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Wednesday 11am - 3:45pm Sunday 11am - 3:45pm

Mendip Hospital Cemetery

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Mendip Hospital Cemetery

Here nearly 3000 former patients and staff were laid to rest between 1874 and 1963.
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This cemetery was the burial ground for the Somerset and Bath Pauper Lunatic Asylum, later known as the Wells Mental Hospital, and later still, the Mendip Hospital. The cemetery is now both a nature reserve and a living memorial to the poor souls buried here. Most of the ground is now meadow, the grasses being mown just once a year in the autumn, encouraging insects, birds, and wild flowers to thr

ive. The pond is also full of life, from frogs in the spring to dragonflies in the summer, all living around the lily pads and rushes. Most of those buried here were poor and often forgotten by their families, so there are very few stone monuments. The vast majority had just a numbered metal marker on their grave, but these were later removed and stored in heaps around the site. Now, many have been arranged in groups around the pathways, some flanking remarkable wooden sculptures by the talented and sensitive artist, Peter Bolton. Though most of our ‘residents’ lie in unmarked graves, they are not forgotten. In the chapel we have a folder containing an alphabetical database of all those buried here: name, place of origin, and date of death. We have copies of the cemetery’s burial and grave registers which give us the approximate location of each individuals burial, a great help for people tracing their lost ancestors. Also in the chapel you will find original maps and architects plans, as well as an exhibition celebrating the history of the hospital and its cemetery in photographs and documents. We will be open every Sunday and Wednesday 11am - 3.45pm from April 3rd to the end of September, 2024

We are entirely reliant on your donations to maintain this special place. If you would like to help us you can do so via a PayPal link on our website.http://www.mendiphospitalcemetery.org.uk/ Many Thanks.

01/09/2026

We close for the season on Wednesday 30th September, so don’t be disappointed, come and see us this month! Open every Wednesday and Sunday in September.

We are next open Wednesday 2nd September from 11.00 - 3.45. Our pond is teeming with life and butterflies are fluttering around our beautiful three acre grounds. There is a really popular exhibition in the chapel which tells the story of the old Mendip Hospital, Somerset’s first psychiatric hospital, which opened as the Somerset and Bath Pauper Lunatic Asylum in 1848. Nearly 3000 poor folk were buried here from 1874 until the cemetery closed in 1963. Lots of patient photographs and stories - bring reading glasses if you need them!

Entry is free but please leave us a donation if you can - the cemetery is maintained and funded entirely by hard working volunteers.
Dogs welcome on leads.

More information and detailed instructions on how to get here and where to park can be found on our website: https://mendiphospitalcemetery.org.uk

30/08/2026

SYDNEY HAYTER. A YOUNG BOOTMAKER, BORN IN THE WORKHOUSE, DIED IN THE ASYLUM
Sydney was admitted to the Asylum from the Union Workhouse, Wincanton in May 1890 aged just 21 and single.
His notes tell us that he was suffering from Imbecility, Congenital Mental Deficiency, and Intellectual Insanity.
Sydney’s articulation was described as decidedly imperfect and that “he is unable to talk except on the most elementary subjects” but that he “is quiet, well-behaved and very industrious.”
He worked industriously on the wards, scrubbing floors but that task was undertaken under supervision.
The only history we have of Sydney is that, “He was born in the workhouse at Wincanton and that he was deserted by his mother at an early age.”
On admission Sydney was described as “pale and emaciated and in poor health” but his notes of 1909 record that there is “no mental change but he is getting fatter and is in moderate health.”
The opinion in his notes show that “he would be helpless outside the asylum as he has no general knowledge and no ideas beyond his bodily needs and is totally oblivious as to what goes on in the world although he is docile and industrious.”
On November 11 1917 Sydney was “put to bed having been shivering and feeble and beyond work.”
On November 14 1917 Sydney died of Congestion of the Lungs in the presence of Charge Attendant Walter Bedford.
He was 48 years old and is buried in the cemetery Section F 288.
Rest in peace Sydney. You had such a sad, short life but we will remember you.
South West Heritage Trust.

28/08/2026

Pay us a visit this Bank Holiday Sunday!
Our wonderful garden volunteers have made real progress creating new pathways and open spaces through the cemetery. The bees are buzzing, the butterflies are fluttering, loving our wild spaces. Our pond is home to a plethora of newts and dragonflies. Plenty of seating around the grounds. Come and see for yourselves - we are open this bank holiday Sunday, August 30th, gates open 11am until 3.45.
25 years ago the old cemetery was a neglected wasteland destined for housing development. Many years of hard work clearing scrub and bramble has revealed this beautiful peaceful space - a living memorial to the thousands of poor folk buried here between 1874 and 1963. Exhibition of patient photos and stories in our chapel.
Find us halfway along Hooper Ave., just of the Bath Road, Wells.
Dogs on leads most welcome. Please leave us a donation if you can to help us maintain this special place😊
Much more information and detailed directions can be found on our website - take a look!: https://mendiphospitalcemetery.org.uk

23/08/2026

We are open again on Wednesday 26th and Sunday 30th August and look forward to welcoming you and sharing this special place.
Free admission but we would appreciate a donation as all the work and care of the cemetery is done by volunteers with no funding other than visitor donations.
Dogs welcome on a lead, water and treats available.

Eliza Lane was a glover living in Manor House Road in Glastonbury.
Married but husband in the Workhouse.
Admitted: Feb 20th 1911 although” she says she was brought here by the Dukes of Wellington and Cambridge and the Lancers and when she was young she led a gay sort of life and used to paint and powder her face.”
She says that “she owns Hampton Court Palace which King Edward VII gave to her”
“Is erratic in her behaviour and delusional in conversation”
17 February 1916 had a seizure today affecting her left side.”

Died 16 November 1916 valvular disease of the heart age 69 in the presence of May Griffiths Charge Nurse.
Buried at F197
Rest in peace Eliza.

21/08/2026

This historic burial ground and chapel near Wells will be open again Sunday 23rd and Wednesday 26th August from 11am until 3.45. An exhibition in the chapel tells the story of mental health care throughout the old county of Somerset and Bath from 1848 until more recent times with. Find out what life was really like in the Victorian Asylum!
Over 2900 patients and staff were buried here between 1874 and 1963, most in now unmarked graves - the cemetery is maintained entirely by volunteers in their memory. All their names, dates and place of origin are recorded in an alphabetical burial register in the chapel.

Find us halfway along Hooper Ave, just off the Bath Road, Wells - please note the is NO entrance in Foster Avenue. Dogs on leads very welcome. Entrance is free but leave us a donation if you can: we are totally reliant on your generosity to continue our work. 😊
Further information and detailed directions can be found on our website: https://mendiphospitalcemetery.org.uk
Thanks to Jeremy Lynn and Pippin the dog for terrific photographs.

16/08/2026

Cleanliness was a priority in the early years of the asylum.
Patients were bathed twice a week and thoroughly washed with soap and each patient was bathed in a fresh supply of water. Dr Boyd, the first Medical Superintendent in 1848 stated that :
"there is nothing so exhilaraing as seeing a pauper patient having their first bath in clean warm water."
Dr Boyd also used water as a form of treatment for "Mania"
"warm baths, of which there is a plentiful supply in the building have been used when circumstances seemed to require them"
Cold water was alo used and a Turkish Bath was installed and attendants, male and female were given instruction on how to use it as therapy.
"One patient who was very noisy was heard to call out "I want a bath" and continuing very noisy she was placed in the showwer bath for three munutes and after that she was quiet and had a quiet night and the bath was repeated the next day. The shower bath was repeated two or three times a week and she beacme quieter and rapidly improved "
"A female admitted in a state of melancholia, flushings of the face and a severe headache had a shower bath and finding bemefit from it her shower baths were continued at regular intervals and the female greatly improved."
Annual Report 1857

We are open again on Wednesday 19th August 11 am to 3.45 pm.
No admission charge but a donation would be very much appreciated.
Dogs welcome on a lead, water and treats provided.
Exhibition in the cool chapel amd 3 acres of beautiful memorial gardens to walk around and enjoy the peace of nature.
Hope to meet you then.
Photograph: South West Heritage Trust . Some of those buried in our cemetery.

14/08/2026

Visit Mendip Hospital Cemetery!
We’re open this Sunday 16th and on Wednesday 19th August 2026
Gates open 11.00am - 3.45pm

This rare survival of a landscaped Victorian Asylum Cemetery, listed Grade 2 by Historic England, is located in a stunningly beautiful setting, abundant with wildflowers, butterflies and birdsong. An exhibition in our chapel tells the story of the hospital and its patients in words and pictures.

Entry is through a signed five bar gate halfway along Hooper Avenue, Wells, Somerset, BA5 3NA - please note that there is No entrance in Foster Close.

Dogs are welcome on leads. Admission free to all but please leave us a donation if you can to help us maintain this historic cemetery.

More information and detailed directions can be found on our website: https:mendiphospitalcemetery.org.uk

10/08/2026

Mendip Hospital Cemetery, Hooper Avenue, Wells, will be open again this Wednesday 12th August, 11.00am until 3.45pm. Sunny day forecast: we’ve plenty of shady benches to rest awhile in our beautiful and peaceful grounds!

There is an exhibition in our chapel telling the story of the patients and staff of the old Mendip Hospital which opened in 1848 as the Somerset and Bath Pauper Lunatic Asylum. We have many patient photographs and stories on display. A fascinating insight into the life of the poor over a hundred years ago.

This unique place with almost 3000 burials was saved from destruction and redevelopment by the efforts of the people of Wells twenty five years ago. Admission is free but the cemetery can only survive with your support so please leave us a donation if you can. 😊
Dogs welcome on leads
More information and detailed directions on our website: https://mendiphospitalcemetery.org.uk

07/08/2026

The historic Mendip Hospital Cemetery at Wells will be open again on Sunday 9th and Wednesday 12th of August from 11am until 3.45pm. A beautiful and peaceful place, alive with butterflies, bees, dragonflies, wild flowers, a thriving pond. There is an exhibition of patient photographs and stories in our chapel which give an insight into life in the Victorian asylum. You can also search our alphabetical burial register, with details of over 2900 patients and staff who were buried here between 1874 and 1962. They came from the whole of the old county of Somerset including the City of Bath and South Bristol.
Dogs very welcome on leads.
Admission is free but please leave us a donation if you can. We are a registered charity run entirely by volunteers and rely entirely on your support to maintain this listed cemetery and chapel.

Entrance is through a signed five bar gate halfway along Hooper Avenue, just off Bath Road, Wells (note:there is No entrance in Foster Close - don’t rely on the SatNav!)
More information and detailed directions can be found on our website: https://mendiphospitalcemetery.org.uk

02/08/2026

We are open again on Wednesday 5th August 11.00 am to 3.45 pm.
Admission free but please consider leaving a donation to support the work done, all by volunteers, to preserve and protect this place.
Dogs welcome on a lead.

“Not the least successful of many honourable reforms in the modern humane treatment of persons temporarily deprived of reason is that effected by occupation. By judicious means this can relieve the monotony of life even among the suffering and comparatively helpless.
Regular employment, if taken without too much wear and tear, is indispensable in the treatment of the insane and many patients confirm the relief obtained by settled occupation.”
C.W. Carter Madden Medlicott, Medical Superintendent.

Many of the female patients would assist in the making of the clothes for the patients of the asylum.
Many of them would have been seamstresses or needleworkers in their working lives and they would be encouraged, though not forced, to use their skills which occupied them and benefited the asylum.
In 1872 the female patients made 168 summer dresses, 105 winter dresses, repaired 48 dresses, 250 aprons and made 176 pinafores.
The male patients assisted the tailors who in 1872 made 171 jackets, 139 vests or waistcoats, and 150 pairs of trousers.
They repaired 1563 jackets, 1285 vests and 2694 pairs of trousers.
The shoemakers and cobblers’ workshop at the asylum in 1872 made 98 pairs of men’s boots,
102 pairs of shoes, 206 pairs of slippers, and repaired 426 pairs of shoes and boots. For the female patients they made 91 pairs of boots, 258 pairs of slippers and repaired 464 pairs of shoes and boots.

Photographs: Asylum dress.
South West Heritage Centre.

Address

Hooper Avenue
Wells
BA53NA

Opening Hours

Wednesday	11am - 3:45pm
Sunday	11am - 3:45pm

Website

http://www.mendiphospitalcemetery.org.uk/

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