Three Counties Hospital
Staff at the Hospital
Part 5 – Over the last few months we have looked at the
history of the Three Counties Asylum from its conception,
design and build ,We have looked at the various treatments
for patients both good and bad,We know of the sporting
achievements that held the hospital in very high regard,
the great Christmas and New Years Eve balls that were
renowned as high class affairs
Written by Richard Knight
But what do we know about the staff who worked there, the people who
actually held it all together.
To run the asylum as a complete self sufficient unit took a lot of staff with a
strict hierarchy from the superintendent at the top right down to the cleaners
and gardeners. The Superintendent was held in very high regard and he was
irreproachable.. He was so powerful he could decide weather you married
or not, You would have to have a meeting with the Superintendent with
your intended If your chosen partner was deemed unacceptable then you
would not be allowed to marry. If you did then you would have to leave the
employment at the asylum.
The first staff members were mostly ex employees from the old Bedford
asylum,Just because you worked at Bedford it did not necessarily mean that
you would be guaranteed a job at the new asylum. The opening of the new
asylum meant it was a good chance for the new committee to clear out any
bad apples and hand pick the best staff for the new Three Counties..
William Denne and his wife Lucy were automatically given the job as
Superintendent and Matron, a role they fulfilled at The Bedford Asylum very
satisfactorily.The Dennes were a very popular Husband and Wife team and
people liked working under them, it seemed a natural transition to re-employ
them to take charge at TCA. The Dennes were great believers in abolishing
physical restraint which did go against the grain of some of the older
attendants so now was their chance to let them go.
Being the asylum superintendent had good benefits, William Denne was
paid £500 a year which was a fortune in 1860, Lucy was paid £100 for her
work as asylum Matron. The Dennes were also given a furnished house, an
allowance for coal, gas and laundry, although they had to find and employ
their own servants!
Samuel Wing from the Bedford asylum was taken on as clerk, not only to
the asylum but also the visiting committee, he was paid £200 a year plus £25
for travel.
Bedford asylum officer John Barnes was employed as asylum steward and
bailiff with a wage of £200 a year, He was also given an unfurnished house
and an allowance for vegetables coal and gas.As well as being in charge of
the asylum servants he was also in charge of the asylum farm, Barnes asked
if he could have