INSTITUTIONS FOR MENTAL DEFECTIVES

Under the Mental Deficiency Act of 1913 (3& 4 Geo.V, cap.28) 'to make further and better provision for the care of feeble-minded and other mentally defective persons', institutions certified by the newly established Board of Control might receive those deemed idiots, imbeciles or, if under 21, suffering from a lesser degree of mental deficiency, on application of their parents or guardians supported by medical certificates. Other mental defectives might be admitted under a reception order of the judicial authority. As an alternative to being placed in an institution a mental defective might be placed under guardianship.

The visitors of licensed houses appointed under the Lunacy Act of 1890 were also to act as visitors of mental defectives in institutions or under guardianship. Such visitors were to examine each defective at periodic intervals (one year from the reception order; thereafter, if the order was continued a further year, at the end of that year; thereafter at five yearly intervals) and were to report to the Board of Control whether the defective was 'still a proper person to be detained in his own interest in an institution or under guardianship'. Those persons originally placed in an institution or under guardianship when they were under 21 were also to be examined on reaching that age to determine whether they should continue to be detained.

Institutions noted in the minutes include: Godstone Poor Law Institution, Bletchingley; Clerk's Croft, Bletchingley; St Mary's Hospital, Carshalton; St Lawrence's Hospital, Caterham (Caterham Metropolitan Asylum); Chertsey Poor Law Institution, Ottershaw (later Murray House); Botleys Park Hospital, Chertsey; St Teresa's, Dockenfield; Dorking Poor Law Institution; Royal Hostel, Elstead; The Manor Hospital, Epsom; Mount Olivet Monastery, Frensham; Farmfield State Institution and Farmfield Institution, Charlwood; Kingston Poor Law Institution; Eagle House, London Road, Mitcham; Royal Earlswood Hospital, Redhill; Reigate Poor Law Institution; Ellen Terry Home, Reigate; Spelthorne St Mary Home, Thorpe; St Peter's Home, Maybury, Woking.

Under the Mental Health Act 1959 visitors were superseded by Mental Health Review Tribunals from Nov 1960.