Friern Collection

County Lunatic Asylum, Colney Hatch, Middlesex
The Middlesex County Lunatic Asylum was opened in 1851 at Colney Hatch, near Friern Barnet, Middlesex. It later became known as Colney Hatch Mental Hospital and then as Friern Hospital

Social occasion at Colney Hatch Asylum, Middlesex
A social event, occasion unknown, in the grounds of the Middlesex County Lunatic Asylum at Colney Hatch, near Friern Barnet, Middlesex

Middlesex Pauper Lunatic Asylum, 1849
The Italianate exterior of the New Middlesex Pauper Lunatic Asylum at Colney Hatch, near Friern Barnet, Middlesex (North London). The foundation stone was laid in 1849 by Prince Albert

Middlesex Pauper Lunatic Asylum at Colney Hatch, near Friern Barnet, Middlesex (North London), seen from the railway bridge. The foundation stone was laid in 1849 by Prince Albert

Church of St James The Great, Friern Barnet, London
Church of St James The Great, Friern Barnet, Enfield, near Bowes Park, County of London, England. Date: 1900s

Dulwich Home Girls at Southbourne, Dorset
A seaside trip to Southbourne for residents of the Home for Girls at 62 Overhill Road, East Dulwich. The original home, the first to be established by the Waifs and Strays Society

Middlesex Pauper Lunatic Asylum Cemetery, 1851
The consecration of the cemetery of the new Middlesex Pauper Lunatic Asylum at Colney Hatch, near Friern Barnet, Middlesex (North London), 1851

Middlesex Pauper Lunatic Asylum fire, 1903
The ruins of the temporary annexe at the Middlesex Pauper Lunatic Asylum at Colney Hatch, near Friern Barnet, Middlesex (North London), following the disasterous fire there in 1903

The foundation stone of the Middlesex Pauper Lunatic Asylum
The ornate silver trowel used on 8th May 1849 by Prince Albert to spread the mortar on the foundation stone of the New Middlesex Pauper Lunatic Asylum at Colney Hatch, near Friern Barnet

ENGLAND: CATTLE, 1853. The cow shed at Friern Manor Dairy Farm, Peckham, England. Wood engraving, English, 1853

ENGLAND: CATTLE, 1853. The great meadow at Friern Manor Dairy Farm, Peckham, England. Wood engraving, English, 1853

COWSHED, 1853
The cow shed at Friern Manor dairy farm, Hertfordshire

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"Friern: A Journey Through History and Madness" Step into the intriguing world of Friern, a place that holds stories both haunting and fascinating. From its origins as the County Lunatic Asylum in Colney Hatch, Middlesex, to its transformation into a social occasion venue at Colney Hatch Asylum, this location has witnessed the ebb and flow of human emotions. In 1849, Friern became known as the Middlesex Pauper Lunatic Asylum - a name etched in history forever. It served as a sanctuary for those suffering from mental health conditions during an era when understanding was limited. The asylum's walls held countless tales of despair and resilience. Amidst these somber narratives lies another facet of Friern's past - the Church of St James The Great in Friern Barnet, London. This spiritual haven offered solace to many who sought comfort amidst their struggles within the asylum's confines. But not all stories were confined within those walls; some ventured beyond them. The Dulwich Home Girls found respite at Southbourne in Dorset, escaping temporarily from their troubled lives at Middlesex Pauper Lunatic Asylum. Tragedy struck on multiple occasions throughout Friern's existence. In 1851, the Middlesex Pauper Lunatic Asylum Cemetery became a final resting place for many souls lost to mental illness. Then came the devastating fire of 1903 that engulfed this once-prominent institution – leaving behind only ashes and memories. Yet amid destruction arose hope with each new beginning. The foundation stone laid for Middlesex Pauper Lunatic Asylum symbolized society's commitment to caring for those afflicted by mental health challenges despite adversity faced along the way. Beyond its asylum associations lies another side to Friern - one filled with life and vitality. In 1853, it housed a cow shed at Friern Manor Dairy Farm in Peckham, England – a testament to the diverse activities that once thrived within its boundaries.