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Earlswood
is south of Redhill in the Borough of Reigate and Banstead.
The town is famous as the home of the Royal Earlwood Hospital.
This large psychiatric hospital, entirely financed by public
subscription, was built by a Mr Jay who was also responsible
for the construction of the Houses of Parliament. Prince
Albert laid the foundation stone in 1853 and officially opened
the Asylum in 1855.
In the
20th century the hospital was home for several decades to
two of the Queen Mother's neices: Katherine Bowes-Lyons (born
1926) and Nerissa Bowes-Lyons (1919 - 86). The sisters, both
born mentally inpaired, received no visits from the Royal
Family and were declared dead by Buckingham Palace.
In 1997,
following allegations of poor care, the Royal Earlswood Hospital
was closed. Today the imposing building, easily spotted from
from the London to Brighton railway line, has been converted
into apartments.
The Royal
Earlswood Museum, housed in the Belfry Centre in Redhill,
illustrates the history and development of the ayslum. On
display is a representative collection of the works of James
Henry Pullen (1835 - 1916). Known as the 'Genius of Earlswood
Asylum', Pullen became famous for his detailed models
of ships and wonderfully carved works of art. His masterpiece,
a model of Brunel's Great Eastern, was exhibited at the Crystal
Palace.
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Earlswood
