• Glossary Term

Asylum

Details

Asylum is a term used throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to refer to a place of refuge for the poor, destitute, aged and dependent, as well as for people with mental illness (historically referred to as ‘lunatics’). Asylums were generally run by charities or churches, but funded by the government. Some nineteenth century children’s homes were known as asylums.

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  • From

    1800?

  • To

    1930?

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