The aim of the Hospital was to create an atmosphere in which the patients could feel at ease. The pictures here of the wards show different activities undertaken by the patients, including reading, sewing, gardening and keeping and looking after pets. There were regular dances, the ‘Bethlem Balls’, and music and theatre performances put on by the patients and visiting companies. Visitors were allowed, if it was felt the patients were well enough to see them.
While the Hospital was governed on the principles of non-restraint, this does not mean that patients were totally free to do whatever they wished. Dr Savage, the Resident Physician and head of the small trained medical staff, advocated for strong clothing (gloves and restrictive garments that limited free movement) and was a keen proponent of sedation for manic patients. It is also notable that at this time the Hospital could only really offer what we would think of as environmental cures. There were no anti-psychotic drugs and no talking cures on offer.
One stage of the recovery process was being sent to the Hospital’s convalescent home in Witley, Surrey. This usually marked a final stage in the patient’s residential treatment when it was considered that progress to recovery was established.
You can see more on Bethlem in the 1880s on our learning resource here- https://museumofthemind.org.uk/learning/explore-bethlem