Celebrations at Downshire Hospital anniversary

Celebrations at Downshire Hospital anniversary

16 October 2019

THE Downshire Hospital complex in Downpatrick marked its 150th anniversary on Wold Mental Health Day at a coffee morning held at its imposing Great Hall last Friday. 

Among the guests were South Eastern Trust and Newry, Mourne and Down Council representatives including the health organisation’s assistant director of mental health, Damien Brannigan and local authority vice-chairman, Terry Andrews.

Mr Brannigan trained to become a nurse at the former School of Nursing based at Purdysburn Hospital — now Knockbracken Healthcare Park in 1985 — and spent the greater part of his training based on the wards of the old asylum at the Ardglass Road in Downpatrick.

He described his career in mental health nursing as “very challenging, but enjoyable”, explaining that at its height, the Downshire had in access of 1,200 patients. 

Mr Brannigan said that when he began his psychiatric nursing career, there was a market garden and a large working farm on the edge of the Downshire estate with animals and livestock which patients would have enjoyed caring for during their stay here. 

“The latest advances in the field of mental health appear to underline the benefits derived from both equine and pet therapy on patients who suffer poor mental health,” the trust official continued. “In effect, we seem to be going back to that model.”

Mr Brannigan explained that over recent years, the Downshire complex has become a public sector hub, home to a number of organisation’s including the PSNI, Fire and Rescue Service and Housing Executive to name a few. 

He said described last week’s double celebration as a “wonderful occasion” marking the transition of the Downshire estate over the last 150 years and World Mental Health Day.

The Victorian hospital — which was once a beacon for psychiatric care — has seen much in the way of pioneering treatment reforms over the past few centuries.

Referred to by locals as simply, ‘the mental’, the Downshire has stood on the 60-acre Ardglass Road site since its opening on  October 8, 1869.

The majestic gothic style asylum, described by The Down Recorder at the time as “nothing less than colossal, measuring nearly one thousand feet in width,” had the capacity to hold 333 patients. 

In the 2012 journal ‘A Grand Old Lady’ written by Dr Sean Kelly, a former nurse and clinical tutor, he said the hospital was built to alleviate unrest at the Down Gaol where “the mixing of prisoners and lunatics destroyed every chance of order and improvement in the prison.”

Behind the Downshire’s construction were Dublin architect, Henry Smyth, who settled in Downpatrick and later became the district’s judge and building firm, Hugh McGaughey from Omagh. 

It soon proved to be a grand affair costing little over £60,000. Comprising a 90-foot high central clock tower, upon which stood ornate iron work adding a further 15-feet, the tower boasted a 500lb weight bell supplied by Joseph Lee of High Street, Belfast at a cost of £287 and ten shillings. 

Dr Kelly described the hospital as a “palace” compared to the living conditions which in-patients would have experienced elsewhere. In addition, the psychiatric hospital was considered by the inspector of lunatic asylums as “the finest in Ireland.”

Dr Kelly adds that the first patient to grace the corridors of care was Rossglass man Henry Clarke, who was committed on the warrant of two magistrates from Downpatrick Court.  Further in-patients arrived by train from Belfast, 50 at a time and, by New Year’s Eve that year, there was a total of 222. 

By 1879, reports mention the asylum was operating beyond its capacity and a new block, which became known as the Dixon Block, was completed by 1882. 

It was only when Dr Michael Nolan took over as superintendent in 1893 that a glimpse of more modern day perceptions of mental health began to be realised. 

Dr Nolan held this position for 42 years and his annual reports insisted upon the need for “insanity” to be “approached in a similar fashion to other bodily ailments free from the superstitious fears which had influenced public perceptions,” until that point. 

Dr Nolan also recorded during the first 25 years, a total of 2,313 patients had been admitted with almost half being discharged. Of those discharged, only ten per cent had fully recovered. 

The era of the large victorian asylum lasted over 140 years finally drawing to a close in recent years. 

By 2000, the number of patients fell to that which existed within the first few months of its opening, as new developments facilitated care for in-patients within the community. 

Dr Kelly said the Downshire stands as a “haven” for every patient that passed through its doors providing innovative treatment and care for the mentally ill in its day. 

“It was once world renowned for pushing back boundaries of the care of the mentally ill and led the way in opening its gates and promoting recovery,” he said.

Speaking in 2009 at the launch of a consultation in relation to future mental health proposals for the area, former South Eastern Trust chief executive, Mr John Compton, said “It is fitting to close the hospital with the same dignity in which it was held and I am sure such an event will capture the same proud legacy of caring that the Downshire Hospital has given the mentally ill.”