View of NE 'court' from NE Digital image of E 8578

Description View of NE 'court' from NE Digital image of E 8578

Date 21/4/2001

Catalogue Number SC 785532

Category On-line Digital Images

Scope and Content North-East Airing Court, Murthly Hospital, Perth & Kinross, from the north-east (closed 1984 and now demolished) This north-east courtyard, formed between the central block (right) and the east wing of the hospital (left), was originally used as an exercise yard for patients. The open slate-roofed veranda, supported by timber posts, provided a sheltered area along the east wall of the central block. The asylum had two airing courts, one for male patients and the other for female patients. They were situated on either side of the entrance block, and provided an enclosed and secure area for inmates to exercise. As exercise was regarded as a cure for mania, disturbed or noisy patients were allowed access to the courts 24 hours a day in all weathers in order to alleviate their symptoms and hopefully effect a cure. 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/785532

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap