Royal Earlswood Hospital
Coordinates: 51°13′22″N 0°10′01″W / 51.222761°N 0.166980°W
The Royal Earlswood Hospital or The Royal Earlswood Asylum for Idiots in Redhill, Surrey, was the first establishment to cater specifically for people with developmental disabilities. Previously they had been housed either in asylums for the mentally ill or in workhouses.
Around 1847, Ann Serena Plumbe took an interest in the plight of the learning disabled, or "idiots" as they were termed at the time, and began to discuss what could be done to assist them. In discussion with Dr John Conolly (of the Hanwell Asylum) and Rev Dr Andrew Reed (a philanthropist and founder of several orphanages) they determined to educate such people.
In the spring of 1847 Reed toured Europe to gather information on institutions serving the purpose, and in October the project to found the Asylum began. Lord Palmerston, Baron Rothschild and Lord Ashley became officers of the charity.
In 1848 a building was purchased and the first patients admitted. This building, Park House at Highgate, quickly proved to be too small and a new building was commissioned. Several designs were submitted in competition and a Mr. Moffat's was chosen. The builder was John Jay of London Wall, whose varied work included substantial railway construction contracts, rebuilding the Houses of Parliament after the 1833 fire, and smaller architect-designed projects such as the Abney Park Chapel and Trinity Independent Chapel. The building was entirely financed by public subscription and Queen Victoria subscribed 250 guineas in the name of Edward Prince of Wales, who became a life member. Prince Albert took a special interest from the beginning. He laid the foundation stone in June 1853 and opened the Asylum in June 1855. In 1862 Queen Victoria conferred a Royal Charter on the asylum.
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