Perth District Asylum

Source - https://historic-hospitals.com

This public asylum was designed by Edward & Robertson of Dundee and opened at Murthly in 1864 with a capacity of 366. Created as a result of the Lunacy (Scotland) Act of 1857 it was the second district asylum to open in Scotland, the first being in Inverness.

In 1885 a cottage hospital was added on the site which later became the nurses' home. In 1894 two villas were built which were an early attempt at providing accommodation for pauper patients on the colony system. They were named after the pioneers in psychiatry Pinel and Tuke. The hospital closed in 1984.

The Perthshire Advertiser (date unknown) gave a list of the contractors for the original building, and noted that the stone for the rubble work was from Arbroath, while the hewn stone, used for dressings and quoins, was from Bannockburn.

"PERTH DISTRICT LUNATIC ASYLUM. We understand the County Board of Lunacy have now arranged the terms of all the contracts for the erection of the asylum at Murthly, which will be proceeded with immediately. The contract for the mason work has been obtained by Mr A Cunningham, Dundee by whom the whole of the stone for the rubble work is to be supplied from quarries near Arbroath whilst the hewn stone is to be procured from Bannockburn. Messrs Clark & Cable, Dundee, are the contractors for the joiner and carpenter work; Messrs C Middleton & Son, Montrose, for the plumber work; Mr Robert Jack, Dunkeld, for the slater work; Messrs Gourlay Brothers and Co, Dundee, for the smith work; Mr John Adam, Dundee, for the plaster work; and Mr Douglas, Perth, for the painter work. The gross amount for the contracts will not be under £18,000 and the building, when finished, will be of the most complete description. With the exception of the Inverness District Asylum, which is in the course of erection, this will be the first establishment of the kind erected under the provisions of the Lunacy Act for Scotland; and it is gratifying to think, that, within a short time the lunatic poor of this great county will have such superior accommodation provided for them."

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