1820s
1828
John Langdon Down born at Torpoint in Cornwall
JLD lives over his father’s shop as a boy
His father is a ‘chemist, druggist and draper
1830s
Conifers, later part of Normansfield, is known as Broomfield cottage
1835
James Henry Pullen born. He is later a patient of John at Earlswood
1840s
1842-46
John works in his father’s shop
1846
John has a meeting with a ‘feebleminded’ girl which plants the seed of his interest in learning disability
John begins his medical training at the Pharmaceutical Society
1848
The Royal Earlswood Asylum founded
1850s
1853
John continues his training at the London Hospital
1854
John is given London University’s gold medal for physiology
1856
John passes examinations for membership at the Royal College of Surgeons and Licence of the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries
1858
John graduates MB (Bachelor of Medicine)
John appointed to Earlswood as Medical Superintendent
1860s
1860
John marries Mary Crellin 10 October in Mare Street Chapel, Hackney
1862
Everleigh born
1863
Lilian born
1865
Lilian dies, probably of a brain virus
1866
Reginald born
1868
John and Mary leave Earlswood
They buy the White House and open the Normansfield Training Institution for ImbecilesPercival born
John establishes a private practice in Welbeck Street, London
Residents in 1869: 19
1870s
1871
Purchase of more land, and villas facing Kingston Road
1872-3
North and South wings built
1877
Farm buildings built
1879
Formal opening of the Entertainment Hall by the Earl of Devon
Residents in 1879: 137
1880s
1882
Eastcote (later known as Trematon) was purchased as well as 4 villas and the freehold of Normansfield
1883
Laundry built
Everleigh dies in an accident involving his brother Reginald
1884
John appointed JP Middlesex
Boathouse built
1887
On some of the mental affections of childhood and youth published by John (the Lettsomian lectures at the Medical Society of London
1889
Dr Langdon Down appointed Alderman of Middlesex
Residents in 1889: 195
1890s
1891
Genesta Amateur Dramatic Club formed
1892
Clock Tower wing and conservatory finished
Reginald and Percival qualify as doctors in 1892 and 1893
1894
Normansfield mortgages paid off / Mary Langdon Down becomes a legal partner
1895
Dr Reginald and Dr Percival are included in the Commissioners’ licence for Normansfield
1896
John dies
1897
Jubilee Celebrations
1899
10 residents die in a flu epidemic / Residents in 1899: 18
1900s
1900
Mary dies
1905
John, son of Reginald, born with Down’s syndrome
1909
Reginald exhibits handprints of people with Down’s syndrome
Residents in 1900: 168
Residents in 1909: 145
1910s
1910
Normansfield covers 40 acres of land between Kingston Road, Holmesdale Road, Broom Road and Normansfield Avenue. A piece of land went down to the River Thames from Broom Road
Normansfield hosts a garden party for the Women’s Suffrage Movement
1913
Mental Deficiency Act Categorises people with learning disabilities
1917
Reginald’s wife dies Percival’s wife takes over the day-to-day management
1920s
Percival’s medically qualified daughter Molly and his son Norman play parts at Normansfield
1922
Reginald remarried
1925
Percival Langdon Down dies
1930s
1931
Reginald buys a house in Broom Road
1939
When war is declared, some residents are on holiday at Selsey Bill and have to come straight back
1940s
1944
V1 rocket damages Conifers. Several incendiary bombs fall on the estate and damage buildings
1946
Dr Norman Langdon Down, son of Percival, joins Dr Reginald as Deputy Medical Superintendent
1950s
1951
Normansfield becomes an NHS hospital
Dr Reginald retires and Dr Norman becomes Medical Superintendent
1952
Lady Stella Brain, daughter of Reginald, appointed to the Management Committee
1955
Reginald dies and Norman becomes Physician Superintendent
1957
League of Friends of Normansfield formed
1959
Chromosomal cause of Down’s syndrome discovered
1960s
1961
Stella Brain School opens, provided by the League of Friends
1965
WHO formalised use of the term Down’s syndrome, first proposed in 1961
1965-67
League of Friends provides voluntary helpers, shop and holiday home at Selsey
1970s
1970
Norman retires
Consultant Psychiatrist appointed
Langdon Down family’s involvement ends
Down’s Syndrome Association (DSA) founded
1976
NHS nurses’ strike leads to the suspension of consultant psychiatrist
1978
The Committee of Inquiry report published in November
1980s
1981
New complex opened with activity centre and 4 new residential units
1983
GLC organises seminar of theatre experts, leading to the inauguration of a Theatre Project Committee by the Friends
1986
Avenue Centre built to provide life skills and activities for students
1990s
1994
Public enquiry into future planning proposals rule that any development must allow for the future of the Grade II* Theatre
1996
Remainder of the main building listed
1997
Normansfield Hospital closes
Earlswood Hospital closes
1999
Laing Homes acquire 32 acre site for housing, to be called Langdon Park, and agree to conserve the theatre as part of the deal
Norman dies
2000s
2003-5
Laing Homes restores and reopens the theatre wing and the old scenery is conserved by the Textile Conservation Centre
2004
DSA moves from Tooting to Normansfield
Langdon Down Centre Trust moves in, with DSA as tenant
2007
First professional performance in the theatre before a paying audience in 100 years
2010s
2011
Earlswood Museum donates collection, including Pullen artefacts
Building work begins to develop housing in part of main building
2012
Langdon Down Museum opens
Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant for Pullen exhibition
2014
Historic England lists Normansfield boathouse, now privately owned, as Grade II*
2015
HLF grant for project: Normansfield – Protecting a Theatrical Past
Scenery collection photographed
