Murray Royal Asylum

Reference:GB 254 THB 29
Dates of Creation:1802-1994
Name of Creator:
Physical Description:

Scope and Content
Charters Byelaws and Regulations, 1811-1866; Reports, the Board of Directors and the Board of Lunacy, 1827-1948; minutes, 1814-1948; Board of Management Perthshire Mental Hospitals, 1948-1974; The Division of Psychiatry, 1973-1994; Financial Records, 1802-1983; Records relating to asylum property, building work and accommodation, 1822-1946; patient records, 1827-1975; staff records, 1851-c 1960; Dr Stalker's files, 1905-1995; leisure and recreation, 1868-1980; publications, 1815-c 1900; The Scottish Mental Hospitals' Pathological Scheme, 1924-1938; The Scottish Division of the Medico-Psychological Association, 1908; images, 1880-1985; videos, c 1985; maps and plans, 1881-c 1985; maps and plans of other hospitals, 1877-1980.
Administrative / Biographical History
The hospital was founded by James Murray, a labourer who inherited a fortune in 1809 when his half-brother drowned in a storm which sank the ship carrying him home from India. It was in his own will that James Murray left two thirds of his estate for purpose of establishing an asylum in Perth. He stipulated verbally that the patients from the parishes that he had lived in, namely Perth, Dunbarney and Rhynd would be received at charitable rates, and that his brother John, and his heirs would be, when possible, represented on the management of the Asylum. He died in 1814.
Murray Royal Hospital, designed by the architect William Burn (1789-1870) opened in 1827 as the Murray Royal Lunatic Asylum with accommodation for 80 patients, officials and staff. The building itself is in a neo-classical style in an H plan consisting of a long south front with a central entrance pavilion and rooftop octagon. The building maximised the opportunities of its pleasant open hillside site, and was further extended by Burn in 1833. In 1848 a nearby villa was acquired and modified as accommodation for 'higher class' patients, and in 1888 new infirmary wings were added to the rear of the main building. A chapel was built in 1901, designed by Physician Superintendent Dr A.R. Urquhart it was partly built by the patients. In 1904 two new half timbered villas to accommodate patients were completed by Elco Ward. A new nurses' home was added in 1939 while further additions in the 1960s and 1970s included a new recreation hall, a geriatric unit and a day hospital.
It was designed so that 'the meanest patient could be well fed and clothed, and those among the higher classes who could pay for it were well lodged and cared for as they could be in a palace'. The aim was to provide a stable, homely environment in a spacious building that 'allowed the sun and air to enter at every window', provided plenty of room for exercise, and had views over the surrounding parkland. The hospital was to be 'sufficiently secure to prevent injury or escape' but 'free from the gloomy aspect of confinement'. This regime was relaxed compared with the usual standards of the day.
Arrangement
Usually chronological within series.
Access Information
Open for consultation subject to preservation requirements. Access must also conform to the restrictions of the Data Protection Act (2018), General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR, 2018) and any other relevant legislation or restrictions. Clinical information is closed for 100 years.
Acquisition Information
NHS Tayside
Note
The hospital was founded by James Murray, a labourer who inherited a fortune in 1809 when his half-brother drowned in a storm which sank the ship carrying him home from India. It was in his own will that James Murray left two thirds of his estate for purpose of establishing an asylum in Perth. He stipulated verbally that the patients from the parishes that he had lived in, namely Perth, Dunbarney and Rhynd would be received at charitable rates, and that his brother John, and his heirs would be, when possible, represented on the management of the Asylum. He died in 1814.
Murray Royal Hospital, designed by the architect William Burn (1789-1870) opened in 1827 as the Murray Royal Lunatic Asylum with accommodation for 80 patients, officials and staff. The building itself is in a neo-classical style in an H plan consisting of a long south front with a central entrance pavilion and rooftop octagon. The building maximised the opportunities of its pleasant open hillside site, and was further extended by Burn in 1833. In 1848 a nearby villa was acquired and modified as accommodation for 'higher class' patients, and in 1888 new infirmary wings were added to the rear of the main building. A chapel was built in 1901, designed by Physician Superintendent Dr A.R. Urquhart it was partly built by the patients. In 1904 two new half timbered villas to accommodate patients were completed by Elco Ward. A new nurses' home was added in 1939 while further additions in the 1960s and 1970s included a new recreation hall, a geriatric unit and a day hospital.
It was designed so that 'the meanest patient could be well fed and clothed, and those among the higher classes who could pay for it were well lodged and cared for as they could be in a palace'. The aim was to provide a stable, homely environment in a spacious building that 'allowed the sun and air to enter at every window', provided plenty of room for exercise, and had views over the surrounding parkland. The hospital was to be 'sufficiently secure to prevent injury or escape' but 'free from the gloomy aspect of confinement'. This regime was relaxed compared with the usual standards of the day.
Archivist's Note
Description compiled by S Kelly, 13/11/2019
Conditions Governing Use
Reproduction is available subject to preservation requirements. Charges may be made for this service, and copyright and other restrictions may apply; please check with the Duty Archivist.
Accruals
Not expected
Additional Information
Published
Catalogued
THB 29
Subjects
Health