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Buildings

Basic Site Details

James Murray Royal Lunatic Asylum
Perth
Perthshire
Scotland
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:

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NameCurrent NameNotes
Murray Royal HospitalYes

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:

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ClassificationOriginal ClassificationNotes
Psychiatric hospitalNot Known

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:

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Event TypeFromToNotes
Build/construction18211827
Plans drawn up1821
Opened1827/07/01
1833New wing to north
1888New wings to rear
Build/construction19031904Two new villas (Elcho and Birnam Wards)
Alteration/conversion1951/11Part of a five year building programme by the Eastern regional Hospital of Scotland. Proposed electrical wiring and conversion to AC for £19,000

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.

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PersonPartnership GroupRoleFromToNotes
William BurnA18211827
William BurnB1833New wing to north
Andrew Granger Heiton (or Andrew H Heiton Granger)C1888New wings to rear
Andrew Heiton (junior)C1888New wings to rear
William Erskine ThomsonD1900C1904Two new villas (Elcho and Birnam Wards) - as assistant or principal draughtsman to Maclaren & Mackay
Maclaren & MackayD19031904Two new villas (Elcho and Birnam Wards)
Robert MackayD19031904Two new villas (Elcho and Birnam Wards)
William Maclaren (or McLaren)D19031904Two new villas (Elcho and Birnam Wards)
Eastern Regional Hospital Board1951Responsible for electrical rewiring and conversion to AC

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):

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References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:

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AuthorYearTitlePartPublisherNotes
Darragh, Alison2011Prison or Palace? Heaven or Hell? An architectural and social study of the development of public lunatic asylums in ScotUnpublished PhD thesis, University of St Andrewsvol 1, pp xiv, xv, 68-70, 183-4vol 3, pp 135-9
Gifford, John2007The Buildings of Scotland: Perth and KinrossYale University Pressp652
Peacock, D1849Perthp498
Richardson, Harrietn.d.Scottish Hospitals SurveyUnpublished typescript (copy in DMW Archive)Listed as Murray Royal Hospital

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:

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Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Dundee Advertiser1894/03/05*Obituary
Building News1890/08/15*p234
Builder1951/11/2p605
RIBA Transactions1870List of William Burn's work compiled by T L Donaldson
Manchester Guardian1827/11/17p1- advertisement

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:

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SourceNameCat NumberItem NameNotes
Perth Royal InfirmaryTayside Health Board Annual Reports 1838-1947
Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register52278Elcho and Birnam Wards (C listed)
Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register39321Main building (A listed)
Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register52277Chapel (B Listed)