Old
London Maps
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St
Luke's Hospital, Old Street Road, Moorfields
Situated
at the north-west corner of what became Providence Row,
St Luke's catered for 'incurables' (i.e. lunatics) and
was in operation between 1751 until 1792. Behind the house
were two large gardens, one each for women and men, where
those who could be allowed out safely could take the air.
Those in a more dangerous state of mind were kept in "strait
waistcoats" but allowed to roam a gallery well heated
with fires protected by iron bars, while "in those
cells where the most dangerous and hopeless patients are
confined, every thing which can alleviate their miserable
state is attended to."
Interestingly,
of the 4,426 admitted as incurable, 1,936 were discharged as cured.
