OUTSIDE THE ASYLUM
Can you help George Marshall Medical Museum with a spot of family history research to find out about some people who were admitted to the Worcester City and County Lunatic Asylum in the 19th century?
Our aim is to share more patients’ stories, and to find out about their lives before admission and (where possible) after discharge.
edgar baldwyn
find out more about edgar baldwyn
Edgar Ernest Baldwyn’s birth was registered in the fourth quarter of 1860 alongside a Henry Baldwyn with the same volume and page number. No christening has yet been found for either Henry nor Edgar and neither appear in the GRO index.
Edgar (1860 – 1911) was born in Worcester to Henry and Mary Ann (nee Barnett) Baldwyn, the youngest of four siblings Clara Sophia (1856-1856), Maud Eugenie (1854 – 1941), Charles Henry Clifford (1859 – 1943).
Henry and Mary Ann appear to have been married in London City during the latter end of 18583 although the original marriage certificate is not available online and would be needed to confirm this is the correct couple.
Edgar’s roots lay firmly in a local musical family where his grandfather John Baldwyn was an organ builder and his uncles’ Charles and George established a music warehouse in the High Street, Worcester. Edgar’s father Henry was at various times recorded as a harpist, teacher of music and professor of music as well as a piano repairer and tuner. He also advertised in the local newspaper as ‘pianoforte and quadrille player to the nobility and gentry of Worcester and Malvern, Pianoforte tuner and Harpist’.
In 1861 Edgar was four months old living in College Street Worcester with his parents Henry, a teacher of music and Mary as well as his siblings Maud (7) and Charles (2).
Edgar’s uncle George Baldwyn was admitted to the County asylum on 31 March 1865. George was diagnosed with monomania of suspicion due to ‘overstudy’.
The Baldwyn family continued living at College Street, Worcester in 1871 with father Henry occupied as a Pianofort maker, mother Mary, and Maud (16), Charles (11) and Edgar (10) were scholars.
On 22 February 1873 the local journal reported on a concert at St Paul’s noting “There was a large attendance and the entertainment passed off most successfully. The overture “Bohemian Girl” by Mr. H. Baldwyn, Miss Baldwyn, and Master Edgar Baldwyn was most effectually rendered”.
The Berrow’s Worcester Journal for the following week gives more detail of this concert.
“St Paul’s Concert… Part 1 - Mr Henry Baldwyn presided at the piano in his usual efficient manner. Part 1- overture (Bohemian Girl) Mr H. Baldwyn, Miss Maud Baldwyn and Master E. Baldwyn…Part II Overture, “Fanfare Militaire” Mr H. Baldwyn, Miss Maud Baldwyn and Master E. Baldwyn…. Solo piano (Caprice Brillante), (Cherry Ripe), Miss Maud Baldwyn….Miss Maud Baldwyn’s playing of the Caprice Brillante elicited much applause and the audience appeared thoroughly to appreciate the evening’s entertainment. ”
November 1880 saw Berrow’s Worcester Journal reporting on Edgar’s uncle Charles selling the family music warehouse at 101 High Street Worcester, which was establish by Edgar’s grandfather in 1790. The notice gives a summary of the musical business conducted where the young Edgar had probably frequented regularly during his childhood and youth. The business including
“a well-selected stock of the newest music, consisting of songs, pianoforte pieces, dance music, bound books etc. Pianofortes by the best makers (English and Foreign). American organs and harmoniums for sale, hir, or on the one, two, or three years system. Every description of small instruments, fittings, strings etc, connected with the trade. Pianofortes and other instruments thoroughly repaired by experienced workmen on the premises. Tunings contracted for by the year or singly, in town and country. A liberal discount allowed to purchasers for cash. ”
Edgar E. Baldwyn was living at Chestnut Walk, Worcester in 1881 with his parents, Henry (age 50 Professor of Music), Mary Anne 53 and his siblings Maud E. Pianiste, and Charles H. C. 21 Artist (China painting).
Edgar’s brother Charles (known as Charley) was one of the most gifted artists at Royal Worcester painting mainly birds particularly swans in flight on the delicate porcelain. He worked for the Royal Worcester factory from 1880 to 1904 and was so talented that he was allowed to sign his designs unusual for that time. Some of his work can be seen in the museum of Royal Worcester. Charles also painted watercolours mainly of the countryside and exhibited several times at the Royal Academy.
During the 1880s Edgar’s family were not without potential scandal and tragedy. In 1881 Edgar’s uncle Charles Baldwyn was called as witness in his housekeeper’s divorce (Mrs Elizabeth Oakes). The decree nisi had been granted however there was suggestion that Charles and his housekeeper were in a relationship jeopardising the granting of her decree absolute. The court concluded that no relationship was evident and granted Mrs Oakes the decree absolute.
In June 1883 Berrow’s Worcester Journal reports from the British Press and Jersey Times on the inquest on the late Mr Charles Baldwyn (again Edgar’s uncle). The inquest heard witness statements regarding Charles, who had died in Jersey, to determine the involvement of Mrs De Gruchy in his death or if he had committed suicide. Mrs De Gruchy was the married name of Charles’ former housekeeper Mrs Elizabeth Oakes. The newspaper reported “The opinions of the members of the jury were taken when it was found that ten of them were in favour of finding an open verdict, the remaining two returning a verdict to the effect that deceased died from the effects of a dose of opium administered by himself”.
Throughout Edgar’s life his family were neighbours and friends to Sir Edward Elgar especially during the time that Elgar lived in Worcester. Edgar studied the violin with Elgar going to the High Street shop, owned by Elgar’s father, for his lessons. Edgar’s sister, Maud who was a child protégé ‘who once travelled the country with her father exhibiting her virtuosity on the piano’ was a lifelong friend to Elgar. Henry Baldwyn and Elgar’s father must have known one another well as they both were engaged in similar business activities, and both were members of the Worcester Three Choirs Band.
Further evidence of the connection between Sir Edward Elgar and the Baldwyn family is found in a collection of documents auctioned at Bonhams in 2011 which included a letter from Elgar to Edgar.
“Series of nearly twenty autograph, dictated and typed letters signed, to members of the Baldwyn family, music sellers of Worcester, including Edgar E. Baldwyn, Charles H.C. Baldwyn, and, especially, the song-composer Maud E. Baldwyn, the earliest dated letter written on 3 July 1889 from Field Terrace, Worcester, when Elgar was still a music-teacher, to Edgar, regretting that “our lessons have come to an end” and thanking him “for your galop wh: I think excellent”. ”
By 1891 the Baldwyn family were living at 38 Arboretum Road, Worcester. Henry was a musician harpist, Charles continued as a water colour artist, Maud is a musician pianist and Edgar a musician violinist.
Berrow’s Worcester Journal reported on the 1 December 1894 of a concert of ‘Hymns and Tunes of Long Ago’ with Edgar as the lead violin. The review of ‘the instrumentalists gave evidence to the presence of some masters of the art of music played in a manner highly creditable’. Proceeds were for the prizes of Redhill School.
Berrow’s also noted on Saturday 15 December 1894 the Worcester Musical Society concert on Tuesday evening which included Edgar playing violin in the orchestra.
Edgar continued to live at 38 Arboretum Road, Worcester in 1901 with his parents Henry, a harpist and piano tuner, and Mary A. and his sister, Maud E. a teacher of piano, Edgar is recorded as a vocalist.
Edgar’s mother’s death was reported 25 Nov 1901 ‘at 38 Arboretum Road, the beloved wife of Henry Baldwyn’.
Edgar was admitted to the County Asylum in January 1906 age 46 from his home at Arboretum Road, Worcester. He was diagnosed with melancholia during the previous two weeks due to ‘overstudy’. While he was not deemed to be epileptic nor suicidal he was regarded as a danger to others. Edgar was noted to have a feeble general health during the past twenty years, having been dependant on his brother and sister during this time. During the following six months Edgar improved considerably and when his brother (Charles) applied for his discharge in June of that year it was determined that his detention was no longer necessary as he had recovered.
By 1911 Edgar was back living at Arboretum Road with his now widowed father, Henry (retired pianoforte tuner) and siblings Maud (a teacher of music) and Charles (an artist). However, in June of that year Edgar’s health deteriorated and he was once again admitted to the County Asylum and sadly died a few days later on 7th June.
Resources
1. Freebmd births 4Q 1860
2. Ancestry (various resources including 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901, and 1911 census’; 1939 register)
3. Freebmd marriages (4Q 1858)
4. The Elgar Society Journal September 1993, The Fair Maud. Page 108 – 113 Rodney C. Baldwyn. Page 109 https://www.elgarsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/JOURNAL_1993.09.pdf
5. The Elgar Society Journal May 1985 Page 12 & 13 ISSN 0143-1269 https://www.elgarsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/JOURNAL_1985.05.pdf
6. Berrow’s Worcester Journal 4 February 1860 (advert)
7. Ancestry (uncle) https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/9051/images/42477_1831101456_11582-00054?pId=563549
8. Berrow’s Worcester Journal 22 February 1873 (concert) https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000150%2F18730222&page=4&article=017&stringtohighlight=edgar+baldwyn
9. Berrow’s Worcester Journal 1 March 1873 (concert)
10. Berrow’s Worcester Journal 13 November 1880 (advert of sale: warehouse by Edgar’s Uncle Charles Baldwyn)
11. Museum of Royal Worcester, The Showstopper Gallery>Baldwyn Swans Vase.
https://www.museumofroyalworcester.org/showstopper/item/baldwyn-swan-vase/
12. Berrow’s Worcester Journal 29 January 1881 (Edgar’s Uncle Charles Baldwyn, housekeeper’s divorce)
13. Berrow’s Worcester Journal 16 Jun 1883 (inquest of Edgar’s Uncle Charles Baldwyn)
14. Bonhams 22 November 2011
15. Berrow’s Worcester Journal 1 Dec 1894
16. Berrow’s Worcester Journal 15 Dec 1894
17. England, Newspaper Death Notices (Edgar’s Mother’s death)
18. UK, Lunacy Patients Admission Registers, 1846-1921 for Edgar Ernest Baldwyn County Asylums and Hospitals Piece 41: 1906
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/9051/images/42477_625537_11600-00047?pId=909
19. Outside the asylum project
https://theinfirmary.educationhost.co.uk/Patient.php?PatientNo=9218
20. County Asylums and Hospitals Piece 46: 1911. UK, Lunacy Patients Admission Registers, 1846-1921 for Edgar Ernest Baldwyn
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/9051/images/42477_625537_11600-00047?pId=909
Research Process
As Edgar had an unusual name it was easy to find him on the 1901 census (the previous one to his admission to the asylum) which provided his parents’ names and two siblings. Edgar’s birth was recorded in Freebmd and cross referenced with the GRO index to provide his mother’s maiden name however Edgar’s birth registration was not found on this resource. A birth for Henry Baldwyn was also registered (Freebmd, births) with the same volume and page number. Normally this may indicate a twin but as there is no immediate death for a Henry Baldwyn and the only infant on the 1861 census is Edgar it must be assumed that this is the same person with a correction of name from Henry to Edgar Ernest. The GRO index was searched for the mother’s maiden name of Edgar’s siblings Charles Henry Clifford (Barnett), Clara Sophia (Barnett) and Maud Eugenie (Burnett). Each of the subsequent census’ were searched using Ancestry.
Ancestry was also searched to determine Edgar’s father’s parents and siblings which established them being involved in the music business. Edgar’s mother’s family was more difficult to establish as there were several Mary Anne Barnetts born within the Worcester area at the same time as her established birth date (from census records), none obviously matching the area she was recorded to have been born (again from census records).
Freebmd was searched for a marriage between Edgar’s parents Henry Baldwyn and Mary Anne Barnett (including spelling variants), initially it was assumed it would be found in the Worcestershire area and prior to the eldest child’s birth but no marriage found. This had the potential of establishing Mary Anne’s father’s name and occupation.
Further research of Freebmd found a marriage registered in London City between Henry Baldwyn and either Mary Anne Barnett or Honora Brien. The original marriage document was not found on either Ancestry nor FindmyPast so it could not be verified if this was the correct couple.
A general Google search for ‘Baldwyn AND Worcester” retrieved information from The Elgar Society Journal linking Sir Edward Elgar to the Baldwyn family as a friend, neighbour and fellow musician.
FindmyPast newspapers were searched and retrieved various reports on the Baldwyn family including the sale of the Music Warehouse by Edgar’s uncle Charles and further incidents involving Uncle Charles including his suspicious death in Jersey. Only those articles that were free to view (through FindmyPast) were accessed.
As the Elgar Society Journal noted Edgar’s brother Charles being a renowned artist for Royal Worcester. A Google search was conducted for any further information related to the Baldwyn family retrieving more information on Charles’ artistry talents.
FindmyPast was also searched for death dates of the various members of Edgar’s immediate family.
Research by Sandra Weir, 2025.
Go back to find out about more people who were patients at the asylum.