Craig Dunain Hospital

[poppett]

I would like to read the book about the history of Craig Dunain Hospital. About ten years ago information which had been kept secure under the official secrets act was released and the book of the history of Craig Dunain from 1868-1968 was published.

On googling Craig Dunain I could only source a forum, now locked to membership with some photos which are unaccessable without being logged in. It is very frustrating.

Have asked at the library, but the only book they think is available is in the reference section in Inverness and can not be borrowed.

Any one any ideas, or indeed have the book that I could borrow?

[mccaugm]

My mum and myself worked there for a time in the late eighties. I was not aware of the book but reckon it would make for grim reading. If the stories that I heard were to be believed it was not a very nice place to be.

[Angela]

I wasn't aware of the book either -must say I'm not sure if I'd want to read it or not.

A student friend spent some time in Craig Dunain after a mental breakdown in the early 70s. One of my Dad's sisters had been sent there way back when people suffering from depression could be locked away for years.

Poppett, I'll investigate the libraries here and see if there are any copies that could be borrowed...one way or another....

[poppett]

The title of the book would appear to be 1864-1964...a hundred years. The author was Craig Dunain Hospital and the publisher was Robert Carruthers the OCLC number is 63364560.

Your help is greatfully apreciated. On the other (Locked forum) I found there were some fantastic photos and one of them was the patients private laundry with wonderful glazed tiles, but little did the photographer know that the room was originally the ECT room from the days before anaesthesia.

Hope to get a bit further with my quest soon.

[evelyn]

Sounds fascinating, but would probably make quite hard reading.
I worked there briefly in the eighties as a student and there were some old folkies who'd 'lived' there for the large part of there lives.
Probably the most upsetting histories were the ones of young girls who were sent away to Craig Dunain for having a child out of wedlock. They were women who had been labelled as insane for doing so, and had spent the rest of their days there.
Heartbreaking.
evelyn

[trinkie]

Thank you for telling us of this book.

I understand Craig Dunain has been closed for a few years, is that right? Where do folk go for treatment nowadays?

I remembering going to visit a dear friend there in the 70s.

Could you keep us informed as to when this book is in the shops please. I'd be most interested.

Trinkie

[hotrod4]

I remember a thread on here about a book on Craigers.
I have searched the net and found some "urban exploring" pics of the old hospital before the fire.
I am posting the link so you can have a look, its very interesting and will keep you going till the book comes out
Theres some great pics of other places too.
http://www.broken-britain.com/phpBB2...ight=inverness

[poppett]

Thanks for that Hotrod4.

At the reference section in Inverness library the four editions they have of the book are not fit to be used any more, so I was unable even to speed read one on Friday. Very disappointed as you can imagine.

Someone out there must have a copy somewhere????

Will keep up the hunt.

[gardeninginagale]

I wish you success in your investigation, Poppett. I haven't been a gardener all my life, and in the mid seventies, I worked at Kingseat Hospital in rural Aberdeenshire. It closed before Craig Dunain, but it was the equivalent. It's "catchment" area was the city of Aberdeen and Shetland. Patients from rural Aberdeenshire and Orkney were sent to the Royal Cornhill in Aberdeen, which still exists. It seemed to be a deliberate policy to remove patients from family. The hospital in the city only accepted rural patients, while the hospital in the sticks only had patients from the city. So family had difficulty visiting. I have never understood that, but it seemed to be policy at the time. It was probably part of the "therapy".

I was in an admin function which involved regular patient contact, and my over-riding memory is of the Shetlanders, who just wanted to be back home and couldn't understand why they had been shipped to Aberdeenshire. The whole regime was inhumane. The use of ECT was prolific and unnecessary, and as a lay person, I was horrified to see someone who was perfectly lucid yesterday, become unintelligible tomorrow.

I took the coward's way out. I left, and chose a different career. But even after all these years, I still have nightmares. The memory of three hefty male nurses chasing a wee, frightened lassie, with syringes in their hands, is not one that even time wipes out.

I can't help with Craig Dunain, sorry, except for the fact that a work colleague who became a good friend, was admitted to Craig Dunain three times. The first two, he came bouncing back, his old self again. I never saw him again after the third admission, and I have failed to track him down since.

Three strikes and you're out?


Sorry, I doubt if anything I have written is remotely useful to you, though I hope it is. I guess this thread just struck a chord.

Mike

[Cedric Farthsbottom III]

A lady once told me,that she had electric shock treatment,just a small piece of mental illness treatment.Her name will remain nameless.But she's still in ma heart.It wisnae in Craig Dunain,but a Scottish alternative.This place brought her back to me.

[poppett]

Thurso Library today phoned to say that after many failed attempts they have got the book on loan for four weeks from the Inverness reference section.

Two guesses at where my nose has been this afternoon??????

Yes folks, got it in one, in the book.

An interesting read and some very good black and white photographs.

Somewhere out there is another book with patient and staff memories which I would love to see. Do not have a clue of the title though.