The Hospital of Bethlehem

Dating back to 1403, Bethlehem Hospital, or Bedlam to give it its popular name, was notorious for the chaos within its walls. The foundation moved to the grand, new premises shown here in 1676. Opulent on the outside it may have been, but conditions were anything but for the patients within.

Although in theory providing care for people with mental illnesses, little useful treatment was administered. Indeed, it was more visitor attraction than hospital. The public came in large numbers just to watch the unfortunate residents, as the fashionable figures shown strolling before its gates indicate.