P is for Peckham House

Archibald Hume [1796 - 1857]

Peckham House Lunatic Asylum

Peckham House before 1826

Peckham House was located at 112 High Street in Camberwell. “A few steps out of the High Street is Peckham House, formerly an old private mansion, but for the last half century a lunatic asylum, kept by Dr. Stocker, whose predecessor was a Dr. Armstrong. Its interior has been more than once graphically described by newspaper writers. The fine old mansion and surrounding acres have not always been connected with the sad side of humanity, for prior to 1826 the noble building resounded with the merry laughter of freedom. The wealthy family of Spitta lived here in grand style, giving fêtes, or what would now be termed garden parties, to their neighbours, and dispensing charity with no niggard hand amongst the poor of the locality.” ('Peckham and Dulwich', Old and New London: Volume 6 (1878), pp. 286-303. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=45282 Date accessed: 30 March 2013.)

Report of the Metropolitan Commissioners in Lunacy to the Lord Chancellor 1844

"The Peckham Asylum has great advantages over those at Bethnal Green and Hoxton, in its site and grounds, and the internal accommodations are in general good. This house, however, has always been a source of trouble to us upon the subject of diet. It has on several occasions , been specially visited on this account, and frequent remonstrances have been made. Application has been lately made for licensing the House for the reception of a larger number of patients. The grant of a licence, however, has been delayed until we shall be satisfied as to the diet of the pauper patients." (Report of the Metropolitan Commissioners in Lunacy to the Lord Chancellor 1844)