View of entrance front from NW Digital image of E 8572

Description View of entrance front from NW Digital image of E 8572

Date 21/4/2001

Catalogue Number SC 785526

Category On-line Digital Images

Scope and Content Murthly Hospital, Perth & Kinross, from north-west (closed 1984 and now demolished) This two-storeyed rubble-built entrance front, designed in a simple Renaissance style by the architect, David Smart (1824-1914), was added c.1871 to the ward blocks designed by Edward & Robertson in 1864. This nine-bayed north elevation has advanced three-bayed end blocks, and a consoled and pedimented doorcase flanked by tripartite windows. When this district asylum opened in 1864, it was funded entirely by the local council and represented a change from a voluntary system to one controlled by the state. After the passing of the Lunacy (Scotland) Act in 1857, the asylum governors were often obliged to follow decisions made by the advisory Lunacy Board that dictated many of the key issues such as planning and treatment of patients. A central Board of Lunacy, which employed commissioners, regularly inspected the asylum. 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 in 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/785526

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap