St Bernard's Hospital
The 1829 asylum where restraints were largely abolished.
St Bernard's Hospital, on the Uxbridge Road, began as a lunatic asylum built in 1829 to designs by William Alderson. It was added to in 1854 and 1857, the later work by John Harris. The main building is yellow brick on a U-shaped plan, with octagonal pavilions at the centre and ends. It is listed Grade II. (Historic England)
Why it matters
Historic England lists it for its innovations in psychiatric care, including a form of occupational therapy and the large-scale abolition of mechanical restraints, under the superintendents Sir William Ellis and Dr John Conolly. (Historic England) The entrance archway and lodges on the Uxbridge Road, from about 1839, are listed separately. Historic England notes the hospital's importance for humane treatment under Dr Conolly from 1839 onwards. (Historic England)
Around the site
- The asylum's brick boundary wall runs beside the Hanwell flight of locks, and is part of that scheduled monument. (Historic England) See the canal.
- Conolly Dell, a small rest garden, was once part of Dr Conolly's grounds. (Ealing Council)
St Bernard's is still a hospital site (OpenStreetMap), so please respect patients' privacy.
Sources: Historic England: St Bernard's Hospital, list entry 1079364, Historic England: Entrance archway and lodges to St Bernard's Hospital, list entry 1189532, Historic England: Hanwell flight of locks and brick boundary wall, list entry 1001963, Ealing Council: Hanwell parks: other parks in Hanwell, OpenStreetMap: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Last checked 24 Oct 2026.