Imposing Victorian buildings housed patients in the Hampshire County Lunatic Asylum (later Knowle Psychiatric Hospital) and the Borough of Portsmouth Lunatic Asylum (later St James’ Hospital). Royal Hospital Haslar and Netley Hospital, both important Ministry of Defence establishments, had their own psychiatric facilities.

The experiences of ‘shell shock’ by so many on the battlefields of WW1 initiated a transformation in approaches to mental health care, over time and with successive legislation.

The stories told through the displays and online show how this hidden part of our social history can raise awareness of changes and help to challenge the stigma around mental health at the present time.

Click here for more details of the exhibition which takes place from 13 – 18 September at the Gosport Gallery & Museum, Ordnance Road, Gosport, PO12 1NQ.

Click here to view the online exhibition, download a pamphlet about the exhibition and view online webinars on the history of local mental health care.