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Middlesex Pauper Lunatic Asylum fire, 1903
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Middlesex Pauper Lunatic Asylum fire, 1903
The ruins of the temporary annexe at the Middlesex Pauper Lunatic Asylum at Colney Hatch, near Friern Barnet, Middlesex (North London), following the disasterous fire there in 1903. 51 patients perished, but more might have been saved, claims the text in the Illustrated London News that accompanies this picture, had not the unfortunate inmates rushed towards the flames instead of away from them. Date: 1903
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Media ID 14121994
© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans
Annexe Asylum Barnet Colney Friern Hatch Health Institution Lunatic Mental Middlesex Pauper
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This haunting image captures the aftermath of the devastating fire that engulfed the temporary annexe at the Middlesex Pauper Lunatic Asylum in Colney Hatch, near Friern Barnet, North London, in 1903. The fire, which broke out on the morning of March 17, resulted in the tragic loss of 51 lives, many of whom were unfortunate inmates of the asylum. The cause of the fire remains unclear, but what is certain is that the disaster could have been mitigated had the patients not been driven towards the flames instead of away from them. The Middlesex Pauper Lunatic Asylum, also known as Colney Hatch Asylum, was a mental health institution established in 1851 to provide care for the mentally ill who were unable to afford private treatment. The temporary annexe, which housed some of the most vulnerable patients, was a wooden structure that was added to the main building in the late 19th century to accommodate the increasing number of patients. The Illustrated London News, which published this photograph, reported that the fire had started in the early hours of the morning and quickly spread, trapping many patients in their beds. Despite the efforts of the asylum staff and local fire brigades, the blaze proved to be too fierce, and many patients were unable to escape. The image of the ruins of the annexe serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of the disaster and the challenges faced by mental health institutions in the early 20th century. The fire at Colney Hatch Asylum was a turning point in the history of mental health care in the UK, leading to increased scrutiny of institutional care and the eventual move towards community-based care. Today, the site of the asylum is a nature reserve and a reminder of the past, a poignant testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
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