Madhouses in Henley-in-Arden

The madhouse/asylum trade in Henley in Arden owes much to Mary Roadnight (née Meales). The madhouse first licensed by her  husband, William Roadnight, in 1774 had been run by Mary for many years and by her ancestors from the late 1600s.

How did she become a madhouse proprietor?

A closer look at Mary’s mother’s family – the Allen family – helps to explain how Mary came to be a madhouse proprietor.

Mary’s maternal grandfather, Josiah Allen, was an apothecary of Henley-in-Arden. A number of apothecaries, like doctors, are known to have been involved in the early madhouse trade. Josiah and Mary Allen’s daughter, Sarah Allen (Mary’s aunt), a spinster of Henley-in-Arden was buried in Beaudesert in 1753. In her will Sarah named several family members. Had Sarah Allen previously accommodated lunatics in the property she left to them? This would certainly explain the reference in the deed of covenant to Mary’s ancestors having operated a madhouse at the premises Mary conveyed in her will. What is certain is that Mary was involved in the operation of the madhouse prior to 1774.

Further madhouses

Mary was the aunt of Thomas Burman’s wife, Sarah, and the couple were involved in the running of Mary’s madhouse before Thomas Burman set up his own asylum in 1795. Mary Roadknight’s death in 1796 also likely led to the licensing of the Gibbs madhouse, first licensed by Benjamin Gibbs in  Henley-in-Arden from that year. This business was operated by Benjamin’s wife, Elizabeth Gibbs, who had previously worked for Mary Roadknight. The Gibbs madhouse later moved out of Henley and, after the death of Elizabeth Gibbs, was run by Benjamin’s niece, Mary Gibbs.

Later madhouse operations

Before Samuel Brown opened his madhouse at the Stone House in 1816, he worked as an apothecary, surgeon and dentist in the town. On opening his madhouse, he advertised the fact that he had gained experience working  at Thomas Burman’s asylum. Samuel died in 1843 and is buried in Beaudesert churchyard. (Ref. Aris’s Birmingham Gazette, 5 Aug 1816, p3).

This is based on information from Mary’s Madhouse and the Early Madhouse Trade in Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire.  The booklet can be consulted at Warwickshire County Record Office (reference C362.21 MOO (P )). It can also be bought here.