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.
william hallier richards
find out more about william hallier richards
William Hallier Richards was born in quarter 4 1844 in Droitwich district, Worcestershire to Thomas Richards born 1798 died 1877 and Caroline Joiner born 1805 died 1893. Thomas’s parents were Charles Richards born 1765 and Elizabeth (nee Hallier) born 1760. Thomas and Caroline married on 24 July 1820 at St Peter the Great, Worcester. They had 9 children in total. George 1821, Thomas 1823, Caroline and Philip 1831, Charles H and Fredrick 1836, Emma Jane 1838, Louisa Matilda 1840 and lastly William 1844.
In 1841 Thomas and Caroline are with their 8 children in Hill End, Dodderhill, Droitwich.
In 1851 Thomas a gas engineer, Caroline and three of their children, Fredrick, Emma and Louise are at Rainbow Hill Parade in Worcester along with a female servant. William is a scholar a boarder with 6 other boys under the care of a schoolmaster and his wife in Fernhill Heath, Worcester. I have traced a couple of the other children and they have married and had families, so I assume that this wasn’t a school for children similarly affected. Perhaps his parents felt they were giving him the best chance of normality.
In 1861 Thomas and Caroline with Emma and Louise are in Leyzare, Isle of Mann. Thomas is a gas engineer. William described as a scholar is with his brother Fredrick also a gas engineer who is married. They are living at 73 Lowther Street, Whitehaven, St Bees, Cumberland.
In 1871 William described as of weak intellect is with his parents in Fernhill Heath. His father is a civil and gas engineer.
The following has been taken from William’s patient notes from the asylum
William Hallier Richards Patient No. 3707. (Admissions for patient 3845). 33 years old, single, son of a gas engineer, Church of England, unable to read or write. Admitted 30 March 1878 from Claines, Worcester. Classified as Dementia, Weakness of Intellect and Epilepsy.
Apparently William was of sound mind until the age of three years, but a servant had frightened him by dressing up a broom. [Its probably more likely that he had an infection which led to injury to his brain]. His admission states he is epileptic, suicidal and at times a danger to others. He is a smallish man of dark complexioned (sic), fairly well nourished and in a tolerably muscular condition. He has a stupid wandering expression of countenance, his conversation is incoherent, and memory very defective. He also has glosso-labial paralysis (this could be a facial droop on one side affecting his tongue and lips).
During the next 10 years, he works at times sweeping or wheeling coal in the engine house or blacksmith shop. In July 1880, it is documented that his memory is very defective, he gives no trouble, has had no fits since admission and there is nothing abnormal in his articulation.
In 1881, he is doing simple work in the engine house, when spoken to, he laughs in a foolish manner, is lost and vacant. He goes to church and has tolerably tidy clothing.
On 10 April 1887, William has had a hart(sic) attack and pneumonia, but is now recovered. The last entry I am able to access is on 1 April 1888. Apparently continues on Page 253.
William can be seen in the 4 census returns at Powick. He dies in quarter 2, 1913 and this is registered at Upton which is where residents of Powick are registered.
Interestingly his sister Louisa marries and two of her sons are described thus – In 1891 Frederick has Paralysis, in 1901 is Paralytic and in 1911 an Invalid through fever. He dies in 1914. Henry in 1901 is an imbecile and then paralytic in 1911. He dies in 1917. All this in an age without antibiotics for infections.
Research by Dee Gardner, 2025.
To view William’s patient records, click here.
Go back to find out about more people who were patients at the asylum.