Project for 2016: The history of Normansfield’s buildings Exploring the history of Normansfield’s buildings and their rooms, we will research the development of the site from 1868. When and why were they built, at what cost, when demolished, what used for through the years, who lived and worked in them. We will create site maps, […]

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Ref: Case Book H29/NF/B/13/002 pp 122, 137, 138 Robert Belchamber was born and spent his early life in India where his father was working. Before he was 10 years old, his behavior gave cause for concern; he showed “deviation from natural disposition”, disagreed with people he lived with and thought they were listening at his […]

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Ninety eight per cent of patients were admitted with a mental disorder listed as either idiocy or imbecility. Ida is interesting because she did not fall into either category. The Admission Register lists her mental disorder as nymphomania. Ida was admitted to Normansfield at the age of 16 at the instigation of her father on […]

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         Formal education formed an important part of treatment in Normansfield. Teachers, however, were expected to participate fully in the life of patients and to bond with them. As will be seen from the work rotas, duties were not, therefore, confined to the classroom. Timetable extracted from LMA  File Ref H29/NF/B/16/01 TEACHER ROTA […]

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   It is well recorded that, from the outset in 1868 until her death in 1901, Mary, the wife of Dr John Langdon Down was responsible for the administration of Normansfield and much of the correspondence with parents, guardians, etc. Dr John Langdon Down acted as medical director while simultaneously conducting a Harley Street practice. […]

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  Normansfield was a private establishment financed by John Langdon Down and the property was progressively expanded by means of mortgages. From the outset, it was designed to care for fee-paying patients with learning difficulties. The level of basic annual fee charged appears to have been determined by need (e.g. level of care required) and […]

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The South Wing Walk While at Earlswood, built to aid the “respectable poor” and which was over-subscribed, John Langdon Down clearly discerned a need for a similar establishment to cater for the wealthier elements of society. In 1868, he left Earlswood and purchased the White House with 5 acres of ground in Teddington (later re-named […]

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Mental deficiency in 1868 was primarily defined as “idiocy”. According to John Langdon Down, this was not a scientific term, but a convenient term to include a class of maladies that differ essentially from insanity both as to their nature and treatment. He wrote that “the term idiocy covers such a large area, and includes […]

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A report  on the findings of a short study conducted by members of the University of the Third Age (U3A) under the auspices of the Langdon Down Museum. Introduction This study was undertaken by members of the U3A under its Shared Learning Project (SLP) programme. This programme enables and encourages U3A members, on a voluntary […]

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