Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    HoBC
  • Title
    Bromham Hospital [formerly known as Bromham Colony]
  • Date free text
    1931-1996
  • Production date
    From: 1931 To: 1936
  • Admin/biog history
    In 1926 Northamptonshire County Council proposed that accommodation for the care of the ‘mentally defective’ could be provided jointly for Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, Northamptonshire, the Soke of Peterborough and Rutland. Peterborough, Huntingdonshire and Rutland pulled out of the proposal. The scheme to set up an institution for Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire developed under a Joint Board of Control, which had its first meeting in July 1930 [see JB]. The Board settled upon Bromham House as a suitable site for what was initially known as Bromham House Colony, as it had 135 acres and was relatively close to town. In 1930, the Board purchased the estate from the Allen family for £7500. Bromham Colony took a number of years to establish. The first 12 patients were admitted on the 16 July 1931, and were cared for by a medical superintendent, a matron and an attendant. In May 1935, tenders were accepted for the building of 5 villas for 260 patients, a training centre, a laundry, 4 staff cottages and installation of sewerage and disposal works. The foundation stone for the extensions was laid in 1936 by Alderman Charles Negus, Chairman of the Joint Board. A redeveloped Bromham House Colony officially opened on 22 September 1938 at a cost of £120,000. Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire County Councils each contributed approximately £50,000 and Northampton Borough Council approximately £20,000. In 1938, there were 149 patients (67 male and 81 female), a matron, 12 female nurses and 6 male nurses. Upon opening, the much emphasis was placed on sustainability and occupational therapy for those patients able to undertake chores and tasks. In July 1948, Bromham Colony became part of the NHS and in May 1950, the word ‘colony’ was dropped and ‘Bromham Hospital’ used instead. The development plans of the Joint Board were therefore dropped and patients from Northamptonshire all but ceased to be admitted after this time. Owing to a presssing need for more hospital accommodation for those with learning difficulties, Hasells Hall (Sandy) opened for the reception of 60 male patients on 21 December 1953. The Hall, previously home to the Pym family, had been used during the war by the Army, RAF and as a Women’s Land Army hostel. The lease of the Hall was assigned to the Minister of Health in June 1951, and it was used as an annexe to Bromham Hospital. The local GP, Dr B.D Ling, was appointed to make regular visits to the Hall. The building of 3 additional ward blocks (2 pavilions and a villa) in 1955 at Bromham House formed the second major development of Bromham Hospital, creating 134 extra beds. In 1958, a bungalow was built in the grounds for the Medical Superintendent. Bromham Hospital was closed in 1997 and the site has since been developed for housing. The original colony included a school for children with learning difficulties, later known as the Rainbow Special School. By 2007 only ten pupils were on the roll and the decision was made to close the school. The majority of pupils were transferred to Saint John's Special School, Kempston.
  • Exent
    3-4 boxes
  • Appraisal: Board of Control minutes weeded (1930-1937), as duplicate JBM.
  • Some records are closed under the Data Protection Act. Any queries about access to closed records should be referred to the South Essex Partnership (as of 2015, Elaine Brooks is the Information Governance Manager), the successer body to the Bedford & Shires Health Care Trust.
  • Reference
  • Level of description
    fonds
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