Well-known local historian Ruth Newman, will be the speaker at the Stratford Guild's meeting on Wednesday 9 April at 7.30 pm in the Reading Room, Stratford Road SP1 3LL.
Her talk 'Laverstock Lunatic Asylum - a kindly tradition' will cover 175 years of mental health care in the local area between 1781 and 1955, focusing on Laverstock House, originally an 18th century country house, that became known by the early 19th century as one of the leading psychiatric institutions in the country and also provided local employment until it closed in 1955.
Image left: Laverstock House in the 1930s.
Ruth Newman lives within the grounds of this former asylum and her audience can expect a fascinating insight into the world of residential psychiatric care in our local community
The Guild's Annual subscription is £15. Visitors are welcome - £5 per meeting which includes refreshments. More details about Stratford Guild are here: