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Hospital

The Retreat

Last updated .

Important information

Information about this hospital might be outdated.

Details

Address
Heslington Road, York, YO1 5BN
Foundation Year
1792 (approximately)
Status
Closed (since 1948)

Administrative Authorities

Regional Board (1948-1974)
Not Applicable
Management Committee (1948-1974)
Not Applicable
Regional Authority (1974-1982)
Not Applicable
Regional Authority (Post-1982)
Not Applicable
District Authority (1974-1982)
Not Applicable
District Authority (Post-1982)
Not Applicable
Pre-1974 County
Yorkshire
Post-1974 County
Not Applicable
Post-1996 County
Not applicable

Status

Pre-1948
Private, Voluntary
Pre-1948 information
Voluntary/Private founded by Quakers. Supported by charitable contributions and patients fees.
Post-1948
Private

Type

Pre-1948
Mental
Post-1948
Mental

Other information

The Retreat was founded in 1792 by William Tuke, a Quaker, to put into practice a system of 'moral treatment' for the mentally ill, based on the theory that madness arose from an inflammation of human passions, the animal side of a person's nature. The regime stressed self-discipline and work, providing a structured and routinized environment from which any stimulus to the passions had been removed. In such an ordered world patients might find it easier to regain control of their disordered minds. Tuke used physical restraint only for specific theraputic purposes. The official ethos of the British asylum movement was derived from this experiment. [Adapted from 'An Introduction to the Social History of Nursing'; Dingwall, Rafferty and Webster; Routledge 1988]. Studies of the Retreat include 'The Retreat, York: An Early Experiment in the Treatment of Mental Illness'; Glover; York 1984, and 'Madness, Morality and Medicine: A Study of the York Retreat 1796 - 1914'; Digby; Cambridge 1985. The Retreat opened in 1796, and continues today: Annexes: The Appendage, York 1810 - 1823 Gainsborough House, Scarborough 1886 - 1903 Throxerby Hall, Scarborough 1903 - 1924 Millfield House, York 1919 - 1927 Moorlands, Haxby, York 1940 - c1955

Record locations

  • York University: Borthwick Institute of Historical Research

    Record types

    Administrative
    1792 - 1955
    General
    1792 - 1955
    Finance
    1793 - 1955
    Estates
    1794 - 1955
    Nursing
    1828 - 1939
    Staff
    1828 - 1939
    Admission
    1796 - 1939
    Clinical
    1796 - 1939
    Ephemera
    1792 - 1939
    Pictorial
    1900 - 1900

    Finding aids

    Finding aids
    Brief guide (BG)
    Location
    At Repository (AR), National Register of Archives (NRA)
    Details
    AR/BG Expanded list of archives in preparation 1999