Cefn Coed Hospital in context
1808
The County Asylums Act
Establishes the provision of public asylums in England and Wales. Counties are encouraged but not required to build asylums.
1845
The 1845 Lunacy Act
The 1845 Act requires all counties to provide a public asylum and creates the Lunacy Commission to oversee asylums. Mentally ill people are now considered ‘patients’ for the first time.
1890
The 1890 Lunacy Act
Extends the 1845 Act by allowing provision for private patients and patients of means.
1910
Joint Mental Hospital
Swansea and Merthyr County authorities agree to erect a Joint Mental Hospital. Swansea bears two-thirds the cost, Merthyr one-third.
1911
Joint Asylum Visiting Committee
Swansea and Merthyr Tydfil Joint Asylum Visiting Committee is formed. Mr G.T. Hine, Consultant Architect to the Commissioners in Lunacy, is appointed architect for the new Joint Mental Hospital. Hine was responsible for designing more than 20 public asylums in England and Wales.
1912
Land Purchased
The land on which the hospital was later built was purchased jointly by Swansea and Merthyr, Swansea paying £10,800 and Merthyr £5,400.’
1914
Foundations Laid
Messrs Evan Thomas & Sons of Neath, are contracted to begin work on building. Foundations are laid.
1917
Work Halted
Work on the hospital is halted due to a shortage of labour during WWI.
1927
Psychiatry
Psychiatry is developing as a mainstream branch of medicine. Julius Wagner-Juaregg wins the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1927 for his research on ‘fever cure’. Many hoped it would be an effective treatment for a wide range of psychiatric symptoms, but it only ever worked as a cure for syphilis infection.
Resume Building
Councillor William Owen is appointed Chair of Joint Committee and agrees to resume building works.
1928
Building Cost
Minister of Health advises Swansea to assume full cost of building. Swansea is empowered to borrow the full cost of building Cefn Coed Hospital.
Messrs E. Turner & Sons
Messrs E. Turner & Sons, Cardiff, are contracted to resume building.
1930
The 1930 Mental Treatment Act
Terms like ‘lunatic’ are removed from legislation and ‘mental hospital’ replaces ‘asylum’. Patients can now be admitted voluntarily, without the need for a Magistrate’s order.
1932
Entertainment
Entertainment is a central part of patient life. Pianos and gramophones are supplied for all wards in the original building. A speaker system is installed to allow broadcasts throughout the hospital, which is upgraded in 1951. In 1950, cine projection equipment is purchased which allows weekly screenings of films in the William Owen Hall.
First Patients
The first patients are admitted to Cefn Coed Hospital, transferred from Talgarth Asylum where a number of Swansea residents had been ‘boarded out’.
Official Opening
Official opening of Cefn Coed Hospital by the HRH The Princess Royal.
1933
546 Patients in December
Admission reports note that in December 1933 the hospital admitted 546 patients (61 voluntary, 6 temporary, 479 long-term certified).
1934
Farm
In the opening years, Cefn Coed Hospital establishes an extensive farm on which it keeps livestock and grows fruit and 2019 vegetables, much of which are used to feed the patients and staff.
1935
Sports and Recreation
Sports and recreation are a central part of life at Cefn Coed Hospital. A staff cricket club is formed in 1935
1936
Library
Patient Library is stocked with 2000 books.
1938
Cardiazol
Cardiazol – a chemical shock treatment which was a precursor to ECT – is first used at Cefn Coed. Insulin coma therapy is also used during this time.
1939
War
During the war, 90 beds are made available for Emergency Medical Service. During air raids in 1941, 180 non-military local residents are treated within a 3 day period
Electroconvulsive Equipment
Electroconvulsive equipment is first purchased, replacing Cardiazol and insulin coma therapy as treatments for mental illness. It has been significantly refined over the years and is still used for treating severe depression.
1945
ECT equipment, 1945
Photo credit: Timothy Kneeland
1948
National Health Service
The National Health Service is created and the Cefn Coed Hospital Committee and Visiting Committee are replaced by the Swansea Mental Hospital Management Committee.
1950
Meprobromate
Meprobromate becomes the first tranquilizer to be used in modern psychiatry. This is later replaced by other benzodiazapines.
1951
Chlorpromozine
Chlorpromozine (Largactil) is first synthesised. It is the first effective anti-psychotic drug. This launches a new era of psychopharmacology that reduces the need for long-term institutional care. Largactil is used in Cefn Coed from mid 1950s onwards.
1952
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibiters
Monoamine oxidase inhibiters are the first class of antidepressants to be discovered and are used widely until the 1970s. They are replaced by other more effective antidepressants due to significant problems with drug interactions.
1956
Farm Closes
Cefn Coed Hospital Farm permanently closes, marking a shift away from asylum era psychiatric care.
1958
Imipramine
The first tricyclic acid antidepressant – Imipramine – is discovered by Geigy Pharmaceuticals. This is later replaced by alternative versions of tricyclic acid antidepressants with fewer side effects.
1959
The 1959 Mental Health Act
The 1959 Mental Health Act Repeals the 1890 and 1930 Lunacy and Mental Treatment Acts. This is the first legislative act to deinstitutionalise mental health patients by transferring care into the community. It provides a more robust legal framework for detaining patients and removes the last vestiges of moral categories of mental disease, e.g. ‘moral […]
1961
Water Tower Speech
Enoch Powell MP, Minister of Health, visits Cefn Coed on a tour of UK psychiatric hospitals. The same year he delivers the infamous Water Tower Speech in which he attacks psychiatric institutions and calls for a transition to community care. This marks a major turning point in psychiatric care in the NHS and the beginning […]
Anti-psychiatry Movement
Irving Goffman publishes Asylums, a crushing exposé of asylum life that launches the ‘anti-psychiatry movement’.
1963
Occupational Therapy Pavilion
Occupational Therapy Pavilion opens, providing industrial and domestic rehabilitation work, physical recreation and social activities.
1966
Lithium
Lithium is first licensed in the UK to treat psychosis.
1970
Eisteddfod
Cefn Coed’s first eisteddfod is held, extending the regular programme of cultural and recreation events. The annual summer fete continues to be a regular feature of community life.
1972
Tramps’ Ball
A Tramps’ Ball is held on ward E as part of a regular programme of entertainment.
1975
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ is released fuelling the growing unease about institutional care and enforced treatments.
1976
Brotherhood of Man
The Brotherhood of Man play in the William Owen Hall as part of a regular entertainment programme which includes artists like Max Boyce, film screenings and dances.
1983
The 1983 Mental Health Act
This replaces the 1959 Act and provides a firmer legal framework for diagnosing, detaining and treating those with mental health disorders.
1990
The Community Care Act
The Community Care Act gives provision for mental patients to remain at home and undergo treatment. Patients are individually assessed and provided with a care worker rather than being admitted to psychiatric hospitals
Closure Confirmed
West Glamorgan Health Authority begins discussions about the closure of Cefn Coed in April 1990. The permanent closure of Cefn Coed is confirmed in an official report in May 1992.
1993
Sale of Cefn Coed
Sale of Cefn Coed land to Barratts Development PLC.
1996
Chefs Win Gold and Bronze
Cefn Coed chefs win gold and bronze medals at the Hospital Caterers Association Competition, Cardiff. The tradition of cooking meals from scratch continued well into the 1990s, and the kitchen was able to provide silver service catering for functions and events.
1998
Baywash Laundry
Baywash Laundry opens specifically for patient laundry
2010
Allegations of Staff Abuse
Healthcare Inspectorate Wales are notified about a criminal investigation into allegations of staff abuse of patients.
2012
No Longer Fit
Healthcare Inspectorate Wales inspect Cefn Coed and report that the hospital is no longer fit for purpose.
2015
Closure
Phased closure of Cefn Coed is officially announced.
2018
Wards Close
All but 2 acute wards close at Cefn Coed. The majority of care now takes place in the wider community
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Heritage4Health
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