The day would begin at 5.30 a.m. when the night staff would raise the day staff who in turn

awakened the patients half an hour later. Breakfast of gruelled water/ milk pottage at 7.25 am

was followed by 15 minutes for prayers. At 8.00 am the patients would begin their daily

tasks. Dinner was at 12 noon, consisted of a mutton or beef broth with flour or rice pudding.

8 oz of meat was served on alternate days. Work resumed at 1.45 until 5.15 and tea was taken

at 6 o'clock. A supper of milk pottage, butter and cheese was available at 8.30 pm with lights

out at 9.00. All attendants had to be in their rooms by 10.30 pm. The staff were generally

recruited from outside the area and were resident in the hospital.. Many of these records have

survived and, together with the salary and census records, provide a valuable source of family

and social history. Living in the asylum left them open to disciplinary action for misconduct

even when 'off duty'. Some of them did not stay long, not liking the duties or the food.

George Herbert Belling, age 35, a discharged army musician, who gave his last address as

154 Walton St, Chelsea London SW. was engaged from the 4th " came to work about 10

o'clock on the 4th. apparently under the influence of drink and left at 7 am on the 5th."

James McLeod, age 28, was a crofter from Scouncer, Portree, Skye. He was engaged on 7th

February 1900 and although his conduct is recorded as 'Good', he was dismissed on 23rd

February 1903 'for using a patient roughly'. The patients name was not given.

Mr Joseph Holland. the Asylum Superintendent, was a revolutionary in his approach to the

treatment of lunacy as a curable illness and that the inmates were patients to be treated with

dignity and respect. He was very strict regarding the rough handling of patients. Mr James

Doran age 52, a lawyers clerk, was admitted to Prestwich from Rochdale Union Workhouse,

Marland. He was brought by cab on Tuesday evening at half past six and by half past eight he

had died. A post mortem revealed that Mr Doran seven of his ribs broken. At an enquiry

headed by Mr Basil Calne, poor-law inspector, as to the circumstances of his death, it was Mr

Calne's impression that Doran's ribs had been broken before he entered the asylum and he

would lay the evidence before the Poor Law Board. At a subsequent inquest by Mr Frederick

Price, the jury returned a verdict that the deceased had died from natural causes, death being

accelerated by injuries, but there was no evidence to show the cause of the injuries.