Santa stone, created by Gwyneth Rowlands c.lateC20th in the art therapy studio at Netherne hospital, where she was compelled to live for 30 years
Her vast body of work is composed of hundreds of painted flints & found objects, inspired by her extraordinary life & knowledge of art & literature
Her vast body of work is composed of hundreds of painted flints & found objects, inspired by her extraordinary life & knowledge of art & literature
December 16, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Santa stone, created by Gwyneth Rowlands c.lateC20th in the art therapy studio at Netherne hospital, where she was compelled to live for 30 years
Her vast body of work is composed of hundreds of painted flints & found objects, inspired by her extraordinary life & knowledge of art & literature
Her vast body of work is composed of hundreds of painted flints & found objects, inspired by her extraordinary life & knowledge of art & literature
Went to the Netherne Classics Christmas do today!
December 15, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Went to the Netherne Classics Christmas do today!
The Christmas window of Constance’s shop, painting created 1968 by Muriel Lewis, in the art therapy at studio Netherne hospital, where she was compelled to live.
A large number of her works survive, they depict scenes from her own life inside & outside the hospital during the mid C20th in Surrey
A large number of her works survive, they depict scenes from her own life inside & outside the hospital during the mid C20th in Surrey
December 9, 2025 at 10:09 AM
The Christmas window of Constance’s shop, painting created 1968 by Muriel Lewis, in the art therapy at studio Netherne hospital, where she was compelled to live.
A large number of her works survive, they depict scenes from her own life inside & outside the hospital during the mid C20th in Surrey
A large number of her works survive, they depict scenes from her own life inside & outside the hospital during the mid C20th in Surrey
That’s fascinating, thank you. Spending time with the records from Netherne, I’m always struck by how many school groups & youth organisations were taken there to visit & entertain those compelled to live there.
It seems to have come from a well intended place but the reality was much different
It seems to have come from a well intended place but the reality was much different
December 7, 2025 at 12:32 PM
That’s fascinating, thank you. Spending time with the records from Netherne, I’m always struck by how many school groups & youth organisations were taken there to visit & entertain those compelled to live there.
It seems to have come from a well intended place but the reality was much different
It seems to have come from a well intended place but the reality was much different
2/2 I went with my mum to visit someone there. I wasn’t old enough to understand why people were making funny noises or looking unkempt or gloomy. But I could see they were sad, & my impression was that Netherne wasn’t somewhere that would cheer you up. I’ve never forgotten it - very institutional.
December 7, 2025 at 12:19 PM
2/2 I went with my mum to visit someone there. I wasn’t old enough to understand why people were making funny noises or looking unkempt or gloomy. But I could see they were sad, & my impression was that Netherne wasn’t somewhere that would cheer you up. I’ve never forgotten it - very institutional.
In the 60s/70s I grew up in Redhill, near Netherne. It was a by-word for deprivation of liberty for people who were both poorly and embarrassing. My older sister had 2 friends who were there in their adolescence/20s and as a young child I detected the associated shame from hushed conversations. 1/2
December 7, 2025 at 12:14 PM
In the 60s/70s I grew up in Redhill, near Netherne. It was a by-word for deprivation of liberty for people who were both poorly and embarrassing. My older sister had 2 friends who were there in their adolescence/20s and as a young child I detected the associated shame from hushed conversations. 1/2
Designs for costumes by art therapist Edward Adamson for the yearly pantomime at Netherne Hospital which was performed by the staff & individuals who were compelled to live there c.midC20th.
Netherne had an extensive entertainment programme with events taking place year round in the recreation hall
Netherne had an extensive entertainment programme with events taking place year round in the recreation hall
December 7, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Designs for costumes by art therapist Edward Adamson for the yearly pantomime at Netherne Hospital which was performed by the staff & individuals who were compelled to live there c.midC20th.
Netherne had an extensive entertainment programme with events taking place year round in the recreation hall
Netherne had an extensive entertainment programme with events taking place year round in the recreation hall
While living at Netherne hospital, George Buday created illustrations for books, cards, pamphlets & programmes & his woodcuts appeared in a 1976 BBC Omnibus about Hungarian poetry.
Art therapist Edward Adamson gained permission for Buday to have his carving tools & studio space in which to use them
Art therapist Edward Adamson gained permission for Buday to have his carving tools & studio space in which to use them
December 4, 2025 at 4:25 PM
While living at Netherne hospital, George Buday created illustrations for books, cards, pamphlets & programmes & his woodcuts appeared in a 1976 BBC Omnibus about Hungarian poetry.
Art therapist Edward Adamson gained permission for Buday to have his carving tools & studio space in which to use them
Art therapist Edward Adamson gained permission for Buday to have his carving tools & studio space in which to use them
George Buday continued creating many illustrations for The Radio Times amongst other commercial publications while living voluntarily at Netherne Hospital, working from his studio in an old summerhouse in the grounds, which was apparently full of cigarette smoke & blaring classical music
December 4, 2025 at 10:34 AM
George Buday continued creating many illustrations for The Radio Times amongst other commercial publications while living voluntarily at Netherne Hospital, working from his studio in an old summerhouse in the grounds, which was apparently full of cigarette smoke & blaring classical music
I've just read by coincidence that Netherne was used in lots of pop videos after it closed, most notably Total Eclipse Of The Heart and Charlotte Sometimes. Neither a patch on the art that was made while it was open.
November 23, 2025 at 3:41 PM
I've just read by coincidence that Netherne was used in lots of pop videos after it closed, most notably Total Eclipse Of The Heart and Charlotte Sometimes. Neither a patch on the art that was made while it was open.
Thank you dear Inigo, that means so much, it is our best attempt at acknowledging the wholeness of their personhoods, their infinitely complex circumstances & vast spectrum of reasons for being compelled to live at Netherne, from those now understood as persecutory to profound experiences of illness
November 22, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Thank you dear Inigo, that means so much, it is our best attempt at acknowledging the wholeness of their personhoods, their infinitely complex circumstances & vast spectrum of reasons for being compelled to live at Netherne, from those now understood as persecutory to profound experiences of illness
We don’t know exactly why people were there: so we chose “compelled to live” to express that either their own distress or a “section” caused them to be at Netherne & to acknowledge that under the mental health act of the time the section could be for being gay, trans, promiscuous, neurodiverse etc
November 22, 2025 at 5:30 PM
We don’t know exactly why people were there: so we chose “compelled to live” to express that either their own distress or a “section” caused them to be at Netherne & to acknowledge that under the mental health act of the time the section could be for being gay, trans, promiscuous, neurodiverse etc
I have 2 questions* about the Netherne posts (which I really appreciate):
1. You say they were “compelled” to live there. Does that mean they were “committed,” as we say in the U.S.—I think you say “sectioned”? Or did some check in voluntarily?
2. Why are they such great artists??
1. You say they were “compelled” to live there. Does that mean they were “committed,” as we say in the U.S.—I think you say “sectioned”? Or did some check in voluntarily?
2. Why are they such great artists??
November 22, 2025 at 5:09 PM
I have 2 questions* about the Netherne posts (which I really appreciate):
1. You say they were “compelled” to live there. Does that mean they were “committed,” as we say in the U.S.—I think you say “sectioned”? Or did some check in voluntarily?
2. Why are they such great artists??
1. You say they were “compelled” to live there. Does that mean they were “committed,” as we say in the U.S.—I think you say “sectioned”? Or did some check in voluntarily?
2. Why are they such great artists??
Grief created by Joan Wisdom, November 1967, in the art therapy studio at Netherne hospital, Surrey where she was compelled to live.
Her surviving works express distress & critique the psychiatric system which held power over her & the dehumanisation she experienced within it
Her surviving works express distress & critique the psychiatric system which held power over her & the dehumanisation she experienced within it
November 22, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Grief created by Joan Wisdom, November 1967, in the art therapy studio at Netherne hospital, Surrey where she was compelled to live.
Her surviving works express distress & critique the psychiatric system which held power over her & the dehumanisation she experienced within it
Her surviving works express distress & critique the psychiatric system which held power over her & the dehumanisation she experienced within it
Isn’t it breathtaking? His life story is by turns devastating & extraordinary.
During his time at Netherne hospital, he used to crawl to the art therapy studio, clinging to the walls, terrified to let go & yet he still went, still produced those dazzling, affecting paintings when he got there
During his time at Netherne hospital, he used to crawl to the art therapy studio, clinging to the walls, terrified to let go & yet he still went, still produced those dazzling, affecting paintings when he got there
November 21, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Isn’t it breathtaking? His life story is by turns devastating & extraordinary.
During his time at Netherne hospital, he used to crawl to the art therapy studio, clinging to the walls, terrified to let go & yet he still went, still produced those dazzling, affecting paintings when he got there
During his time at Netherne hospital, he used to crawl to the art therapy studio, clinging to the walls, terrified to let go & yet he still went, still produced those dazzling, affecting paintings when he got there
The sculptural works from the Adamson Collection are stored there including many of these Gwyneth Rowlands painted flints until we find permanent homes & there are a couple of incredible paintings on show there by William Kurelek who lived at Netherne voluntarily as well as in Bethlem & The Maudsley
November 21, 2025 at 1:45 PM
The sculptural works from the Adamson Collection are stored there including many of these Gwyneth Rowlands painted flints until we find permanent homes & there are a couple of incredible paintings on show there by William Kurelek who lived at Netherne voluntarily as well as in Bethlem & The Maudsley
It reminded me of this drawing created by an individual who was compelled to live at Netherne hospital during the midC20th, who identity is currently unknown to us.
They made this work in the art therapy studio at Netherne & the image is taken from art therapist Edward Adamson’s lecture slides
They made this work in the art therapy studio at Netherne & the image is taken from art therapist Edward Adamson’s lecture slides
November 18, 2025 at 10:23 AM
It reminded me of this drawing created by an individual who was compelled to live at Netherne hospital during the midC20th, who identity is currently unknown to us.
They made this work in the art therapy studio at Netherne & the image is taken from art therapist Edward Adamson’s lecture slides
They made this work in the art therapy studio at Netherne & the image is taken from art therapist Edward Adamson’s lecture slides
They make me really quite sad & angry but something about sitting with that, being responsible for them nonetheless reminds me what’s important, like the photo of a drawing made by Martin Birch while compelled to live at Netherne that I have above my desk of a giraffe saying “I know nothing at all”
November 16, 2025 at 2:05 PM
They make me really quite sad & angry but something about sitting with that, being responsible for them nonetheless reminds me what’s important, like the photo of a drawing made by Martin Birch while compelled to live at Netherne that I have above my desk of a giraffe saying “I know nothing at all”
Thankyou. I was touched by your piece on Mary Bishop's artwork and her time/treatment at Netherne.
(The forced process of needing to "grieve properly" had a life-long impact on an elderly person I knew who disliked doll's eyes after being shown her dead mother at the age of three in 1918).
(The forced process of needing to "grieve properly" had a life-long impact on an elderly person I knew who disliked doll's eyes after being shown her dead mother at the age of three in 1918).
November 10, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Thankyou. I was touched by your piece on Mary Bishop's artwork and her time/treatment at Netherne.
(The forced process of needing to "grieve properly" had a life-long impact on an elderly person I knew who disliked doll's eyes after being shown her dead mother at the age of three in 1918).
(The forced process of needing to "grieve properly" had a life-long impact on an elderly person I knew who disliked doll's eyes after being shown her dead mother at the age of three in 1918).
30 million dead, The Somme, painting created by Mary Bishop 1976 in the art therapy studio at Netherne hospital where she was compelled to live.
Aged 4 when her father was killed in WWI, the reverberations of his death & her mother’s vast grief traumatised & distressed Mary for the rest of her life
Aged 4 when her father was killed in WWI, the reverberations of his death & her mother’s vast grief traumatised & distressed Mary for the rest of her life
November 9, 2025 at 10:48 AM
30 million dead, The Somme, painting created by Mary Bishop 1976 in the art therapy studio at Netherne hospital where she was compelled to live.
Aged 4 when her father was killed in WWI, the reverberations of his death & her mother’s vast grief traumatised & distressed Mary for the rest of her life
Aged 4 when her father was killed in WWI, the reverberations of his death & her mother’s vast grief traumatised & distressed Mary for the rest of her life
Painting created by Brenda Marshall c.1957 in the art therapy studio at Netherne hospital, Surrey, where she was compelled to live.
A substantial number of her works survive, they explore painful & traumatic family relationships, details of which are sometimes noted on the backs of her paintings
A substantial number of her works survive, they explore painful & traumatic family relationships, details of which are sometimes noted on the backs of her paintings
November 8, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Painting created by Brenda Marshall c.1957 in the art therapy studio at Netherne hospital, Surrey, where she was compelled to live.
A substantial number of her works survive, they explore painful & traumatic family relationships, details of which are sometimes noted on the backs of her paintings
A substantial number of her works survive, they explore painful & traumatic family relationships, details of which are sometimes noted on the backs of her paintings
I think that’s really fascinating, specifically that but also more generally.
There’s a point in the 70s where the record books from Netherne go from recording fascinating intricacies of how it was run & everyday life there from which you can learn a lot to much more general practicalities & budgets
There’s a point in the 70s where the record books from Netherne go from recording fascinating intricacies of how it was run & everyday life there from which you can learn a lot to much more general practicalities & budgets
November 4, 2025 at 6:38 PM
I think that’s really fascinating, specifically that but also more generally.
There’s a point in the 70s where the record books from Netherne go from recording fascinating intricacies of how it was run & everyday life there from which you can learn a lot to much more general practicalities & budgets
There’s a point in the 70s where the record books from Netherne go from recording fascinating intricacies of how it was run & everyday life there from which you can learn a lot to much more general practicalities & budgets
Yes, these are by William Kurelek! There’s an extraordinary documentary about his life and art, before, during and after his time at the Maudsley and Netherne, well worth tracking down if you’re interested
November 2, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Yes, these are by William Kurelek! There’s an extraordinary documentary about his life and art, before, during and after his time at the Maudsley and Netherne, well worth tracking down if you’re interested
That’s very possible, likely actually. Many individuals who were compelled to live at Netherne were there as a result of war trauma
November 2, 2025 at 12:39 PM
That’s very possible, likely actually. Many individuals who were compelled to live at Netherne were there as a result of war trauma
I think that might William Kurelek’s The Maze. He lived at the Maudsley then at Netherne for a while & he created work in the art therapy studio there before he returned to Canada.
Bethlem and The Adamson collection have a long history of mutual support, the museum & gallery are incredible places
Bethlem and The Adamson collection have a long history of mutual support, the museum & gallery are incredible places
November 2, 2025 at 12:10 PM
I think that might William Kurelek’s The Maze. He lived at the Maudsley then at Netherne for a while & he created work in the art therapy studio there before he returned to Canada.
Bethlem and The Adamson collection have a long history of mutual support, the museum & gallery are incredible places
Bethlem and The Adamson collection have a long history of mutual support, the museum & gallery are incredible places