Oblique aerial view of the hospital, taken from the SSW.

Description Oblique aerial view of the hospital, taken from the SSW.

Date 1/5/2001

Collection RCAHMS Aerial Photography

Catalogue Number SC 1690373

Category On-line Digital Images

Copy of D 76969 CN

Scope and Content Aerial View of Murthly Hospital, Perth & Kinross (closed 1984 and now demolished) This impressive hospital was designed on an H-plan, with an administration block at its centre, and two-storeyed pavilion wings stretching out on either side. The Italianate-style administration block, designed by the architect, David Smart (1824-1914), was topped by a large timber cupola that served as an observation tower. The two large villas (centre left and bottom right), designed to complement the style of the main hospital, were built in 1894 as an introduction to the new colony system of accommodation, and named 'Pinel' and 'Tuke' after the pioneers in psychiatry, Philippe Pinel (1745-1826) and William Tuke (1732-1822). In the 19th century, the problem of accommodating the growing numbers of pauper lunatics led to the setting up of a Royal Commission on Lunacy, and, in 1857, the passing of the Lunacy (Scotland) Act. This Act divided Scotland into administrative districts, each with its own lunacy board which had the responsibility of providing accommodation for pauper lunatics, either by building a district asylum, or by organising accommodation within an existing asylum. The first district asylum to be built in Scotland opened in 1863 at Lochgilphead, and a spate of construction followed, with asylums established in Ayrshire, Fife & Kinross, Stirlingshire, Banffshire, Inverness-shire, Perthshire and at Haddington. The last district asylum was built in 1905 at Bangour. Murthly Hospital, designed by the Dundee firm of architects, Charles Edward & Thomas S Robertson, opened in 1864 as the Perth District Asylum for pauper lunatics. It was the second District Asylum to open in Scotland, and in 1894 became one of the first to build villas within its grounds as an early attempt to provide accommodation for patients based on the colony or village system. The hospital closed in 1984 and is now demolished. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/1690373

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