Research
Who we are?
We are Cheshire Archives & Local Studies. Our service identifies, collects and cares for archives and publications that are the evidence of Cheshire communities’ lives past and present. We deliver access for all to our collections for information, learning and enjoyment and work to make sure archives survive so that future generations will be able to do the same.
About the Project
Parkside Asylum, also known as Parkside Mental Hospital, was a large Victorian-era institution established in the 1870s with accommodation for up to 1,500 patients.
We hold a variety of records relating to Parkside Asylum. A number of the 19th century patient case books were digitised as part of a bequest and then put into our catalogue system. We are just beginning to explore the wealth of information found within these case books. They provide an insight into the lives of those living within the hospital's walls and allow us to gather information beyond the medical. These patients were real people, with real lives, in a time when we were just learning about mental health.
Please note that due to the nature of the records involved, you may find some of these documents upsetting. Historical records reflect the period in which they were created. The patient case notes show how much the approach to mental health treatment has changed since these records were first created. The terminology used to describe mental illness has also changed, with many of the terms used in the records now considered offensive.
Outcomes
Volunteers will help to create a searchable research resource which will help researchers learn more about the history of mental illness and its treatment in the 19th century.
Further Reading
Please look at our field guide for more background information about Parkside and similar places.
If you want to know more about the patient you are looking at, you can find their full case notes on our catalogue here.