Glenside Hospital Museum
Glenside Campus, Blackberry Hill, Bristol, Bristol, BS16 1DD
Glenside Hospital Museum is housed in a former asylum church, built for patients of Bristol psychiatric hospital in 1881, with its beautiful stained-glass windows, all designed to give hope and promote cure. The Museum explores the evolving history of mental health care from the 19th century to today. Originally the Bristol Lunatic Asylum (1861), later Glenside Hospital, it features artefacts, photographs, and equipment that trace changing attitudes and treatments. The museum also covers its role as the Beaufort War Hospital during WWI, highlighting stories like that of artist Stanley Spencer, and includes exhibits on learning disabilities, featuring collections from Stoke Park Colony and the Burden Neurological Institute that reflect mid-20th-century institutional care practices.
Timings & Tours
- Saturday 20 September:
- 10am-4pm
Location & directions
Glenside Campus, Blackberry Hill, Bristol, Bristol, BS16 1DD
- Directions:
- Glenside Hospital Museum is located in the northeast of Bristol, just 3 miles (5 km) from the city centre. We are situated in the Grade II listed church within the grounds of the old psychiatric hospital, now used by the University of the West of England as their Health and Social Care Campus. There are two entrances to the UWE Glenside Campus. If you’re coming up Blackberry Hill from the Broomhill direction, our entrance is past the main UWE Glenside ‘Blue’ entrance, labelled the ‘White Entrance’. If you enter via the main UWE entrance, take a right at the mini roundabout and head past the front of the building. At the next mini roundabout, take a right, and the church will be on your right just before you exit the site.
- Contact on day:
- Stella Man
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking not required
Accessibility details
The Museum is wheelchair accessible, with the exception of our altar area where there is a step to the final metre of the display. We have an accessible toilet, and onsite parking (Saturdays only). There is lot to see, and some audio, but we do not currently offer audio descriptions. We do have volunteers however who are available as guides if required.
