Napsbury Hospital

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}} {{Use British English|date=January 2016}} {{Infobox hospital | name = Napsbury Hospital | org_group = | image = London Colney, Napsbury Park - geograph.org.uk - 475660.jpg | image_alt = | image_size = | caption = Napsbury Hospital | pushpin_map = Hertfordshire | pushpin_map_size =  | pushpin_map_alt =  | pushpin_map_caption = Shown in Hertfordshire | logo =  | logo_size =  | region = London Colney | state = | country = England | coordinates = {{coord|51.723|-0.310|display=inline,title}} | address =  | healthcare =  | funding = | type = Mental health | speciality = | standards =  | emergency =  | helipad = | affiliation = | patron = | network =  | beds = | founded = 1905 | closed = 1998 | website = None | other_links =  }} '''Napsbury Hospital''' was a mental health facility in London Colney near St Albans in Hertfordshire. It had two sister institutions, Harperbury Hospital and Shenley Hospital, within a few miles of its location.<ref name=lost>{{cite web|url=http://www.ezitis.myzen.co.uk/shenley.html|title=Shenley Hospital|publisher=Lost hospitals of London|accessdate=3 October 2018}}</ref>

==History== The hospital was designed by Rowland Plumbe in the country estate style and was initially known as the Middlesex County Asylum.<ref name=historic>{{cite web|url=https://historic-hospitals.com/2016/09/20/napsbury-park-formerly-middlesex-county-asylum/|title=Napsbury Park|publisher=Historic Hospitals|accessdate=4 October 2018}}</ref>

The hospital was designed for 1,205 residents,<ref name="Napsbury Park">{{cite web|url=http://napsburypark.com/main/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27&Itemid=41|title=A bit about Napsbury|author=Warwack, O.|year=2007|accessdate=2008-06-21}}</ref> and the grounds were designed by William Goldring.<ref name="Napsbury Park"/> Following the construction of the numerous buildings and extensive grounds, Napsbury opened on 3 June 1905.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.countyasylums.com/mentalasylums/napsbury01.htm|title=Middlesex County Asylum|accessdate=2008-06-21|year=2005|publisher=Cracknell, P.}}</ref> According to the Middlesex County Record, the initial cost, including land and equipment, was £545,000, or £473 per bed. In 1908 Plumbe designed an extension to accommodate a further 600 patients.<ref>{{cite web|title=A History of Napsbury Park|url=http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=30403|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721165418/http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=30403|archivedate=2011-07-21}}</ref>

During the First World War, Napsbury was used for and known as the County of Middlesex War Hospital, which treated wounded soldiers.<ref name="Napsbury Park"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hertfordshire-genealogy.co.uk/links/napsbury.htm|title=Napsbury|publisher=Genealogy in Hertfordshire|year=2007|accessdate=2008-06-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.history.ac.uk/reviews/paper/toms.html|author=Toms, J.|title=Review of ''Forgotten Lunatics of the Great War'' by Peter Barham|year=2006|accessdate=2008-06-21|publisher=Institute of Historical Research}}; Bill Pollard, email to Jamie Oliver, May 8, 2011.</ref> Following the war, the hospital was returned to its original purpose.<ref name="Banfield">{{citation|title=Remember London Colney|author=Ted Banfield|year=1985|publisher=Barracuda Books}}</ref>

Although Napsbury suffered some bomb damage in the Blitz, it was in continuous use as a hospital until its official closure in 1998. However, until at least 2002 one building was still in use for psychiatric patients.<ref name="Napsbury Park"/>

Due to its largely untouched parkland, Napsbury was listed by English Heritage as a Grade II Historic Park and Garden in 2001.<ref name="naps">{{cite web|title=Napsbury Park.com|url=http://napsburypark.com/main/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27&Itemid=41|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081021204800/http://napsburypark.com/main/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27&Itemid=41|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 October 2008|accessdate=23 March 2018}}</ref> The site has been redeveloped for residential use as Napsbury Park.<ref name="naps" />

==Famous residents== Famous residents of the hospital included: * Ivor Gurney, English poet and artist<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ivorgurney.org.uk/biography.htm|publisher=Ivor Gurney Society|author=Boden, A|title=Ivor Gurney : A Biographical outline|accessdate=2013-01-20|year=2007|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731215715/http://ivorgurney.org.uk/biography.htm|archivedate=2013-07-31}}</ref> * Louis Wain, English artist<ref name="Napsbury Park"/> * Opal Whiteley, American nature writer<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/2012/08/the-diary-of-opal-whiteley.html|title=Opal Whiteley's Riddles|work=The New Yorker|date=2012-08-23|accessdate=2013-01-20|author=Dean, M}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Hospital buildings completed in 1900 Category:Defunct hospitals in Hertfordshire Category:Former psychiatric hospitals in England