General Chat

Could anyone help me to find the death record of my maternal grandmother? As far as I know she died in a mental institution in Warrington Cheshire. My mum was told she'd died in about 1935 and thats why my mum was adopted. But my mum received a letter from a hospital in Warrington saying her mum had died in about 1980 - my mum had no idea she was still alive all those years. Thanks in advance for any help.

What was your grandmother's full name and married name?

About when was she born and where?

Gwyn

Anne - I am guessing that your mother was told that her mother was dead because of the awful situation at the time. Was she told this by a relative? It was probably meant to shield her from the truth.

If you would like to give us your grandmother's name one of us will look it up for you.

If you would prefer, send me a PM and I will see what I can find and let you know privately.

I got my great grandmother's medical records (well what was left of them that is) from LMA a few years ago it cost £35 pound for them to find them and copy the record for me. My great grandmother was institutionalised for post natal depression.

Gill

We got the medical records for my husband's great uncle at no cost at all but we did have to visit the Record Office in person and photograph the records ourselves.

My husband's mother was in a mental hospital on several occasions in the 1960's but he hasn't, so far, wanted to view these records which is understandable.

Its called postnatal psychosis ......... now Gill

HiAnne
Inotice Warrington was mentioned , you might try Winwick ( i think but maybe spelt wrongly )
that as far as i know is the only mental institution in that neck of the woods as i come from those parts)
but it may be shut down now but worth a try
igor

I have been unable to find MY OWN records for why I was in isolation in a Sanitorium in Scotland for 3 months in the 1960's!!
Mum can't remember why or exactly when I was there. I know the lad in the next room had TB.
Present doctor only has my English records. I've applied to the appropriate Scottish departments - they haven't got them either.
...I know I didn't dream it - it was a bloody nightmare - my treatment there would be classed as abuse nowadays!!!

when i got my grans marriage cert he address
was the county borough asylum
and i thought mmmm that explains a few things

only when i got the archives department to look into it
i found she was a nurse

i couldn't look into it my self
as there was a 100 year block on the information

In Northampton they've reduced the closure on the Asylum records to 30 years.

As my mother in law was a patient in one institution I'd like to see the records (I am nosey) but my husband is not sure he wants to see them which is understandable.

is this condition hereditary ??? very interesting ..

Anne could you give us more info , we could have a look for you x

I agree with Igor Winwick (pronounced Winick) could possibly be the hospital you are looking for.

The hospital closed in 1997 and according to National Archives the records are kept at Cheshire Records Office...

Duke Street
Chester
CH1 1RL
England

Tel: 01244 972574
Fax: 01244 973812
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.cheshire.gov.uk/recoff/home.htm
County Archivist : Mr Jonathan Pepler

Linda

I think it would be worth finding the death in the index and getting the certificate first. If Anne's mother was mislead about when her mother died she may well have been mislead about where. Hopefully Anne will come back and ask or pm someone with details.

the death cert would have place of death on it
good idea uggers

im in the same situation as you, my great grandfather george robinson born c1886 in hucknall nottinghamshire. was in saxandale mental hospital nottm and i think he died early 1980s.i cannot find any information do not know how to go about finding out where abouts hes buried( think in the hospital grounds? ) and when.
any help would be so appreciated. maria.

Any medical records from this time--1980s..will not be allowed access to unless you are that patient not even admin or discharge....best hope is a death cert for a cause,

many actual written mecial records are only archived for max of 25-35 year now,then destroyed

Maria,No one is buried within hospital grounds now and this hasnt been done for the past 60+ years,contact the local council.after you find his death,

EARLY 1900'S GREAT GRAN WAS PUT IN A MENTAL INSTITUTION BY HER SECOND HUSBAND AND HIS SON BECAUSE THEY WANTED HER
LAUNDRY BUSINESS.
SHE WAS IN THERE YEARS NEVER CHECKED BY THE MEDICAL DOCTORS BECAUSE TWO FAMILY MEMBERS SIGNED HER IN,

ONE DAY ANOTHER PATIENT TRIED TO STAB HER SHE JUMPED
OUT OF THE WINDOW TO ESCAPE HIM AND BROKE BOTH HER
ARMS,

THEY SAID SHE WAS INSANE AND PUT IN AN ASYLUM NEVER
SEEN AGAIN.

THEY WOULDN'T EVEN TELL HER CHILDREN WHERE SHE WAS
NEVER FOUND HER,FEEL VERY SAD FOR THEM THEY LOST
EVERYTHING AND ENDED UP IN POVERTY WHILE THE HUSBAND
GOT THE LOT

What a sad story Dizzi.

Dear All, thanks so much for your replies, I'm new to Genes and didn't expect anything like this so a Big Thank You!

Its a long story and I don't have a lot of info but I think her name was Winifred Tordoff (nee Johnson), but I can't find records of this name - only Elsie. Her husbands name was Ellis. We know there were 3 children but there could've been a fourth. It appears that they were all adopted by other families. My mum was taken in by her uncle (mothers brother) and his wife.

Its probably very true that the family didn't want to upset the children but the hardest thing was that my mum didn't find out that her mum had been alive, until after her mothers death.

Its tragic that women were committed to an Institution because they had post natal depression. We think Winifred had the same and it was her husband who signed the papers!