'The hospital was run on military lines'

He said: “At the end of the 19th century, Hertfordshire was dotted with asylums.

“Some were for people suffering with mental health difficulties, the others were for people with learning disabilities. 

“Less is known about the latter, in particular Leavesden Hospital in Abbots Langley. 

“Leavesden was one of the first asylums – built for people with learning disabilities in 1878. 

“It is one of three in Hertfordshire, the others were Cell Barnes in St Albans and Harperbury near Radlett – both built in the 1930s.

“Leavesden served the population of north London, being run firstly by Metropolitan Asylums Board, and then London County Council before the National Health Service took it over in 1948.

“The background to these institutions was the so called ‘science of improving the human race’ – the now discredited eugenics movement. 

“The thinking was that, by having control over people in large institutions, staff could make sure that the ‘feeble-minded’ did not ‘repeat their type’.  This meant the sexes were strictly segregated, even in working areas.

“Female patients worked in the laundry and the needle room, while the men worked in farm and gardens.

“The thinking was to give patients a place away from corrosive nature of inner city life. They would be treated in quiet, orderly and disciplined institutions with a focus on education and training.

“The main entrance for Leavesden hospital is still there. So is the central administration block, now converted into residential apartments, which contained the offices of the medical superintendent and matron.

“When the hospital was built it was unusual in having detached ward blocks. It was in effect an isolated self-contained community.

“There were extensive grounds with an extraordinary range of facilities including a chapel, laundry, gas works, water supply, farm, bakery, paint workshops, Turkish bath and cemetery. 

“It was designed for 1,500 people, but filled to 2,000 in a few years.  During the next 100 years it always struggled with overcrowding.  The staff ratio was around 20:1.

“Like other hospitals Leavesden struggled with staff recruitment. In the early days it could find staff locally but after World War Two they had to go further afield – Ireland, Mediterranean counties and Asia in the 1960s. 

“Staff worked in a strict hierarchy system, starting with the medical superintendent (a doctor) then the head nurse (the matron). 

“One member of staff, Bill Williams, began working work in Leavesden 1931 and went on to become Director of Nursing, leaving in 1973.

“He wrote about working at Leavesden in the 1930s. Staff often worked 50 hours a week, and to get a job you had to be a sportsman or musician. 

“He writes: ‘The hospital was run on military lines and certainly the male staff looked like soldiers with blue uniforms, peaked caps, white shirts and dark ties.  Brown shoes were not allowed. Neither were pullovers. The effect of this was that the patients were treated like prisoners. Most of the charge nurses were cold and unfriendly.’

“Patients’ experiences were difficult: ‘Patients were up at 5.45am because the ward had to be very clean and tidy by 10am. Most were in bed by 8pm, they were given no supper, food was not very good – a lot of porridge for breakfast and soup for dinner and a lettuce for tea.’

“Today accounts by former patients, often recall difficult and painful experiences.  Many remember their admission as particularly significant and often traumatic.

“Admission to a colony was sanctioned by the signature of two doctors, and was attributed to an inability of the individual to live in society.

“One former patient recalls: ‘You had to wear hospital clothes, but when you arrived at your ward they gave you a bath in carbolic soap and then put hospital clothes on. Your own clothes were locked away. I remember the night-dress had short sleeves.  I was always cold.

“And another thing, we were not allowed out of the ward unless we had a nurse with us. I was a bit upset when I first went in, but I soon made friends.’ Patients played a vital role working in the gardens, farm or the kitchens.

“Patrick Delaney, who was a patient there for more than 30 years, spoke about experiences working in the gardens: ‘I worked in the gardens. It was only men working there. Nice in the summer. It was freezing cold in the winter, mind you. That is why the women never worked there; it was too cold for them!’

“He also worked for many years in the kitchens: ‘I used to wash the saucepans, there were piles of them. Later on kitchen staff were brought in from outside the hospital. I didn’t like them much. Patients were stopped from working in the kitchens then.’

“The experience for some of the families of patients must have been difficult. Some relatives may have brought with them feelings of guilt and blame. 

“The limited visiting hours would not have helped relationships. Some families got involved in the hospital’s friends group, formed in 1955, which did a lot of important fundraising. 

“A number of the families were very involved in the campaign against the closure of Leavesden in the 1960 and 1970s. 

“The nursing unions and medical superintendent were leading this, claiming there was a lack of suitable facilities and trained staff outside – in an indifferent community. 

“While some had a difficult transition into the community research studies showed that for most patients moving to the community from hospital was very positive. Leavesden finally closed in 1995.

“The Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust now provides very different supportive and modernised services for people with learning disabilities. We also take the experience of former patients very seriously.

“The philosophy of care has changed dramatically. We no longer view people with a learning disability as a burden to society. Today we owe them a duty of care, helping them attain some of the values of the good life.”

Dora Jonker-Lommers from Purmerend in the The Netherlands has sent in an email about a hospital in Leavesden, although not the asylum.

She said: “We saw an article from reporter Michael Pickard about Leavesden Hospital on the website and would like to ask him a question.

“My father was seriously injured during the German attack on Liverpool harbour in 1941. He was a Dutch sailor working on the SS Salland and sent to Leavesden Base Hospital for an operation.

“We also found out that he was treated at Leavesden Energy Hospital. Is that the same hospital? My father died in 1985.

“Do you have any information, or a picture, of this hospital during 1941/1942?”

Mr F Richardson from the Royal Hospital Chelsea has written in with some new information about the 16th London Regiment.

He said: “Being Watford born and resident for 86 years until becoming a Chelsea Pensioner during 2012 I maintain an interest in local matters.

“Responding to Steve Hammond’s request for information relating to the 16th London Regiment during the 1914-18 war, I enclose some information extracted from a reference book I have of four local servicemen and their service with the Queen’s Westminster Rifles.

“This information may also be of interest to Andrew Hinds. The reference book I have also contains names details and addresses of people who served between 1914 and 1918 with a home address in the Abbots and Kings Langley areas. There are many regiments and corps represented.”

“The names of the servicemen from the 16th London Regiment (Queen’s Westminster Rifles) include:

“Griffin, A.L, rifleman, 119 Estcourt Road, Watford. He volunteered in the February 1915 and after conclusion of his training was drafted to France. During his service on the Western Front he took part in many important engagements and was severely wounded in October 1915.

"He was invalided home in 1918 and demobilised in March of the following year. He holds the 1914-15 Star and the General Service and Victory medals.

“Griffin, N, rifleman, 119 Estcourt Road, Watford. Mobilised at the commencement of hostilities, he was quickly drafted to France and took part in the battles of the Marne, La Bassee, Festubert and Ypres.

"He was killed in action at Poperinghe in October 1915. He was entitled to the 1914 Star and the General Service and Victory medals.

“Hall, F.J, rifleman. Joining in September 1916, he was first drafted to Salonika and then to Egypt in January of the following year. He took part in the British offensive on Palestine and fought at Gaza.

"Owing to illness he was invalided home but on his recovery was afterwards drafted to France where he took part in many important engagements in the last year of the war. He was demobilised in November 1919 and holds the General Service and Victory medals.

“Woolford, A, rifleman. Volunteering in August 1914, he was sent to France in October of the same year. In this theatre of war he fought at the battles of Armentieres, Ypres, Arras, the Somme, Cambrai, Combles, Bullecourt and many other engagements and was wounded. He was demobilised in February 1919 and holds the 1914 Star and the General Service and Victory medals.

Paul Booth from Watford has written in after seeing his friend Graham Chambers in Nostalgia last week.

Mr Booth, from Coningesby Drive, said: “After reading Graham’s request to contact Barbara Terry in the Watford Observer Nostalgia section, I should also like to re-establish contact with Graham, an old school friend, who also knew my sister, Carol.

“When Graham was employed at the Post Office in Rushden, we emailed each other every so often, using his work email. 

“We mentioned meeting in Toddington, halfway between Rushden and Watford, to talk of old times at Bushey Meads school, but for one reason or another, never got round to firming up the date.

“Graham has since left the Post Office, and we fell out of touch.  I would like to re-establish contact with Graham, to firm up a date to meet. 

“When you get to your 60s, you like to look up old friends, just like Graham is attempting to do with Barbara. Unfortunately, I can’t help him with that request.

“I would like to share a pint or two with him, catch up on old times, and share with him the latest news.”

Neville Thompson of Edgecumbe, New Zealand, is researching his family tree. He said: “I am looking for relatives who are living today that do genealogy or are interested in the family tree, that I may exchange information of Ephraim (1823-1898) and Hannah (1823-1914) West who lived in Watford area.

“The children they had are Sophia born in 1854, William born in 1857, Mary born in 1860, Betsy born in 1861, Ephriam, born in 1864 and Thomas born in 1870.

“One son they had called Ephraim (1864-1934) also lived in the area, who married Amy Packer (1865-1940) in 1883 at Hertfordshire. 

“They went on to have about nine children. Some of their children also married and lived in the area and so on. 

“The children are Sophia, Thomas , Ephraim, Alfred, Mary, Amy,George, Bertie, and William West.

“In the 1911 England census they lived at Colne View, Water Lane Hill, Watford.  Hope you are able to help me with information on the above.”

Adrian Read is looking for pictures of the St John Ambulance organisation. He said: “My father was in the organisation, but I have no records of photos of the era.

I know there was participation in the Watford Whitsun Carnival, but Watford Council and the St John Ambulance have destroyed all their records, I assume because it has all been digitised as it would probably have been expensive to keep.

I have enquired at the museum but they too have no records.”

Do you remember the Watford Whitsun Carnival? Do you have any pictures?

This Nostalgia column was first published in the Watford Observer on April 5, 2013. The next Nostalgia column – two full pages including swimming in the River Colne, a bit of boxing, some wrestling and an 'unknown' schoolboy identified by his sister – can be found in tomorrow’s Watford Observer (dated April 12, 2013) or read online here from 4pm next Thursday.

If you have anything to add – or would like to tell us anything you think our readers may enjoy about Watford’s history – we are always pleased to hear from you. Contact Nostalgia, by clicking here abinnie@london.newsquest.co.uk