IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Bath Road, WELLS, BA5 3DH

The old Somerset and Bath Pauper Lunatic Asylum was designed by George Gilbert Scott and William Moffatt and opened in 1848. It was built as a response to the County Asylums Act 1808 and offered a new approach to mental health care in Victorian Britain. The pair's work bestowed a fine suite of wards and administrative buildings in Gothic Revival style, which have been converted into residential use these days. The blocks are mainly 'E-shaped' and have large, open areas in front of them to allow some fresh air and light in - in contrast to many cramped and congested urban hospitals of the time. Having been repurposed with some planters and architectural features the site retains much of its intent.

This little bird seemed lost and unsure of what to do. It spent some time hopping up the path but not diving into the grass for cover, suggesting it was a recent fledgling that was unready for safety or flight yet. What became of it was up to the gods. Visual identification of the young bird is difficult: it may be either a Marsh Tit (Poecile palustris) or possibly a Willow Tit (Poecile montana), but as the latter is thought to be rare in this area it is likely to be a Marsh Tit.

This poor little feathery fellow was hopping along the muddy footpath for quite some time. It appeared to have no idea of where to go, suggesting it had left the nest a touch prematurely. Visual identification of the young bird is difficult: it may be either a Marsh Tit (Poecile palustris) or possibly a Willow Tit (Poecile montana), but as the latter is thought to be rare in this area it is likely to be a Marsh Tit.

In converting the old hospital into residential use, plenty of thought was given to planting and flowers in open spaces. This western courtyard backs onto the old mortuary in the past. The buildings were designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, assisted by William Bonython Moffatt - an architect who worked with Scott on several projects. Oddly, the modern road is spelled 'Moffat' with just the one T.

A Pooley and Son weighbridge in the grounds of the former Mendip hospital, dated 1926. See Image] for a wider view.

This weighing station was part of the old mental health hospital, built around the turn of the 1900s, shortly after the first build of 1848. See Image] for a better look.

A cutmark, as listed in the Benchmark Database: https://www.bench-marks.org.uk/bm149676 , on a building in South Horrington. Formerly the area was a large mental health hospital. See Image] for a wider view.

A post box stands in a part of the old South Horrington hospital estate, now an office. Below on the wall is a benchmark - see Image] for a closer look.

Despite being a former lunatic asylum in Victorian days, the elegance and charm of the old hospital buildings make for a thoroughly welcoming sight today.

It is uncommon to find such a stylish and welcoming municipal site. This elegant site was originally the County Asylum for Pauper Lunatics, later the Somerset and Bath Pauper Lunatic Asylum (1880s), the Wells Mental Hospital (1920s) and the Somerset and Bath Mental Hospital (Wells) by the time it was taken over by the newly-created National Health Service in 1948. In its records are many people who came from the workhouses and were kept here. It later was named the Mendip Hospital and still housed many mental health patients as well as elderly residents. Finally the site was closed in 1991 and converted to residential use, although some assisted living is still nearby.