The Museum is situated in the church within the grounds of the old asylum which closed in 1994. The Museum provides an insight into the evolution of treatments for the 1 in 4 of us affected by mental health problems. Showing how mental health care has changed over the last 150 years.
Our extensive collection illustrates the changes and development in the treatment and care of people with mental illness and other mental disabilities from 1850s to the late 20th century. The objects, images and history have been collected from several institutions including Bristol’s psychiatric hospital, which had a brief spell as Beaufort War Hospital during the First World War, and the houses which looked after people with disabilities and learning difficulties. All were closed by the year 2000.

The museum provides a stimulating environment to discuss mental health, there is something to interest everyone, from straitjackets and a padded room to following a quiz round the First World War exhibition.
Our exhibition Answering the Call is based on interviews with people who came from the Commonwealth 1950-1970 to train as nurses and work in the NHS. Interviews with these amazing, now elderly, people were the inspiration for sewers to make the experiences visual.

Entry requirements: no age restrictions — Read more — Read less