Asylum

The Cheshire Lunatic Asylum opened for the receipt of its first patients in August 1829, work having commenced in March 1827, under the auspices of the 1808 County Asylum Act which allowed for Justices of the Peace to levy a county rate in order to establish asylums to accommodate pauper lunatics. The plans by William Cole, County Architect, were chosen by and erected under the directions of the visiting Justices (John Feilden of Mollington, Richard Congreave of Mollington, and Townsend Ince of Christleton). "The Deva" was built by William Quay of Neston: the "1829 Building" is of brick with dressings of stone. Its design is reputedly inspired by "The Retreat" at York (dating from 1796).

The hospital underwent a significant number of name changes over time some of which reflect the social changes over the years:


 * 1829 The Cheshire County Lunatic Asylum


 * 1855 Chester Lunatic Asylum


 * 1870 Chester County Lunatic Asylum


 * 1921 County Mental Hospital (Cheshire County Council assumed responsibility)


 * 1948 Upton Mental Hospital (NHS)


 * 1953 Deva Hospital


 * 1970 West Cheshire Hospital


 * 1984 Countess of Chester Hospital

The asylum was built on land beyond Bache Hall, which was considered healthy, well drained and having pleasant views. Extensions and new wings were built through the 1850s and 1870s and new ward blocks during the 1890s. Initially the Asylum had accommodation for 90 patients, men in the south wing and women in the north. The patients slept on straw bedding and used unbreakable bowls, horn feeding mugs and wooden spoons. To look after these patients there were 12 attendants and a matron (Mrs Bird) but no regular night nurse and the two doctors (L. I. Jones & Mr W. Rose) were neither resident nor full time. It was not until 1853 that the first full time resident Medical Superintendent was appointed. An Administrative Block was built (‘The Main’,) between 1896-9, along with a central corridor system, which linked up previously separate blocks of accommodation.

A large Annexe complex was completed in 1915, intended to provide 320 beds for both ‘pauper’ and ‘private’ patients. However the commandeering of nearby Winwick Asylum (Warrington) as a War Hospital and the same at the Chester Workhouse, resulted in over 250 "Winwick" patients being transferred to Chester, along with approx 80 from Middlesborough.

The Asylum closed in 1991 and was mostly demolished in 2008/2009.

Sources & links

 * A detailed history from the Upton Historical Society;