Hospital of St Lawrence, Bodmin, Grade II* listed former mental health hospital in Bodmin, England
The Hospital of St Lawrence is a Grade II* listed hospital complex in Bodmin, England, featuring buildings from the 19th century. The site displays a central block with radiating wings designed according to star-shaped architectural principles by John Foulston in 1818.
The facility opened in 1818 as Cornwall County Asylum to address mental health care needs, serving this purpose until its closure in 2002. William Robert Hicks introduced improved treatment methods in the 1840s that changed medical practices on site.
The hospital kept detailed medical records now stored at Kresen Kernow, documenting treatments and patient experiences across nearly two centuries. These archives offer insight into how medical care and daily life evolved within its walls.
The site is no longer open to the public as it closed, with only certain sections protected under listed status. Visitors should respect the boundaries of the private grounds when viewing from outside.
The grounds held a dedicated burial site from 1850 to 1859 for deceased patients before interments moved to Bodmin Cemetery. This practice reveals much about patient care and dignity standards of that era.
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