Opening on Saturday 29th January, The Bishop’s Palace is hosting an exhibition which tells the stories of ‘The Asylum for the Lunatic Poor’ that was established outside of Wells in the 1840s. The lives of the asylum’s patients and staff are explored through an exceptional series of photographs and artefacts.

This exhibition has been curated to highlight the lives of the 3000+ patients and staff that were involved in the Asylum during its 70-year history. It is a story of compassion, deep respect for each individual, and ground-breaking medical and psychiatric care. The lives and histories of many Asylum residents were effectively ‘forgotten’ until this project was undertaken.

This exhibition was originally displayed at Wells & Mendip Museum in 2021 and comes to The Bishop’s Palace with additional stories and research.

Entry: Entrance to this exhibition is included with any valid ticket or Membership for The Bishop’s Palace. Dates: Saturday 29th January 2022 – Sunday 20th March 2022