Crichton Hall

Down in Dumfries today with Julie for a meeting about the patient safety climate tool. It was great to meet up with everyone and catch up on all the news.

The meeting too place in Crichton Hall, which was previously known as the Crichton Royal Hospital.

The last, and grandest, of Scotland's royal asylums, the Crichton Royal Hospital was founded in Dumfries in 1838 by Elizabeth Crichton of Friar's Carse (1779–1862), a wealthy local widow. She persuaded the phrenologist William A. F. Browne (1805-1885) to become medical superintendent and to implement his innovative ideas of occupational therapy and art therapy. Browne remained at the Crichton for almost twenty years (1838-1857) and made a decisive contribution to asylum psychiatry, setting benchmark standards in therapeutic administration. He also hoarded a vast collection of patient art. After his appointment as Medical Commissioner in Lunacy, Browne was succeeded by Dr James Gilchrist. The Crichton became widely known for its outstanding contributions to psychiatric research under the leadership of German Jewish émigrés, including Dr Willi Mayer-Gross.

Always an interesting place to visit.

It's the weekend now.