Thank you, Ed Brandon, NetGalley, and Pen & Sword Publishing for the opportunity to read this book. This book releases tomorrow, July 30th, 2022.

Trigger Warnings: Mental health discrimination, poverty, abuse

I have always been curious about mental health history as it is still very much stigmatized today. England has some of the most notorious mental health hospitals like Bedlam. I was very anxious to read A History of London County Asylums & Mental Hospitals by Ed Brandon. I am a huge fan of Anne Lee Huber’s Lady Darby Mystery series where the main character’s deceased husband was an anatomist and was known for his nefarious ways of getting dead bodies to study. I love how her stories really tackle mental health issues and shine a light on the atrocities committed by those in power who did not know or even want to understand mental health issues. So when I picked up this book, I was hoping to read about the hospitals and what they did and bring justice to the victims. This book has little to do with the patients and mainly a general history of Hanwell (St Bernard’s), Colney Hatch (Friern), Banstead, Cane Hill, Claybury, Bexley, Manor, Horton, St Ebba’s, Long Grove, and West Park

This book did have its moments like how it discussed how views on mental illness changed with King George III. There is even a portion of the book where it talks about the original “Jack the Ripper” suspects who were committed to an asylum. But I would say more than half of this book is mainly about the different architecture and floorplans of the major hospitals. The other parts give a brief history of the doctors. But the author tries to talk about the positives and the negatives.—So it really wasn’t what I was expecting. However, if readers are into architecture, this is the book for you.

This book has a lot of really interesting information, but it comes across a little dry and technical. I feel like I learned a lot and got some really interesting insight, but I was a little bored while reading it at times. If you like really niche history, this is a good book to pick up, but if you're looking for something more narrative, I'd say skip it.

An extremely thorough analysis of London asylums and mental hospitals and the policies and practices that went with them. From what they ate to how they lived and so much more, this story gives you all you need to know , Brandon has certainly done his research and paints a comprehensive picture of times bygone (thankfully!)

An inserting look at Lunatics Asylums and Mental hospitals something I wouldn't say I enjoy learning about. But I do like studying the topic. And I'm always on the look out for more books on the topic.

I’ve always had knowings of the sort of things that went down within mental hospitals back in the day, but this book went beyond the ‘bad’. It praised doctors who fought for better living conditions and went through the layouts of the buildings. I enjoyed the stories of the patients within the walls, including someone considered to potentially be Jack the Ripper. It’s sad, but wasn’t mostly unknown to me, the sort of things you could end up in a mental hospital for. One reason I wasn’t aware of was for self-pleasuring. There were definitely aspects I wasn’t aware of before reading this, such as people being able to pay to visit the ‘mad’, like some sort of freak show. I wasn’t shocked though. The treatment of patients also varied between each asylum.

This is an extremely thorough and detailed book. I appreciated the layout of the book—each section went through the opening of the asylum to closure or present day—so it was easy to follow. I was worried it would read like one of those boring textbooks you’re forced to read in school, missing out the parts you want to know, focusing on details you’re not massively bothered about, but it kept me intrigued. I also appreciated the illustrations.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ed Brandon and Pen & Sword for my DRC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed reading g A History of London County Lunatic Asylums and Mental Hospitd by Ed Brandon. It was very well written and informative

The derogatory words lunatic asylum and mental hospital are synonymous with restraints, locked rooms, scant food, punishment, neglect and lobotomies and England is known for them in particular. It is disturbing to know that hundreds of years ago curious onlookers paid admission fees to ogle these poor creatures, fellow human beings, most of whom did not belong in institutions. Many were conveniently placed there by family citing demon possession and evil deeds, others were forcibly admitted after experiencing losses of family or crops. One memorable patient was admitted with "over excitement at the Great Exhibition"! I wonder whether said family members ever gave their deplorable actions a second thought or felt remorse. Undoubtedly some suffering from mental health problems did need extra care as we all know. A few patients in this book escaped or walked away only to return to "family". A few were very dangerous to others and others suicidal. Some institutions were more comfortable and respectable than others..

From Medieval times these institutions changed a great deal. The author describes the history of madness (mad as a hatter, bedlam origins) and stigma as well as the revolutionary doctors such as Dr. Connolly who were desperate for their patients to receive excellent care and food, independence, beautiful architecture and magazines and books to read rather than tied up tightly all day and treated like sub humans. One of the stories which tugged at my heart most is that of the woman who was restrained so that she could not move, not even a finger to brush across her face or to roll over. Another is the detail that bath water was used for up to six people. Not only are the conditions, punishments and what a patient would see on his/her first day described but also the various building layouts, segregation of acute and chronic and staff quarters.

Many thousands of patients and staff entered the doors of eleven institutions which are the focus of this book from 1830s to 1990s. Funds were sparse (why bother "wasting" money on hopeless cases?) but at least many of the buildings were beautiful with thoughtfully-laid out kitchens, laundry facilities, canteens and churches. Eventually admission to a few became voluntary. A few buildings still stand and are used for other purposes but most were damaged by fire and/or bulldozed.

If you are eager to learn more about the history of asylums in England, this book should not be missed. It is well written with wonderful detail and includes photographs.

My sincere thank you to Pen & Sword for the privilege of reading this highly informative and emotive book!

This is a book about the early history of mental health facilities and asylum in London. From those Who let people view the patient entertainment to patient standing outside of the hospital begging for change to pay for the care and on and on even have short bios of the man who wanted to make healthcare for the mentally ill better. They do stray a little outside of London but for the most part is it is in London proper and if you love history you’ll definitely love this book it is a short read but an interesting one and one I highly recommend. I received this book from netGally and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any errors as I am blind and dictate my review but all opinions are definitely my own.

This is a very in-depth fascinating history of London’s mental hospitals. The author’s comprehensive descriptions of the buildings, historical medical practices and the doctors who influenced the mental health field gives the reader a look into history unlike I’ve read before and in a written style easy to follow. This could have read like a dry textbook, but the author weaves the stories of the asylums in a way that drew me in and kept me engaged. I’ve always been fascinated by the history of mental hospitals, and I ended this book wholly satisfied by the experience it lent.

I have always been interested in the macabre and dark things and as a result I have always been fascinated with asylums and their histories - which lets face it are about as dark as it gets, even their structures are dark and foreboding. This was such an interesting read that gave me more inofrmation on the things I already knew and taught me lots that I didn't know.

Thank you Pen and Sword for granting my wish!

Relevant information: educational background in neuroscience and psychology, with special interest in Victorian psychiatric and psychological practices.

This is an informative, thorough resource for anyone interested in the history of asylums. I really appreciated the depth of information about each of the specific institutions and their practices at the time as well as how the differed between each hospital within a relatively small area. The chronological order of events within each section was easy to follow and kept me interested in the changes made over the life of each facility. It's definitely a book that I would have picked up during university and will probably pick up for myself after publication as well.

I asked for this book on my Netgalley Wish List and it was kindly granted! So thank you.

I enjoyed reading through this history of London County Asylums & Mental Hospitals. There were plenty of interesting photographs and map/blueprints of the asylums and hospitals and it was fascinating to read their history. However, I would have preferred for there to be a stronger focus on the human side of this history. The patients, the staff and what they faced, as I did not feel there was enough of this.

Yet this was an interesting history, full of fascinating facts and details and would be the perfect companion to anyone researching asylums and mental hospitals.

A very well researched book giving the reader much more than dates, history's and locations of these buildings.
The reader is given some insight into what went on in these buildings. Horrific at times and often sad.
My sincere thanks to the author, publisher and netgalley for a copy in return for my review.