The County Asylums Act of 1808 recommended that asylums should be set up in each county, to which both pauper and criminal lunatics could be sent. In Cheshire, a visiting Committee of visiting justices was appointed to purchase land and build an asylum. The members of the committee were: John Feilden, of Mollington; Richard Congreave, of Burton; and Townsend Ince, of Christleton. In 1826 they purchased, from the Rev. Sir Philip Egerton, ten acres of land situated near the Bache Hall, Upton, Chester. The site met The criteria of the act, having 'an airy and healthy situation, with good water supply and affording a good visual view.
Joseph Hemingway's 'History of Chester' Volume 2 (1831)  (the above drawing is from that book), describes the design and the building of the Chester Lunatic Asylum which was built by William Quay.
The county architect responsible for building the asylum was William Cole Junior who had suceeded the renowned Thomas Harrison, the designer of Chester Castle and the wide-spanned Grosvenor Bridge. Cole was, in fact, one of three who completed the bridge after Harrison's death and it has been suggested that, because of their long association, Cole included at the asylum, a classical portico in the Harrison tradition. This consists mainly of the long front we still see today, and the two return wings at the back, on either side. There was a courtyard in front, and round this were situated various service departments such as stables, repair shop, and a mortuary. At the entrance to this area was a porters lodge.
The building was designed to accommodate 90 patients, with apartments arranged 'to contain 20 patients of better class, who can afford to pay for their own maintenance'. The remainder was devouted to pauper patients, to be kept by their respective townships and parishes.
Picture from Nigel Roberts.
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