Annual report of the Royal Edinburgh Asylum for the insane. 1876.

  • Royal Edinburgh Asylum.
Date:
[1877]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report of the Royal Edinburgh Asylum for the insane. 1876. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    9/72 (page 5)
    In the East House elegant suites of rooms for the accommoda¬ tion of the ladies and gentlemen respectively have been added to the building; the apartments designed for the purposes of seclu¬ sion, which were at one time considered necessary in Asylums, have been altered or done away with, and two dining-rooms of a very handsome kind are being constructed. The new bed-rooms are completed, and have been for some time in use, and the dining¬ rooms will soon be ready for occupation. In the West House the structural alterations referred to in former Reports have been nearly completed. For the prison-like cages which so long disfigured the north-east and south-east wings have been substituted light and airy apartments, with every mo¬ dern comfort and convenience. The common dining-hall has been completed, and it is believed, that for spaciousness and elegance it may challenge comparison with any saloon of a similar kind in Scotland. The Managers regret that, owing to the internal recon¬ struction of the house not being completed, the Patients are not able regularly to use this apartment as a dining-room. It has, however, been sometimes made use of on festive occasions, and has been found admirably adapted for such purposes. With the view of at once providing suitable employment for a number of the inmates, and supplying the wants of the house, a Bakehouse has been erected in connection with the Western de¬ partment. It is believed that the cost of the alterations and additions above referred to, with contingencies, will amount to not less than ... ... ... ... ... ... <£24,000 0 0 Whereof there has been already expended ... 19,267 2 7 Leaving still to be provided for ... £4,732 17 5 At 31st December 1873 the total amount of debt due by the Corporation was £21,800 16s. 8d.; and it is satisfactory to note, that notwithstanding the large expenditure upon the new works which has since taken place, amounting, as above, to £19,267 2s. 7d., the liabilities now amount to no more than £29,117 13s. 9d. It thus appears that during the last three years the property of the Corporation has been permanently improved by the amount of