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 hartland

find out more about william hartland (1831-1900)

William Hartland was born on 14 September 1831 and baptised at St. Thomas’s Church, Dudley on 2 July 1837, alongside his older sister, Hannah. He was the son of Jesse Hartland, a bricklayer, and Sarah Webb, who had married on 21 August 1814 in Kingswinford, Staffordshire. The couple had seven children between 1815 and 1831, two of whom died in childhood. 

On 19 January 1852, William married Hannah Russell at St. James Parish Church in Dudley. By 1881, the couple were living at House 12, Court 3, Hall Street, Dudley – the same address recorded when William was first admitted to the asylum in 1884. William worked as a limestone miner, while Hannah was employed as a nailer. Together, they had eight children between 1854 and 1871, all born in Dudley. 

William was admitted to Worcester City and County Lunatic Asylum on 9 April 1884, suffering from his first attack of melancholia – a historical term for severe depression - and described as suicidal. The notes record that he had fallen shortly after the onset of symptoms and had since been unable to work, resulting in food becoming scarce for the family.

By 4 August 1884, William was considered sufficiently recovered to be allowed out on trial, and he was formally discharged on 8 September.  

In 1891, William was living at 7 Thomas Street, Dudley, with his wife Hannah and two of their adult sons, both of whom were employed. William himself continued to work as a limestone miner. However, on 12 December 1894, he was readmitted to the asylum, again suffering from melancholia. At the time of his admission, his address was recorded as House 10, Court 2, Porters Fields, Dudley. 

William’s condition appears to have been more severe than during his first attack. He was considered a danger not only to himself but also to others. He reported experiencing murderous impulses and attempted to attack his wife with a knife – an incident likely precipitating his second admission.

By July 1895, William was judged to have improved sufficiently to be recommended for a trial period outside the asylum. However, his home environment was deemed unsuitable, and he was instead sent to the local workhouse.  

All the addresses at which William lived were associated with slum housing and cramped courtyards. Although much of the area was cleared in the 1930’s, it had previously been characterised by densely populated, poor-quality housing and lacking proper sanitation. Given these conditions, and the suggestion in the records that William’s relationship with his wife was strained, it is understandable why the workhouse – despite being widely avoided - was considered the better option for him. 

William remained at the workhouse only a few weeks before it was requested that he be returned to the asylum, having suffered a relapse into depression. His condition remained largely unchanged over the following years, though his physical health deteriorated prior to his death in the asylum on 15 January 1900. His wife, Hannah, continued to live in Dudley with one or other of her sons until her death in 1912, aged 80.

Baptisms (PR) England. Dudley, Worcestershire. 02 July 1837. (Birth: 14 September 1831).  HARTLAND, William. Collection: Worcestershire, England, Births and Baptisms, 1538-1975. https://www.family search.org : accessed 22 December 2025.

Marriages (PR) England. Kingswinford, Staffordshire. 14 August 1814. HARTLAND, Jesse and WEBB, Sarah. Collection: England, Select Marriages, 1538-1973. https://www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 12 March 2026.

Marriages (PR) England. Dudley, Worcestershire. 19 January 1852. HARTLAND, William and RUSSELL, Hannah. Collection: England, Select Marriages, 1538-1973. https://www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 12 March 2026.

Census records. England. Dudley, Worcestershire. 03 April 1881. HARTLAND, William (head). PN 2879. FL 151. SN 153. ED 31. p. 31. https://www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 12 March 2026.

Census records. England. Dudley, Worcestershire. 05 April 1891. HARTLAND, William (head). PN 2296. FL 84. SN 125. ED 28. p. 21. https://www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 12 March 2026.

Deaths index (CR) England & Wales. RD Dudley, [Worcestershire]. 3rd Q., 1912. HARTLAND, Hannah. Vol. 6c. p. 81. Collection: England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915. https://www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 12 March 2026.

Research by Vicky Thompson, 2026.

To view Joseph’s patient records, click here.

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