Lost case book from Epsom’s Manor Hospital found in Kingston attic, following BBC TV’s ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ 

Last Friday saw the return of a singular missing hospital record book, sought by Surrey’s History Centre for 30 years and filling an important gap in the historic records discovered at The Manor Hospital in Epsom by Julian Pooley, Public Services & Engagement Manager at Surrey History Centre. 

The book contains the medical case book of women admitted to The Manor Hospital between 19 May 1900 and 11 July 1901. This was one of five psychiatric hospitals established by the London County Council at Horton near Epsom at the start of the twentieth century. A treasure trove for family and social historians, the volume records the names, family details and medical notes of 250 London women living with a range of mental illness, with their photographic portraits fixed to its fragile pages. These poignant records allow a precious glimpse of the lives and experiences of women admitted to these vast Victorian pauper asylums. Although Julian Pooley rescued many of The Manor’s records after its closure in 1995, case book number 4 was not among them. It’s discovery in an attic in the London Borough of Kingston gives hope that other missing records from Surrey’s former mental and learning disability hospitals may yet come to light. 

The couple who found the book in their attic realised its significance when watching Gemma Collins discover her family’s mental health history in a recent episode of ‘Who Do You Think You Are’. Having read the case histories and been fascinated by the patient photographs, they got in touch with Surrey History Centre and were delighted to find that it filled such an important gap in the surviving records. Now preserved in the History Centre’s strong rooms, it can be made publicly available for research and a range of community engagement projects.  

Denise Turner-Stewart, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Customer and Communities said, “Stories like this remind us just what a wonderful resource we have within our History Centre, based in Woking. Our Engagement Manager, Julian, had rescued records himself from The Manor Hospital and that one book was outstanding in the series. To have it found and brought into the Centre, on the back of a BBC TV show that the team assisted with, is quite astonishing. It allows the team to continue their work into tracing the history of those individuals and ultimately creating a richer picture of Surrey’s past. 

“If you haven’t visited Surrey History Centre yet, please do. You will find expert support and captivating items that bring our local history to life. There’s so much to explore and discover for everyone! The History Centre is conveniently located in Woking and fully accessible, offering a wealth of resources, and fascinating items for all to enjoy. It’s a fantastic place to delve into your own family history and uncover stories from the past.” 

Surrey Heritage is a high-quality integrated service for the people of Surrey and others throughout the country and worldwide with an interest in Surrey’s past.  It collects and rescues archive and printed materials relating to Surrey’s past and present and preserves them on the six miles of shelving at the Surrey History Centre.   

Find out more and check opening times: www.surreycc.gov.uk/culture-and-leisure/history-centre