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.

rebecca grimwade

find out more about rebecca grimwade

I believe that Anne Rebecca Grimwade was born in 1845 in Suffolk.  In the 1851 census she is living in the High Street, Hadleigh with her unmarried mother Ann Grimswade, a dressmaker who is 34. 

In 1861 she is with her grandmother also called Ann Grimswade, a widow aged 78, an almswoman, living in Almshouse No. 4 in Hadleigh.  Ann(Rebecca) is 16 and a dressmaker. 

In 1871 I have found an Ann R Grimswade aged 25, a lady’s maid, born in Hadleigh, living at Clarendon Park at Alderbury in Wiltshire.  (This estate was the home of Sir Frederick Bathurst a Baronet). 

Ann’s (Rebecca) admission mentioned violence towards her mother so with this information I began tracing her mother.  Difficult due to age documented.

1841  Hadleigh, dressmaker aged 20 with I presume her sister named Rebecca 15 also a dressmaker

1851  with her daughter as previously documented

She marries in 1858 to Charles Atterton.  He dies the same year

1861 Ann Atterton is in Monnington on Wye, Herefordshire at the rectory as a ladies maid aged 46

1871 Ann Atterton in Edgar Street, Worcester aged 42 a dressmaker

1881 Ann Atterton, aged 64 widow dressmaker born Hadleigh, living at 16 Edgar Street, Worcester

The following has been taken from Rebecca’s patient notes from the asylum

Rebecca’s admission was for Mania of a three week duration, of which the supposed cause was disappointment in love and a previous attack.  It stated she had been in Abergavenny Asylum in 1884 for nine months. She was deemed dangerous to others but not epileptic and it was doubtful she was suicidal.  Her certifier says that as men go past her house they insult her and throw their “stink” at her and that she can hear their nasty thoughts about her.  She claimed that the Bishop of Ely insulted her in the Cathedral by calling her a whore.  She has used violence towards her mother and the neighbours fear her threatening behaviour.

She is described as a thin woman, suffering from Mania.  That she has a wild look.  She walks around in a haughty manner and talks in a very proud and consequential way.  Over the next 8 years she is unchanged.  She is aloof, suspicious, abusive if told she cannot do something.  She accuses the medical officers as being liars and thieves and that there is a conspiracy against her.  She talks to invisible people.  She is disruptive and disturbs others.  She believes that others can communicate their thoughts to her.  (Unfortunately there are no further entries after 1895 – states continued on page 691).  

Rebecca appears in the censuses in 1891, 1901, 1911 and 1921 at Powick Asylum.  In the 1911 census it states her birthplace as Hadleigh.  This is in Suffolk and there are plenty of Grimwades in that area.  I have been unable to find her in 1881, but did find an admission to Abergavenny Asylum on 21 July 1885 with a discharge date of 2 April 1885 under the name of Anne R Grimwade. 

1891 Ann Atterton 65 widow dressmaker born Hadleigh, living at 95 London Road, Worcester. Deaf

She dies 9 Dec 1893 and leaves £25 15s 3d to Rebecca Grimwade (spinster).  Is this her sister or her daughter?  (Her sister Rebecca is still alive and is a spinster – she moves from Wales to Worcester by the time of the 1901 census and is living in McIntyre Road, St Johns (a niece is living with her).  By 1911 she and the niece are in Richmond Road, Worcester. 

Although this site states that Rebecca was discharged on 2 May 1931 and that she had recovered, I believe that she died on this date.  Her death in quarter 2, 1931 is recorded at Upton (the registration district for Powick), and she was buried on 7 May 1931 at St Martin and St Peter, Worcester, the entry stating of Powick Hospital, late of 95 London Road, Worcester. 

Research by Dee Gardner, 2025.

To view Rebecca’s patient records, click here.

Go back to find out about more people who were patients at the asylum.