Napsbury Hospital

The hospital was designed by Rowland Plumbe in the country estate style and was initially known as the Middlesex County Asylum.^[2]

The hospital was designed for 1,205 residents,^[3] and the grounds were designed by William Goldring.^[3] Following the construction of the numerous buildings and extensive grounds, Napsbury opened on 3 June 1905.^[4] According to the Middlesex County Record, the initial cost, including land and equipment, was £545,000, or £473 per bed. In 1908 Plumbe designed an extension to accommodate a further 600 patients.^[5]

During the First World War, Napsbury was used for and known as the County of Middlesex War Hospital, which treated wounded soldiers.^[3][6][7] Following the war, the hospital was returned to its original purpose.^[8]

Although Napsbury suffered some bomb damage in the Blitz, it was in continuous use as a hospital until its official closure in 1998. However, until at least 2002 one building was still in use for psychiatric patients.^[3]

Due to its largely untouched parkland, Napsbury was listed by English Heritage as a Grade II Historic Park and Garden in 2001.^[9] The site has been redeveloped for residential use as Napsbury Park.^[9]

Famous residents of the hospital included:

• Ivor Gurney, English poet and artist^[10]
• Louis Wain, English artist^[3]
• Opal Whiteley, American nature writer^[11]