Basic Site Details

Name: Elgin Pauper Lunatic Asylum, Bilbohall
Town, district or village: Elgin
City or county: Morayshire
Country: Scotland
Parish:  
Status: Demolished
Grid ref:
Notes: The earliest asylum built specifically for paupers in Scotland.

Constructed for the adjacent Dr Gray's Hospital.

Partly demolished; only central block and one wing remain.

Alternative Names

The following alternative names are associated with this building/design:
 NameCurrent name?Notes
Item 1 of 2Bilbohall HospitalYes 
Item 2 of 2Elgin District Asylum from 1859

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:
 ClassificationOriginal classification?Notes
Item 1 of 1Psychiatric hospital  

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:
 FromToEvent typeNotes
Item 1 of 71832 Plans prepared, construction not yet begun 
Item 2 of 718341835Build/construction 
Item 3 of 71850  Additions: raised from two to three storeys
Item 4 of 718631866 Radical reconstruction and enlargement
Item 5 of 71880s  Addition of third storey to wings
Item 6 of 71909 Contracts advertisedAdditions: open verandah and bathroom extension
Item 7 of 71992 Destruction/demolition 

People

Design and Construction

The following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column.
 NameRolePartnership GroupFromToNotes
Item 1 of 8Archibald Simpson  18321835 
Item 2 of 8A & W Reid A1850 Additions: raised from two to three storeys
Item 3 of 8Alexander Reid A1850 Additions: raised from two to three storeys
Item 4 of 8William Reid A1850 Additions: raised from two to three storeys
Item 5 of 8A & W Reid B18631866Radical reconstruction and enlargement
Item 6 of 8Alexander Reid B18631866Radical reconstruction and enlargement
Item 7 of 8William Reid B18631866Radical reconstruction and enlargement
Item 8 of 8John Wittet  1909 Additions: open verandah and bathroom extension

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Darragh, Alison2011Prison or Palace? Heaven or Hell? An architectural and social study of the development of public lunatic asylums in Scot Unpublished PhD thesis, University of St Andrewsvol 1, pp 72, 180
vol 3, pp 72-4
Item 2 of 3Richardson, HarrietN.D.Scottish Hospitals Survey Unpublished typescript (copy in DMW Archive) 
Item 3 of 3Walker, David W and Woodworth, Matthew2015The Buildings of Scotland: Aberdeenshire North and Moray Yale University Pressp590

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 5Aberdeen Journal30 December 1863   
Item 2 of 5Builder6 February 1909  p162 - contracts open for additions
Item 3 of 5Elgin Courier22 March 1840   
Item 4 of 5Elgin Courier8 March 1850   
Item 5 of 5Elgin Courier15 March 1850   

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:
 SourceArchive nameSource catalogue no.Notes
Item 1 of 2Elgin Local History LibraryPlans collection  
Item 2 of 2Grampian Health BoardGrampian Health Board ArchivesGHRB 46/1/1Minutes of the Elgin Lunacy Board