Timeline

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