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.
george baldwyn
find out more about george baldwyn
George Clifford Baldwyn was christened at All Saints, Worcester, Worcestershire to John and Ann (nee Hanham) Baldwyn. John was an organist, and they lived at Newport Street, Worcester. Overall, there is very little information available to give a full picture of George’s life.
George came from a musical family, his father was well known organ builder, in Worcester and George and his brother Charles established a music warehouse in the High Street, Worcester. George’s other brother Henry with his wife and children regularly performed within the area as well as well as further afield. They were also friends with Edward Elgar during the time he lived in Worcester. Henry was a harpist, teacher of music and profession of musica as well as a piano repairer and tuner.
George was recorded as living at the High Street, Worcester, with his parents John and Ann in the 1841 census. His father John was 55 and an organ builder and his mother was 45. George was 20 years old, born in the same county but no occupation is recorded for him. Also living in the family was George’s sisters Fanny (15) and Emma (15), and his brother Henry (10). It’s important to know that ages are usually rounded up or down to the nearest five years.
Still living at High Street, Worcester George was next recorded in the 1851 census. He is still living with his father John (aged 70), a musician, his mother (70) his brother Henry age 20 a harpist. George was also recorded as a musician.
By 1861 George was living on his own at the Little Fish Street, Model Dwelling houses in Worcester, he was a bachelor, age 45 and worked as a pianoforte tuner. The Model Dwelling houses were a scheme aimed at improving the living conditions of the poor. This was considered a forerunner of council/social housing.
Four years later on 31 March 1865 George was suffering from ‘monomania of suspicion’ and admitted to the Worcester Asylum. On admission George was single, living at Model House, Worcester and was a pianoforte tuner. There are no notes available for the treatment or observation of George. Almost five years later George died on 21 February 1870 although there is no reason for his death noted in the hospital summary. No burial record could be found.
In the letters of administration and effects of George’s personal estate he was a bachelor and musician. His effects were under £300 and granted to Ann Baldwyn of Union Street in the parish of St Helen in the City of Worcester widow, the mother and only next of kin.
Sadly, George’s nephew Edgar Ernest Baldwyn, the son of his brother Henry, also was admitted to the Worcester Asylum. His summary is also included in the Outside the Asylum Project
1. Ancestry parish register
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/8978/images/WORCHO107_1209_1209-0350?pId=16115227
2. 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
3. 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
4. Ancestry, various census records.
5. Ancestry 1841 census https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/8860/images/WORHO107_2042_2043-0255?pId=8948326
6. Ancestry 1851 census https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/8860/images/WORHO107_2042_2043-0255?pId=8948326
7. Ancestry 1861 census
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/8767/images/WORRG9_2091_2095-0648?pId=20750742
8. Outside the asylum [Powick Hospital] Patient summary https://theinfirmary.educationhost.co.uk/Patient.php?PatientNo=1638
9. Outside the asylum [Powick Hospital] Admission Register https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/9051/images/42477_1831101456_11582-00054?pId=563549
10. England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858 – 1995.
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/1904/images/31874_222553-00021?pId=3700243
11. Outside the asylum [Powick Hospital] Edgar Ernest Baldwyn.
https://theinfirmary.educationhost.co.uk/Patient.php?PatientNo=9218
Process of Research
George’s admission to the Powick Hospital from the Outside the Asylum Project, was noted during the researching for the summary of his nephew Edgar. Some of this prior research was thus available to assist in the research for George including the information from the Elgar Society Journal previously found on the Newspaper section of Findmypast. Ancestry was a main source used to gather information from the various census, and the probate information. No other information relating to George could be found.
Research by Sandra Weir, 2025.
Go back to find out about more people who were patients at the asylum.