| Napsbury Hospital | |
| Map Type: | Hertfordshire |
| Region: | London Colney |
| Country: | England |
| Coordinates: | 51.723°N -0.31°W |
| Type: | Mental health |
| Founded: | 1905 |
| Closed: | 1998 |
| Website: | None |
Napsbury Hospital was a mental health facility near London Colney in Hertfordshire. It had two sister institutions, Harperbury Hospital and Shenley Hospital, within a few miles of its location.[1]
The hospital was designed by Rowland Plumbe in the country estate style and was initially known as the Middlesex County Asylum.[2]
The hospital was designed for 1,205 residents,[3] and the grounds were designed by William Goldring.[3] Following the construction of the numerous buildings and extensive grounds, Napsbury opened on 3 June 1905.[4] According to the Middlesex County Record, the initial cost, including land and equipment, was £545,000, or £473 per bed. In 1908 Plumbe designed an extension to accommodate a further 600 patients.[5]
During the First World War, Napsbury was used for and known as the County of Middlesex War Hospital, which treated wounded soldiers.[3] [6] [7] Following the war, the hospital was returned to its original purpose.
Although Napsbury suffered some bomb damage in the Blitz, it was in continuous use as a hospital until its official closure in 1998. However, until at least 2002 one building was still in use for psychiatric patients.[3]
Due to its largely untouched parkland, Napsbury was listed by English Heritage as a Grade II Historic Park and Garden in 2001.[8] The site has been redeveloped for residential use as Napsbury Park.
Famous residents of the hospital included: