History of Bedlam
When |
Nov 10, 2016
from 07:30 PM to 09:00 PM |
---|---|
Where | Upper Broughton Village Hall |
Contact Name | Rosemary Russell |
Contact Phone | 01664 822458 |
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The three largest institutions rebuilt after the horrors of the 1666 Great Fire of London were St Paul's Cathedral, the Royal Exchange and the new Bethlem Hospital. Thus, it seems, as modern London was emerging from the ashes, the new metropolis was dedicated to God, profit and the mad.
The architect of the hospital - universally known as Bedlam - was Robert Hooke, the great polymath of the age and the quality of the building forced many to comment that one had to be mad not to want to live there.
Catherine Arnold believes the true story of a city is found at its fringes. On this occasion she examines the links between the city and the derailed mind.
There have been moments in London history where the asylum appears to tell us more about the city than anything going on outside.