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Dictionary of Scottish Architects (1660 - 1980)
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Basic Site Details
Name
James Murray Royal Lunatic Asylum
Town, District or Village
Perth
Parish
City or County
Perthshire
Status
Country
Scotland
Grid Ref
Grid Ref N
Grid Ref E
Notes
JAMES MURRAY\'S ROYAL ASYLUM FOR LUNATICS, PERTH. This Asylum is now open for the reception of patients; it is situated in a park, containing 12 acres on the acclicity of the Kinnoull Hill, is perfectly free from damp, and has a delightful view of the Grampian Mountains, the River Tay and the surrounding country; the grounds are walled round, for the purpose of security, privacy and restraint, and where convalescent patients are allowed to amuse and exercise themselves; there are smaller yards attached to the building, for the use of patients whose state requires more careful surveillance. The house was built from a plan of Mr Burn, architect, and consists of three floors; in the centre are the apartments of the superintendent and matron and by which those of the males and females are separated and the different individuals are classified, so as to prevent any unpleasant association; the building has four verandahs, by which patients can enjoy exercise in the open air, during the greatest heat of summer, or the most inclement weather of winter. The galleries are 98 feet long and 11 feet wide; the dining and bedrooms are large, commodious and cheerful, sufficiently secure to prevent escape, and free from the gloomy appearance of confinement. Apartments for those of the higher classes of life are furnished in the most handsome style, affording every accommodation and convenience for themselves and their attendants; rooms are devoted for sick patients, and while the establishment possesses all the advantages of a public institution, richly endowed, it is at the same time conducted on principles of the greatest privacy and comfort. The house is heated from a plan furnished by Mr Sylvester of London, and there are baths of every description on the most approved principles, with a most plentiful supply of excellent water. To persons whose unhappy state of mind renders confinement necessary, the asylum affords a comfortable retreat, where every attention is paid to them, and every means employed to effect a recovery; they are on all occasions treated with all the gentleness and indulgence of which their situation will admit, and no harsh treatment, either by keepers or nurses, is permitted on any account; it is an invariable rule that patients are never exposed, or their names revealed, nor any circumstances mentioned which can at all tend to hurt the feelings of themselves or their friends. November 1827. [Manchester Guardian 17 November 1827 page 1]
Plans at hospital.
Cost: £40,000.
See separate entries for other parts of hospital.
N.B. Howard Colvin notes that this is demolished but this is not correct. HS Listing are assessing it in 2014.
Alternative Names
The following alternative names are associated with this building/design:
Alt classic
Name
Current Name
Notes
Murray Royal Hospital
Yes
row(s) 1 - 1 of 1
Building Type Classification
The building is classified under the following categories:
Class classic
Classification
Original Classification
Notes
Psychiatric hospital
Not Known
row(s) 1 - 1 of 1
Events
The following date-based events are associated with this building:
event classic
Event Type
From
To
Notes
Build/construction
1821
1827
Plans drawn up
1821
Opened
1827/07/01
1833
New wing to north
1888
New wings to rear
Build/construction
1903
1904
Two new villas (Elcho and Birnam Wards)
Alteration/conversion
1951/11
Part of a five year building programme by the Eastern regional Hospital of Scotland. Proposed electrical wiring and conversion to AC for £19,000
row(s) 1 - 7 of 7
People
Design and Construction
The following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column.
design classic
Person
Partnership Group
Role
From
To
Notes
William Burn
A
1821
1827
William Burn
B
1833
New wing to north
Andrew Granger Heiton (or Andrew H Heiton Granger)
C
1888
New wings to rear
Andrew Heiton (junior)
C
1888
New wings to rear
William Erskine Thomson
D
1900C
1904
Two new villas (Elcho and Birnam Wards) - as assistant or principal draughtsman to Maclaren & Mackay
Maclaren & Mackay
D
1903
1904
Two new villas (Elcho and Birnam Wards)
Robert Mackay
D
1903
1904
Two new villas (Elcho and Birnam Wards)
William Maclaren (or McLaren)
D
1903
1904
Two new villas (Elcho and Birnam Wards)
Eastern Regional Hospital Board
1951
Responsible for electrical rewiring and conversion to AC
row(s) 1 - 9 of 9
Related Buildings, Structures and Designs
Child Structures
This structure or site has the following component or child structures (click on an item to view details):
Child classic
Notes
Name
For voluntary patients.<br>Estimated cost £18,000
James Murray Royal Lunatic Asylum, Gilgal house
James Murray Royal Lunatic Asylum, nurses' home
Pavilion, Murray Royal Hospital
row(s) 1 - 3 of 3
References
Bibliographic References
The following books contain references to this building:
bio ref classic
Author
Year
Title
Part
Publisher
Notes
Darragh, Alison
2011
Prison or Palace? Heaven or Hell? An architectural and social study of the development of public lunatic asylums in Scot
Unpublished PhD thesis, University of St Andrews
vol 1, pp xiv, xv, 68-70, 183-4vol 3, pp 135-9
Gifford, John
2007
The Buildings of Scotland: Perth and Kinross
Yale University Press
p652
Peacock, D
1849
Perth
p498
Richardson, Harriet
n.d.
Scottish Hospitals Survey
Unpublished typescript (copy in DMW Archive)
Listed as Murray Royal Hospital
row(s) 1 - 4 of 4
Periodical References
The following periodicals contain references to this building:
period ref classic
Periodical Name
Date
Edition
Publisher
Notes
Dundee Advertiser
1894/03/05
*
Obituary
Building News
1890/08/15
*
p234
Builder
1951/11/2
p605
RIBA Transactions
1870
List of William Burn's work compiled by T L Donaldson
Manchester Guardian
1827/11/17
p1- advertisement
row(s) 1 - 5 of 5
Archive References
The following archives hold material relating to this building:
arc ref classic
Source
Name
Cat Number
Item Name
Notes
Perth Royal Infirmary
Tayside Health Board Annual Reports 1838-1947
Historic Environment Scotland
Listed Buildings Register
52278
Elcho and Birnam Wards (C listed)
Historic Environment Scotland
Listed Buildings Register
39321
Main building (A listed)
Historic Environment Scotland
Listed Buildings Register
52277
Chapel (B Listed)
row(s) 1 - 4 of 4