General Chat

:-( Any Genealogy Experts out there, Lucia

If you say what you are stuck on... people are sure to come through for you... What's up babe? Mazzie x

I can't seem to find any information on my great grandfather, Albert Goodge. I have his death certificate from 1952 which says that he died in Coulsdon. I know that he was in a mental asylum there, but the certificate doesn't say which one. I know there were two asylums - Cane Hill and Netherne - and also know that he was admitted when my grandfather was a toddler(about 1919-1922). I emailed Surrey History Centre and they kindly searched for him for me but there was no trace. Records of Netherne are at Surrey History Centre and records of Cane Hill are at LMA. I thought that he must have been at Netherne because the rd was Surrey Mid Eastern on his death certificate so I was disappointed when they couldn't find anything. Joan Palmer kindly looked him up at LMA, but there was no record of him at Cane Hill either. What can I do now?? Thanks Lucia :-)

Have you applied for his medical records from the local authorities???

Hi Sheila, How would I do that? Lucia :-)

I contacted the local health board to request them - they put me in touch with the archives which held them - it does take time - but will be worth it :-)

Mazzie What exactly is on the certificate as his place of death? Might it be an 'ordinary' hospital to which he was transferred because he was ill? He may have been at another place entirely before that. Do you know if he was insane or mentally handicapped? I would imagine that since he was there as a toddler he was probably mentally/physically handicapped and maybe he was somewhere else for his childhood. How sad. nell

Hi Nell, the certificate only says 'The Hospital, Coulsdon' but the family know he was in a mental hospital sometime as my grandfather (who was about two when his father was admitted) remembers my great grandmother going to visit him on the train. The only thing we know about him is that he was in a mental asylum. Thanks for your help Lucia :-)

I don't know why he was admitted but I think it was for something really petty like an argument or something. I don't think he was actually insane. In fact my grandfather thought he was high class and that he was multi-lingual, not sure if this is true though. Lucia

Lucia. There was another mental asylum in Caterham, St Lawrences Hosp on Coulsdon Rd. It's now closed of course same as others in the area. If you need anymore info, perhaps I can help you with a local search site for Caterham, where you can leave a message. Are you from the Surrey area? I'm originally from Caterham & familiar with these institutions. Carol.

nudge

Hi Carol, thanks for your message, but I think it mentioned 'The hospital, Coulsdon'. Still you could be right because it didn't mention an address. Are the two places near each other? Don't know anything about Surrey lol Thanks for your help Lucia :-)

Hi Lucia, Have sent you an e-mail re info on your search. If he wasn't on records for Netherne & Cane Hill, then very possible was at St Lawrences, people from all over were housed there, believe it was on a larger scale than other two institutes. Carol.

Lucia, could it be that he was transferred to a hospital shortly before he died? Stab in the dark but maybe!!!!!