A History of London County Lunatic Asylums & Mental Hospitals

A History of London County Lunatic Asylums & Mental Hospitals written by

Ed Brandon and published by Pen & Sword Books - £16.99 - Softcover - Pages 224

From the Middle Ages onwards, London’s notorious Bedlam lunatic hospital saw the

city’s ‘mad’ locked away in dank cells, neglected and abused and without any real cure

and little comfort. The unprecedented growth of the metropolis after the Industrial

Revolution saw a perceived ‘epidemic’ of madness take hold, with ‘county asylums’

seen by those in power as the most humane or cost-effective way to offer the mass

confinement and treatment believed necessary.

The county of Middlesex – to which London once belonged – would build and open three huge county asylums from 1831, and when London became its own county in 1889 it would adopt all three and go on to build or run another eight such immense institutions. Each operated much like a self-contained town; home to thousands and often incorporating its own railway, laundries, farms, gardens, kitchens, ballroom, sports pitches, surgeries, wards, cells, chapel, mortuary, and more, in order to ensure the patients never needed to leave the asylum’s grounds.

Between them, at their peak London’s eleven county asylums were home to around 25,000 patients and thousands more staff, and dominated the physical landscape as well as the public imagination from the 1830s right up to the 1990s. Several gained a legacy which lasted even beyond their closure, as their hulking, abandoned forms sat in overgrown sites around London, refusing to be forgotten and continuing to attract the attention of those with both curious and nefarious motives.

Hanwell (St Bernard’s), Colney Hatch (Friern), Banstead, Cane Hill, Claybury, Bexley, Manor, Horton, St Ebba’s, Long Grove, and West Park went from being known as ‘county lunatic asylums’ to ‘mental hospitals’ and beyond. Reflecting on both the positive and negative aspects of their long and storied histories from their planning and construction to the treatments and regimes adopted at each, the lives of patients and staff through to their use during wartime, and the modernisation and changes of the 20th century, this book documents their stories from their opening up to their eventual closure, abandonment, redevelopment, or destruction.

This book looks at the various Asylums and Mental hospitals in and around London, the book looks at the history, reasons why we have them, how they were run, some of the treatments and care procedures that took place and finally some of the more well known cases that come from these hospitals. As I’m sure most people will know, people with mental health problems have never really had the best or most suitable help and care, always left near the bottom of the pile for concern. This subject always tends to be a bit grim reading, but what I enjoyed most about this book was the fact that the majority of the book is based around the hospitals with a number of patient stories thrown in, but I enjoyed the fact that the book was more about the hospitals and the way it was run. A fascinating book and one that people who like a bit of grim reading will enjoy.

The Knights of Islam - The Wars of the Mamluks 1250 - 1517

The Knights of Islam - The Wars of the Mamluks 1250 - 1517 written by

James Waterson and published by Greenhill Books - £14.99 - Softcover - Pages 288

The Mamluks were, at one distinct point in history, the greatest body of fighting

men in the world and the quintessence of the mounted warrior – reaching near

perfection in their skill with the bow, lance and sword.

Their story embraces many of the great themes of medieval military endeavour: the Crusaders and the deadly contest between Islam and Christendom, the Mongols and their vision of World Dominion, Tamerlane the Scourge of God and the rise of the Ottoman Empire whose own slave soldiers, the Janissaries, would be the Mamluks' final nemesis.

They entered the Islamic world as unlettered automatons and through a total application to the craft of the warrior they became more than soldiers. After a bloody seizure of power from their masters, the descendants of Saladin, they developed a martial code and an honour system based on barracks brotherhood, a sophisticated military society that harnessed the state's energies for total war and produced a series of treatises on cavalry tactics, martial training, mounted archery and scientific and analytical approaches to warfare that more than compare to Sun Tzu's Art of War, the Western Codes of Chivalry and the Bushido in their complexity, beauty of language and comprehensive coverage of the bloody business of war.

Their story embraces many of the great themes of medieval military endeavour: the Crusaders and the deadly contest between Islam and Christendom, the Mongols and their vision of world dominion, Tamerlane and the rise of the Ottoman Empire whose own slave soldiers, the Janissaries, would be the Mamluks' final nemesis.

I should start with the fact that I sadly know little about this part of history, the medieval period of the Middle East. But I can say after reading this book, what an enjoyable and informative book it was to read. The book looks at a number of things such as the rise and power of the Mamluks, a determined and very highly skilled warrior skilled in warfare being able to handle multiple weapons and skills of attack and defence. The book also looks at the relationship between Islam and the Christians and how the strength of the Mamluks had an important but underplayed role in the Middle East. The book answers a lot of excellent questions and explains a number of reasons and possibilities. But whilst I can’t say everything made sense to me, as it is not an area I would call myself an expert in. What it has done is made me want to learn more about Middle Eastern politics and people. I really enjoyed the maps and timelines at the beginning of the book, as a newbie they really helped put the information into perspective. A really informative and excellent read.

First Polish Armoured Division 1938-47

First Polish Armoured Division 1938-47 written by Evan McGilvray &

Janusz Jarzembowski and published by Pen & Sword Books - £25 - Hardback -

Pages 320

The First Polish Armoured Division was formed in Scotland in February 1942 from Polish

exiles who had escaped first Poland and then France. Its commander, Stanislaw Maczek,

and many of its men had previously served in Polish 10th Motorized Cavalry Brigade

(10 BKS), which had taken part in the Polish invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1938 and given

a good account of itself in defence of Poland against German and Soviet invasion of 1939.

Under Maczek’s leadership, the division was trained and equipped along British lines in

preparation for the invasion of France.

Attached to 1st Canadian Army, the division was sent to Normandy in late July 1944. It suffered heavily during Operation Totalize but went on to play a crucial role in preventing an orderly German withdrawal from the Falaise Pocket by its stand at Hill 262. They then played their part in the advance across Western Europe and into Germany.

This detailed history, supported by dozens of archive photos, concludes by looking at the often-poor treatment of Maczek and his men after the war.

I’ve been looking forward to reading this book as I find the Polish army side of things is always underwritten by WW2 historians apart from those flyers involved in a number of roles within the RAF. The book is almost split into a year-by-year look at the Polish Division, the first couple of chapters look at the division pre-38 & the reorganisation in Britain when Poland was eventually overrun. The book then looks at the training and planning for future events and operations they will be involved in in the next coming years. Now the Polish soldiers were determined, skilled and in many cases well trained and they tried to learn many fighting skills from the British. The Polish were skilled and did well in Czechoslovakia and they would do well throughout the war, they did have problems mainly in standards and training, but I would put this down more to the disorganisation when they were fighting after Poland had been taken.

The book is supported by much evidence and reports, and I enjoyed the personal statements and stories that run throughout the book, and I must say there is a good standard of photographs throughout which do add weight to a good read. Although there did seem to be a lack of maps, maybe that was just me, but I found some of the battles they were involved in would have given more knowledge to the reader. A rare book on Polish military history but one I enjoyed.

Armies of Plantagenet England, 1135–1337

Armies of Plantagenet England, 1135–1337 written by Gabriele Esposito and published by Pen & Sword Books - £25 - Hardback - Pages 184

 

The ascent of the Plantagenets to the English throne in 1154 led to the beginning of a new

historical phase in the British Isles, which was marked by numerous wars that were fought

between the Kingdom of England and the 'Celtic nations' of Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

During the rule of the Norman kings, the English armies had not completed the conquest

of Wales and had established only some footholds in Ireland; Scotland was still independent

and was ready to contest the Plantagenets’ possession of northern England. As a result of

this situation, the two centuries between the rise of the new dynasty and the beginning of

the Hundred Years’ War were characterised by a series of wars that ravaged feudal England.

Gabriele Esposito covers all these conflicts, following the campaigns of Richard the Lionheart

as well as those of his younger brother who was defeated on the continent at the large Battle

of Bouvines; the conquest of Wales is analysed in detail, as well as the First Scottish War of

Independence that saw William Wallace playing a prominent role. The organization and

equipment of all the troop types taken into account is described in full detail and lavishly

illustrated with colour images of reenactors, bringing these forces to life.

 

Gabriele Esposito has written a complete and informative book here, looking at the armies, soldiers, tactics and weaponry based around the English Plantagenet Armies. These were the armies that cover the first fighting in Wales, Ireland and the first Scottish wars. The book covers a lot of history and leading Royals which is good to read and helps give the reader a good, solid knowledge of this period of time in medieval history affecting the home nations and their relationships between them. The author covers the weapons, armies and strategies used by the various Kings of the time and what also supported the text was some good photography of a number of re-enactors dressed in accurate uniforms with weapons too. Very informative and ideal for someone who wants a comprehensive book.

The Great Thorpe Railway Disaster of 1874

The Great Thorpe Railway Disaster of 1874 written by Phyllida Scrivens and

published by Pen & Sword Books - £19.99 - Hardback - Pages 216

The Great Thorpe Railway Disaster of 1874 is the third title from Norwich writer and

biographer Phyllida Scrivens, who lives less than half a mile from the site of the fatal

collision.

At Norwich Station on 10 September 1874, a momentary misunderstanding between the Night Inspector and young Telegraph Clerk resulted in an inevitable head-on collision. The residents of the picturesque riverside village of Thorpe-Next-Norwich were shocked by a ‘deafening peal of thunder’, sending them running through the driving rain towards a scene of destruction. Surgeons were summoned from the city, as the dead, dying and injured were taken to a near-by inn and boatyard. Every class of Victorian society was travelling that night, including ex-soldiers, landowners, clergymen, doctors, seamstresses, saddlers, domestic servants and a beautiful heiress.

For many months local and national newspapers followed the story, publishing details of subsequent deaths, manslaughter trial and outcomes of record-breaking compensation claims. The Board of Trade Inquiry concluded that it was ‘the most serious collision between trains meeting one another on a single line of rails […] that has yet been experienced in this country.’

Using extensive research, non-fiction narrative, informed speculation and dramatised events, Phyllida Scrivens pays tribute to the 28 men, women and children who died, revealing the personal stories behind the names, hitherto only recorded as a list.

I’ve been reading this book during the unfortunate events of the train crash in Salisbury, luckily no one was killed in that. But this story, of the Great Thorpe Railway Disaster in 1874, sadly there were a large number of people killed, 28 men, women and children. So actually the first thing that struck me was the fact that how well trains are built now and how the safety on the railway system has greatly changed since then. This book is written in a report-type style in that it sets out the scene, looks at the moments to impact, the actual collision and then looks into the aftermath and the following days and conclusions. A lot of local research and trawling through many documents has gone on by the author Phyllida Scrivens, who has produced a fascinating read. I enjoyed the way this book was written and would be happy to recommend this one to others.

The Viking Saint

The Viking Saint written by John Carr and published by Pen & Sword Books

- £20 - Hardback - Pages 208

The Vikings and sainthood are not concepts normally found side by side. But Norway’s King

Olaf II Haraldsson (c. 995-1030) embodied both to an extraordinary degree. As a battle-eager

teenager he almost single-handedly pulled down London Bridge (as in the nursery rhyme)

and took part in many other Viking raids . Olaf lacked none of the traditional Viking qualities

of toughness and audacity, yet his routine baptism grew into a burning missionary faith that

was all the more remarkable for being combined with his typically Viking determination and

energy – and sometimes ruthlessness as well. His overriding mission was to Christianize

Norway and extirpate heathenism. His unstinting efforts, often at great peril to his life, earned

him the Norwegian throne in 1015, when he had barely reached his twenties. For the next

fifteen years he laboured against immense odds to subdue the rebellious heathen nobles of

Norway while fending off Swedish hostility. Both finally combined against Olaf in 1030, when

he fell bravely in battle not far from Trondheim, still only in his mid-thirties. After his body was

found to possess healing powers, and reports of them spread from Scandinavia to Spain and

Byzantium, Olaf II was canonized a saint 134 years later. He remains Norway’s patron saint

as well as a legendary warrior. Yet more remarkably, he remains a saint not only of the

Protestant church but also of the Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox Churches – perhaps

the only European fighting saint to achieve such acceptance.

I have to admit this was a new book to me and a new subject, Viking history has been one of

those parts of history I’ve been meaning to look further into. This book, about a Norweigen

Saint King Olaf II, I have to admit I had never heard about before but it seems he had a big

influence over many countries and religions. I should say that I have enjoyed reading this

book and learnt quite a bit, it seems a good opening for someone to investigate more into it.

If you already have a good knowledge of this subject it might be a bit basic. I found the book

to be quite informative and quite a battle at some points but it was certainly a good read.

Special Forces Brothers in Arms

Special Forces Brothers in Arms written by Patric McGonigal and published

by Pen & Sword Books - £25 - Hardback - Pages 360

The McGonigal brothers, Eoin and Ambrose were fiercely independent characters. Born and educated in southern Ireland to a catholic family but raised in Belfast, they wasted no time in enlisting at the outbreak of War in 1939. Both outstanding sportsmen, their leadership potential was quickly recognised.

Eoin was one of the first two officers selected from an Irish regiment for Commando training in 1940. After leading a troop at the River Litani battle in Syria, he became the youngest of the original officers selected for the fledgling SAS and quickly made a name for himself. Tragically, he was lost after parachuting behind enemy lines in Libya. His body was never recovered and many unanswered questions remain today.

Ambrose, having carried out multiple coastal raids with the Commandos and winning two Military Crosses, later led operations for the SBS in Yugoslavia and Italy. Post-war, he had a short but notable legal career as a Lord Justice of Appeal in Northern Ireland at the height of the Troubles.

Light is also shone on the brothers’ close friend, the legendary Blair Mayne and the controversial decision to downgrade the award of his Victoria Cross.

This is a thought-provoking account of lost and fulfilled potential and unswerving loyalty at a time of political and religious turmoil

If you wanted a poster to advertise what you wanted for Special Forces, then you couldn’t go far wrong with a picture of these two men, Eoin & Ambrose McGonigal. These two brothers originally born in Ireland were highly educated, active, ambitious and the kind of men you find leading the local football team. Both brothers had been educated in Belfast and both enlisted as soon as they could in 39, Eoin unfortunately was lost during an operation to parachute behind enemy lines and was never seen again. Ambrose had also been a Commando and was fully skilled and had been on multiple raids, and survived through to the end of the war.

This book is quite a riveting read and does read like a comic book hero-type book, but then this is what the brothers got up by living a decorated life where they got to do all sorts of military activities in the name of war. The book is written by a relative of the brothers, and I must say has written an excellent book full of good detail, references from records and family knowledge from being a family member. The book is supported by some good photos throughout and I enjoyed the appendices at the back of the book. A thoroughly good read.