Glenside Hospital Museum

Glenside Hospital Museum houses collections relating to the history of Bristol Psychiatric and Learning Disability Hospitals.

The Museum, set within the grounds of the building which opened in 1861 as The Bristol Lunatic Asylum, tells the 130 year story of a psychiatric hospital. Originally built for 300 patients the hospital quickly expanded to accommodating over a 1000 patients at any one. Apart from three years as a War Hospital from 1915 to 1919 when it specialised in orthopaedics. The hospital was for those with a mental illness. It closed in 1994.

The museum is housed in the hospital chapel, a Grade II listed building built in 1881 for the patients of Bristol’s first purpose built Lunatic Asylum. Bristol Lunatic Asylum was opened in 1861 and underwent several names changes including Beaufort War Hospital, Bristol Mental Hospital and Glenside Hospital, now the main hospital buildings are occupied by the University of the West of England Faculty of Health and Social Care. Since the 1880’s Nurse Training has been delivered on this site.

Throughout its history the building has gone through many changes, but looking at the warm grey pennant stone you can easily imagine the lives of the many people who have lived and worked here.

The large collection of artefacts, photographs and information provide a picture of life and work in the former hospital.