Occupations

Nathaniel Cotton

The first lunatic asylum in St Albans of which I have knowledge was founded by Nathaniel Cotton. Nathaniel was born in London in about 1706, the son of a Levantine merchant, Samuel Cotton. He studied medicine in Leyden University under the famous Dutch physician, Professor Boerhaare. On returning to England he became assistant to Dr Thomas Crawley, who ran a private asylum in Dunstable, Beds. According to James Corbett, when Dr Crawley died Nathaniel moved to a house near St Peter's church, St Albans, bringing with him the housekeeper and several patients from Dunstable. In 1738 he married Ann Pembroke of St Albans, and they had eight children before she died in 1749. In 1751 he married Harriet Everett of London and had three more children.

The Collegium Insanorum, demolished 1910

His business was a success and in about 1760 he moved to what is now Lower Dagnall Street where he kept a mad-house called a "Collegium Insanorum". His most famous patient was William Cowper (1731-1800) the famous poet from Berkhamsted. Cowper was brought Cotton's asylum to be cured of his madness in December 1763 and stayed there until June 1765. Nathaniel died in 1788 and is buried with his two wives in St Peters churchyard.

[Information comes from the Rev F. A. Harding's article "Dr. Nathaniel Cotton of St. Albans" in the March 1969 issue of Hertfordshire Countryside - from which the above pictures are taken - and James Corbett's book "Secret City", which quotes a number of Cotton's poems. Unfortunately the articles differ on some key facts and neither identify their sources.]

It is not certain whether there was any continuity but the court records calendared in the "Session Records of the Liberty of St Albans, 1770-1840" in Herts County Records tell an interesting story.

During the Michaelmas sessions 1812 a licence was given allowing John Rumball, of St Stephens, to keep a house in that parish for the reception of lunatics. [Sessions Book III/288; and Draft Sessions Book V/45.] This was renewed in subsequent years. In the Michaelmas Sessions of 1820 John Rumball and James Quilter Rumball, surgeons, were licensed to keep a house for the reception of lunatics, in the parish of St Stephen, not exceeding ten in number, for the space of one year, during which time they are to allow certain justices and Thomas Baker, doctor of physic, to inspect the said house; if they refuse, the said licence is to be void. [Draft Sessions Book VIII/84, 92; Sessions Book IV/43; Goal Book IV/46, 47; and Miscellaneous Book III/3, 4.] In the same year an inspection was carried out by the two justices and physician appointed to visit the house of John Rumball, in St. Stephens parish, licensed for the reception of lunatics. They visited the house and found the following patients there:– William Clerk, of Winchester, aged 32; Richard Oswold Mason, of Elstree, aged 45, and L. D. Hunt, of Aylesbury, aged 50 years. They further certified that they found the patients properly attended and the house in all respects conducted in a satisfactory manner. [Miscellaneous Book III/7].

In 1827 the area known as Osterhills came on the market - see The Sale of Osterhills, St Albans in 1827 and the house was built. There is a counterpart lease of Oyster Hills, dated 20th March, 1834, between the Rev William Le Worthy (or Leworthy) of Horston, Cambs, to Mr James Quilter Rumball of St Albans. The property was Oyster Hills House, with the cottage, barns, yards, outbuildings, gardens and orchards and 7½ acres of meadow, which is not to be ploughed. It was a repairing lease at a rent of £40 per annum. It was stated that William Leworthy is tenant during the life of Thomas Fowler, Bricklayer, of St Albans, and that the property had been in the occupation of the said Thomas Fowler but for some time past had been untenanted. [HALS Ref: D/ECc T55]

James Quilter Rumball clearly brought the house for use as an asylum as the following court records show:

1834: EPIPHANY SESSIONS: Application of James Quilter Rumball, of the parish of St Michaels, surgeon and apothecary, for licence to keep "a house and buildings at Oyster Hills, for the reception of lunatics." He states that he resides in the said house, and that fifteen is the greatest number of patients he proposes to receive. The Court grants the said licence, the greatest number of patients not to exceed fifteen, in which number no "parish patients" are to be included. [Session Book V/385 and Draft Sessions Book X/354]

1834: MICHAELMAS SESSIONS: In accordance with the Act 2 and 3 William IV, concerning the treatment of "insane persons," the Court appoints certain justices and medical men to be "visitors to the house of James Quilter Rumball, surgeon and apothecary, licensed for the reception of insane persons at Oyster Hills, in the parish of St Michaels." The Clerk of the Peace is to act a clerk to the said visitors, at a salary of £8 per annum. One guinea is to be paid to the medical man for his attendance at each visit. [Sessions Book V/435 and Draft Sessions Book X/36]

1836: EASTER SESSIONS: Report by two justices, that they made an order on 20th March last past, under the provisions of the Act of 9 George IV, Cap. 40, for the confinement of William Lane, a person found wandering about in the parish of St Peter, appearing to be of unsound mind and a fit person to be confined in the house of James Quilter Rumball, at Oyster Hills, St Michaels, being a house licensed for the reception of insane persons. [Session Roll CCI/175, Sessions Book VI/37 and Draft Sessions Book XI/36] [and visits and renewal of licence in subsequent years.]

1838: MICHAELMAS SESSIONS: Return by the Clerk of the Peace, under the Act 9 George IV. cap. 40, of all lunatics and dangerous idiots within the liberty. [Sessions Book VI/223] Appointment of visitors (under the Act 2 and 3 William IV, cap. 107), to the house of James Quilter Rumball, surgeon and apothecary at Oyster Hills, licensed for the reception of insane persons. [Sessions Book VI/225]

1839: EASTER SESSIONS: Letter from James Quilter Rumball, surgeon and apothecary, to the Clerk of the Peace:– "I beg to inform you that I shall require a renewal of my licence at the ensuing sessions; and in order to meet the wishes of the visiting magistrates, I beg to name John Cranmer Gordon, esq., surgeon, as my resident superintendent during the time of my licence. He has seen very considerable practice, and has more than once had charge of my patients, both before and since my coming to Oyster Hills." Ordered that Rumball renew this application in a "formal manner", and, should he not himself intend to reside in the house to be licensed, to furnish testimonials as to the fitness of the proposed resident superintendent. [Sessions Roll CCXIII/134-135; Sessions Book VI/252; and Draft Sessions Book XI/126] This application is granted; the number of patients not to exceed ten "in which number no parish patients are to be included." [Sessions Book VI/262 and Draft Sessions Book XI/129]

In 1839 Pigot's directory recorded "About a mile from the town, at Oster Hills, a beautiful and sequestered spot is an establishment for the insane; it is admirably conducted upon the humane and social principle of treating patients as part of the family - this system being more efficiently maintained here than in other asylums where the inmates are inconveniently numerous." It also lists:

Rumball, James Q, surgeon of private lunatic asylum, Oster Hills

In 1835 the Union Workhouse was opened in the bottom of the valley between Oster Hills House and the town of St Albans - and it soon became overcrowded, and looked to the house for more space:

1842: Resolved that Mr Oakley, vice chairman, be requested in concurrance with the visiting committee to make arrangements with Mr Jas. Q. Rumball for the temporary hiring of his cottages on Oster Hills in order to the Removal there from the Workhouse of such a number of the old women as they are capable of accommodating. [St Albans Union Minute Book: 16th December, 1842 [St Albans City Archives 1700A, now at HALS]

The 1850 Post Office Directory shows that the Oster Hills was now a private house - see SCOTT, Oster Hills, St Albans, late 19th century, and that J. Q. Rumball had moved to The Hall, Harpenden. The 1851 census for Harpenden shows he was still running a private lunatic asylum:

James R RUMBALL	Head	M	54	Surgeon practising R. C. of Surgeons London	Abingdon, Berks
Rebecca RUMBALL	Wife	M	52		Dartford, Kent
George RUMBALL	Son	U	20		London
Selina RUMBALL	Dau	U	23		London
James RUMBALL	Son	U	22	Bankers Clerk	London
Frederick RUMBALL	Son	U	18		London
Sarah ROYER	Sister in law	W	42	Lady (Annuitant)	Dartford, Kent
M. I. (M)	Patient	M	40	Surgeon not practising	Unknown
T. P. (M)	Patient	U	34	Gent	Unknown
C. W. (M)	Patient	U	67	Gent	Unknown
P. H. (M)	Patient	U	35	Formerly Stock Brokers Clerk	St Albans
D. M. (F)	Patient	U	87	Lady	Hurst, Hants
C. A. (F)	Patient	U	55	Lady	Unknown
Harriet LONG	Servant	U	26	Ladys Maid	St Albans
Susan ARNOLD	Servant	U	28	Cook	Wheathampstead
Ann ADDINGTON	Servant	U	20	House Maid	Bedmond, Herts
John PURSELL	Servant	U	20	House Servant	St Peters, St Albans

Unfortunately the patients are only recorded as initials. The 1862 Post Office Directory lists Harpenden Hall Asylum (James Quilter Rumball, proprietor) while the 1881 census for The Hall, Harpenden, shows it was still being used as a private lunatic asylum:

Emma E. RUMBALL	Head	W	39	Hornsey, Middlesex	Proprietor Of Lunatic Asylum Private Inst
Robert RUMBALL	Son	U	17	Harpenden	Articled Pupil
Hubert RUMBALL	Son	U	15	Harpenden	Scholar (Art Student)
Arthur RUMBALL	Son	U	10	Harpenden	Scholar
William RUMBALL	Son	U	7	Harpenden	Scholar
Mary RUMBALL	Dau		1	Harpenden
Maurice RUMBALL	Son		1	Harpenden
Ellen CHARRINGTON	Niece	U	20	Swanage, Dorset	Visitor
Scott CHARRINGTON	Nephew	U	13	Swanage, Dorset	Scholar
Helena SCOTT	Friend	U	27	Southsea, Hampshire	Visitor
Stewart L. RUMBALL	Brother In Law	M	42	St Albans	Super Of Private Asylum
Emma MYERS	Servant	U	17	Harpenden	Cook
Elizth. RAWLINS	Servant	U	19	Hanwell, Middlesex	Housemaid
Emily ARCHER	Servant	U	18	St Albans	Nursemaid
Catherine THORNE	Servant	U	14	Twickenham, Middlesex	Nursemaid
P. J. - Handicap: Lunatic (M)	Patient	U	61
W. P. - Handicap: Lunatic (M)	Patient	U	48		Surveying Engineer
J. L. - Handicap: Lunatic (F)	Patient	W	80	Scotland	(Surveyor)
M. H. - Handicap: Lunatic (F)	Patient	O	54

The 1898 Kelly's Directory lists: Harpenden Hall, private asylum (for ladies), Dr. A. H. Boys, propr.)