

The records of the predecessor bodies to South Gloucestershire, Northavon Council and Kingswood Council have recently been catalogued and are fully available to view by the public.

Black and white photographs of Thornbury Castle and Church on the left and Thornbury Castle on the right. (Ref DC/NA/S/15/3)

A Fonds Farewell

I’m retiring after a very fulfilling and happy 36 (gulp!) years working at Gloucestershire Archives and have been asked to a write a farewell blog. So, here it is. I have eschewed any attempt at a chronological narrative, and instead have decided to focus on three collections which have run like threads throughout my career. My acquaintance with all three began early, during my ‘Collections’ era, and I’ve been able to reconnect with them several times as my role has become more outward focussed.

Minnie and Margaret…just two of Gloucestershire’s ‘Wonder Women’.

Back in 2018, to commemorate 100 years of women’s suffrage, archive staff collectively worked on a PowerPoint exhibition, to highlight all types of activity by Gloucestershire women. There were slides on sportswomen, academics, teachers, musicians, writers, poets, and ladies who were not afraid to speak their minds, represent their communities and fight for change. This exhibition has been revisited whilst researching content for our forthcoming Saturday event, ‘Wonder Women’, 2 March 2024, 1-4pm.

Horse-lorries

What’s a ‘horse-lorry’? It was simply another phrase for a horse-drawn wagon or cart, but one that was often used in connection with the railway companies but was also used extensively elsewhere as prior to the 1920s – and in some instances well beyond that date – most companies relied on horse-drawn transport to move their goods, obtain fuel and deliver their products.

Hidden Treasures: Three Wells House/Eastfield documents (D16629)

It is utterly amazing what can be found in an archive. Proof of this was recently brought to my attention when I looked at one of our accessions. Accessions are groups of records/documents that come to an archives and we then carry out initial processing of them, which we as archivists call accessioning. 

The accession was simply listed as Bourton OTW house-listed building Deeds, conveyances, research plans. The name Bourton immediately aroused my curiosity as it was where I spent the first 19 years of my life and where I still have family. So, I examined the accession more closely. It turned out to be for Three Wells House otherwise known as Eastfield. This sent even more alarm bells ringing as I knew the name Eastfield. Eastfield was owned by the Morris family who also owned the model village (a major tourist attraction in the village) and were publicans of the Old New Inn pub, hotel and restaurant. My grandmother had worked at the Old New Inn for many years as indeed did my sister and myself.