This pages contains links to sites that may be of interest to site visitors, as well as Bexley Hospital related books. If you come across any other websites that have some connection to Bexley Hospital, please get in touch via the contact page.
Please be aware that the links listed on this website are not connected in any way with the Bexley Hospital website - and the contents / opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the Bexley Hospital site owners.
The Village on the Heath
A History of Bexley Hospital
Cynthia Pell
The Bexley Hospital Drawings
Rooms of Dust
The Search for my Father
ISBN 0 9540947
ISBN 0 9535910 1 8
ISBN 1 4165 0255 6
Published in August 2004, the book is the result of several years of hard work from its authors Britta Von Zweigbergk and Michael Armstrong. Some of the highlights include:
• descriptions of how the hospital was virtually self sufficient with its own vegetable
and livestock farms, well, bakery, launderette and many other facilities
• memories of the many sports played at the hospital by staff and patients
• the story of Annie Crook, the reputed daughter of one of Jack the Ripper’s victims,
who was admitted to the hospital in 1912
• the inspirational story of Lalage Dawson Jones who overcame massive obstacles
and difficulties in early life to become head occupational therapist at the hospital
In July 1999 three artists, Natalie Dower, Paula Rego and Evelyn Williams, with Cynthia Pell's sister Barbara, arranged an exhibition at The Orleans House Gallery of all Cynthia's then known work.
The exhibition and an accompanying book (Cynthia Pell 1933-1977) attracted much media attention and a BBC Woman's Hour broadcast was heard by Britta Von Zweigbergk, the art therapist at Bexley Hospital.
She had known Cynthia as a patient and a friend and had kept 122 drawings done by her during the four years up to the time of her death.
Cynthia Pell -
The Bexley Hospital Drawings is a companion to the earlier publication and, as well as reproducing many of the drawings, includes memories of Cynthia by those who cared for her while in hospital.
Purchase this book direct from the publishers here
A memoir published in 2005, and containing a lengthy section about the author's time working in Bexley Hospital.
Sarah Pat O'Brien's father walks out of her life when she is seven years old. All that remain are dreams of where he might be and when he will return to rescue the family from the poverty, disease and discrimination they suffer.
But he doesn't come back; and with the promise of a better life, they leave Dublin for England, like so many in the 1950s. Years on, when Sarah Pat has children of her own, her shadowy memories drive her to trace her father. A long and painful search reveals he was a soldier, a boxer, a poet - and a bigamist.
"The Village on the Heath" is for sale for £12.50 with all proceeds going to local art therapy projects.
To purchase a copy please go to Pinewood House, Pinewood Place, Dartford, Kent DA2 7WG, Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and ask for the Communications Team.
Alternatively you can order one by sending a cheque, made payable to Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, to the same address for £15.05, which includes the postage costs.
You can help to support this website by ordering from amazon using the above banner
Asylum reports - London County Asylum, Bexley Heath (Report for the year ending March 31st, 1904)
History of Maypole - Homepage for those interested in the history of the area known as Maypole Estate, Dartford Heath, Kent, England. Includes a section on Baldwyns Manor.
High Royds Archive- Wonderful site about High Royds Hospital, that closed in 2003, and was used as the location for the 2005 film, 'Asylum' and TV series, 'Bodies'.
and TV series, 'Bodies'.