Royal Earlswood Hospital

In 1847, Ann Serena Plumbe took an interest in the plight of those with neurodevelopmental disabilities, 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. The building quickly proved too small, so in 1850 an 155-acre site was purchased at Earlswood Common, near Redhill, and a public appeal launched to raise funds for the building of a model 'Asylum for Idiots' to house 400 residents. and built by John Jay. Two new wings were completed in 1873. Nerissa and Katherine…

The Royal Earlswood Museum was located at the Belfry Shopping Centre nearby in Redhill. It illustrated the history and development of the asylum and contained works by former inmate, James Henry Pullen. The museum is now closed and in 2012 its collections and artefacts were donated to the Langdon Down Museum of Learning Disability in Teddington, Richmond upon Thames. The museum's archives are located in the Surrey History Centre in Woking.