SOCIETY'S CHANGING ATTITUDES TO LUNACY

It wasn't really until the end of the 18th century that society began to be noticeably more philanthropic in the field of mental health welfare. Up until then the mentally ill (or 'lunatics' as they were then called) were often cast out of communities because they were a drain on community finances and people were scared of them, thinking they were possessed by demons. They certainly didn`t want to pay for their care from parish funds and would punish rather than protect them. Often they were moved on from place to place and were generally termed as 'vagrants'. They therefore lived on the outside of society, unwanted and uncared for.
 
Up until the end of the 18th century the mentally ill were dealt with under 'The Vagrancy Act' which allowed vagrants who were 'furiously and dangerously mad' to be confined, meanwhile the vagrants who were not dangerous continued to roam from place to place. The law did not specify where they were to be incarcerated and it usually meant they ended up in gaol where mad behaviour would have been met with floggings and cruelty. No difference was made between the pauper insane and the criminal insane - both were firmly restrained by all limbs and chained to the wall by a short chain and staple (1).
 
As society became more humanitarian, it was recognised that lunatics were a separate group from vagrants and that they needed to be protected. This led to the passing of The County Asylums Act in 1808. It was decreed that 'airy and healthy locations' should be provided for them because they were in need of asylum, and some believed that a kinder environment would help some to be cured (4).
 
An in-depth history of lunacy can be found on the MIND website
 
In Portsmouth, up until 1862, the lunatics were often sent to Knowle Hospital outside Fareham, and after that to Fisherton, Salisbury [William Gates - "Records of the Corporation"]. Many mentally ill people would have been housed in The Portsea Island Union Workhouse, parts of which still stand on the St. Mary's Hospital site in Milton Road.
 

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