Scope and content
The collection includes patient records, administrative records, correspondence, staff
records, financial records and photographs of the Royal Scottish National Hospital
from its creation in 1862 to shortly before its closure in 2002.
The patient records cover 1863-1996 and include admissions registers (1863-1988);
registers of discharges and removals (1864-1962); applications and case files (1865-1954);
registers of deaths (1879-1951); registers of accidents (1892-1980); records of expiry
of detention orders (1915-1987); registers of escapes (1935-1968); registers of restraint
and seclusion (1937-1968); and student evaluations (1929-1924 and 1993-1996).
The administrative records include annual reports (1862-1948); superintendent's reports
(1863-1872); inspection reports by the Commissioners in Lunacy (1865-1962); minute
books (1863-1969); daily registers, a daily statistical return on the numbers of patients
(1940-1948); a visitors book including comments from overseas medical professionals
(1885-1928); newspaper cuttings (1913-1957); and administrative files (1915-1997).
The correspondence includes letter books of outgoing letters by the Superintendents
Alexander Skene and Dr Robert Durward Clarkson, (1881-1912); later correspondence
files of Superintendents Dr Spence and Dr Methven and Deputy Superintendent Dr Edith
Chalmers (1943-1956); and correspondence concerning admissions (1919-1955).
The staff records are limited and only include two registers. However, there is staff
information in a number of other sections particularly the correspondence files.
The financial records include cash books (1881-1948); bank books (1939-1948); salaries
information (c1924-1971); rent registers (1954-1970s); and a register of employment
of residents (1955-1959).
The photographs are a mixture of originals and copies. They date back to c1910 and
many of them were used in the publication 'The Royal Scottish National Hospital 140
Years' by Guthrie Hutton. There are no case note photographs.
The hospital changed its name over time from the Scottish National Institution for
the Education of Imbecile Children between 1863 and 1915 to the Royal Scottish National
Hospital when it closed. The name used in the item titles is that appropriate to the
final covering date of the item.
During the Second World War the premises of the Royal Scottish National Hospital at
Larbert were largely taken over by the military and run as the Base or 'Larbert Hospital'
for military personnel. Some civilians, such as refugees, were also treated there.
The records for the military hospital are not in the collection.
Record creators history
By the mid 19th century attitudes were changing towards people with learning disabilities.
A debate started in Scotland on the need for improved facilities such as a residential
training school. The debate was further fuelled by the 1855 Royal Commission into
the country's mental health provision which led to the Lunacy (Scotland) Act 1857.
One of the main results of the Act was the creation of a General Board of Commissioners
in Lunacy. Although the Act made no provision for children, in the Board's first annual
report it highlighted the work of the so-called 'Idiot Schools' at Baldovan and Gayfield
Square, Edinburgh and the efforts being made to raise funds for a model institution.
These efforts were concentrated in the Society for Education of Imbecile Youth in
Scotland, established in 1859. Rather than raising funds by relying on a few large
donations, the idea of a penny subscription was introduced. Enough funds soon accumulated
to allow the board of directors to purchase land. As it was to be a national institution,
the Stenhouse Estate near Larbert was chosen for its central location and excellent
rail links. The Board commissioned Frederick Pilkington to design the school.
The first dormitory opened in May 1863 and Dr Brodie, who had run the school at Gayfield
Square, became the first resident physician. The new establishment was called the
Scottish National Institution for the Education of Imbecile Children and was intended
for children aged between six and twelve, although older and younger children were
soon taken.
Initially all the children were admitted on a fee-paying basis. For those whose families
could only afford part of the fee, the Institution would award subsidies following
the election of suitable applicants by donors to the Society.
Dr Brodie and the Board of Directors eventually diverged in their vision for the Institution
and Brodie resigned in December 1867. He was succeeded by Dr Adam Addison, medical
superintendent 1868-1870 then Dr William Ireland, superintendent 1870-1881. The number
of children grew steadily from 43 in 1867 to 95 in 1870. More facilities were added
as funds were available and those funds were augmented in 1869 with an annual royal
donation of £100 which was soon raised to £150.
After Ireland's resignation in 1881, Alexander Skene, the first non-medical superintendent
was appointed. He oversaw a period of almost continuous growth: 25 staff and 120 children
when he started; 70 staff and 350 children by the time he left in 1911. New buildings
were erected including an infectious diseases hospital, covered playground and staff
cottages; and additional land purchased. The continued rise in the number of children
infringed the Institution's licence and application had to be made to the Commissioners
in Lunacy to accommodate more.
When Skene retired in 1911, Dr Durward Clarkson became the medical superintendent
and it was his vision that saw the creation of a life-long community. This vision
was aided by the passing of the Mental Deficiency and Lunacy (Scotland) Act 1913.
For the first time a distinction was drawn between mental illness and mental handicap
and provided for new institutions for those with mental disabilities. Existing establishments
could become certified institutions if they met the requisite criteria and the Scottish
National Institution was one of these. Numbers increased and to free up more space
a nurses' home was built. By the time it opened in 1917 resident numbers had risen
to 500 and staff to over 100.
The First World War threatened to prevent the implementation of the all-life care
that the Act provided but by the 1920s the Institution could look at purchasing land
for an Industrial Colony. After the purchase of Larbert House and estate, plans were
drawn up for an administration block, nurses' home and five villas where 300 people
would be able to work on the land and at various trades. In the meantime Larbert House
itself became home to 36 private residents - the first admissions of those over the
age of 21. The Colony opened in September 1935 and with his ambition realised Dr Clarkson
retired to be succeeded by Dr Thomas Spence.
During the Second World War there were serious staffing issues, exacerbated by the
transfer of 130 patients from Gogarburn Hospital in Edinburgh which took the total
number of residents to over 900. After the war ended the Institution became part of
the National Health Service (NHS) thereby ending the charitable status it had had
since its foundation.
The slow post-war economic recovery meant little could be done initially to accommodate
increased demand. This improved in the 1950s and a twelve year plan to increase accommodation
to over 1300 at a cost of £1million was set up in 1956. This was substantially completed
by 1967 by which time a shift had started towards taking in more severely handicapped
patients. As a result the Institution adopted its final name of the Royal Scottish
National Hospital (RSNH).
Into the 1980s the move from institutional to community care gained momentum. Health
Boards in other areas were also encouraged to take their patients back in a continuing
drive to reduce numbers. Upgrading of existing facilities continued, however, and
was partly funded through concentration on the Colony site and selling off the original
building and land. The Ochil Park development proved to be the last big project and
was as innovatory as the original Institution buildings – 6 ten-bedded bungalows for
highly dependent patients.
The hospital finally closed in 2002. The site was re-used for the new Forth Valley
Royal Hospital which opened in 2010.
[Source: The Royal Scottish National Hospital – 140 Years by Guthrie Hutton]
Archival history
Transferred to the University of Stirling Archive and Special Collections by NHS Forth
Valley in March 2012.
Accruals
Source of acquisition
Prior to transfer the collection was held by NHS Forth Valley.
System of arrangement
Arrangement is by original order.
Conditions governing access
Some records are closed to preserve patient or staff confidentiality. Sensitive data
is closed for 100 years in the case of children and 75 years in the case of adults.
The reading room is open from 9.30 - 13.00 / 14.00 - 16.45 on Monday - Friday. Please
contact us in advance of your visit or if you have further questions regarding access
at archives@stir.ac.uk .
Conditions governing reproduction
Rights to access and re-use digital objects:
Unknown
Please consult the archivist.
Existence and location of originals
Collection is comprised of original material.
Publication note
Hutchison I., 'Institutionalization of mentally-impaired children in Scotland, c1855-1914',
History of Psychiatry, 2011, 22: 416
Hutton G., 'The Royal Scottish National Hospital: 140 Years', Larbert, 2000
Extent
164 volumes; 3120 files; 343 photographs
Keywords
Subjects:
History of medicine
Hospitals (NHS)
Corporate names: Scottish Institution for the Education of Imbecile Children 1863-1865 Larbet Scottish National Institution for the Education of Imbecile Children 1865-1917 Larbert
Royal Scottish National Institution 1917-? 1970 Larbert Royal Scottish National Hospital ? 1970-1992 Larbert
Titles of related works:
The Royal Scottish National Hospital : 140 years
Language of the material
English
Record creator
Scottish Institution for the Education of Imbecile Children 1863-1865 Larbet
Scottish National Institution for the Education of Imbecile Children 1865-1917 Larbert
Royal Scottish National Institution 1917-? 1970 Larbert
Royal Scottish National Hospital ? 1970-1992 Larbert
Content provider
University of Stirling Archives & Special Collections
