Hello and welcome to my Three Counties Asylum website.

 

On this site you will find a wealth of information regarding the old Victorian asylum,

Three Counties Asylum (later known as Fairfield Hospital )Still stands proud on the Arlesey / Stotfold border.

It is the only complete surviving example of a Victorian Asylum that I know of  in Great Britain,

It  was designed in the wonderful gothic romantic style by George Fowler Jones and built by

William Webster of Boston Lincolnshire

 

Most people living in and around Arlesey, Stotfold, Letchworth, Hitchin and Ickleford will of at some point in their lives had something to do with the Three Counties Asylum

 

First and foremost it has been a place of patient care. For nearly 140 years it was operating as a psychiatric hospital to care and treat the thousands of patients that  passed through its doors.

It was also a place of employment and employed many local and people from all over the world.

 

It was a great shortcut for people, especially the fishermen who would cut through on their way to the Arlesey lagoons or people going for picnics and a swim.

 

People in their hundreds and thousands would visit Fairfield hospital in the summer for the fetes, especially  in the 1970's and 1980's with top DJs like Ed Stewpot and stars of Coronation Street attending in 82,I believe it was Bill Roache who plays Ken Barlow and Pat Phoenix who played Elsie Tanner

 

The grounds of the Asylum played host to many sports such as  cricket, bowls and football

 many of the local folks would get merry in the club house afterwards.

 

There was also a cinema {my cousins saw The Exorcist there age 13!}

 

We even have tales of MURDER! and  STRANGE  DEATHS ,

 

So you see the hospital has touched  many lives over so many years in so many ways.

 

Locally we were very concerned that the old place would be demolished when it closed its doors in 1999 thankfully it was saved and the outside restored to its former glory and the inside turned into luxury apartments, The Fantastic Bannatyne’s Health Club and the wonderful relaxing ambience of the Brasserie compliment and fuse well with the refurbishment.

 

 

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Please note :Text and photographic images copyright © Richard Knight and may not be copied or used without written permission. All photos used on this website are used with permission of the web creator or contributor. You may not post them to another website unless you have the written permission of  the copyright owner. Neither may any  images or text be used for commercial purposes.

Please e.mail for permission or any other enquiry,  rich@threecountiesasylum.co.uk

 

 

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Click on the Radio Fairfield logo to visit the website


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If  You Would like To listen To The BBC Three Counties Radio Interview That Was Broadcast On The 28th Feb 2012 With Reporter Jenna Benson and Myself , Please Press Play.

 

 

 

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Wanted

Three Counties Asylum/Three Counties Hospital/Fairfield Hospital  Memorabilia, Anything you may have that you wish to sell please let us know,

Telephone Richard in the Evenings on 01462 630912 or e.mail rich@threecountiesasylum.co.uk.

New ! Site updated

9th June 2013 Please Scroll down to enter  

Admissions ,Updates ,and the Wards.

A great “NEW” Three Counties Radio interview with Elaine Fox and myself

Broadcast back in October. The subject mater is the plans to erect a memorial at the cemetery site within Fairfield Park

Please Press Play.

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We feel very honoured to have received this memorial stone from V.R. Jennings funeral Services of Ickleford Herts.

We were approached by Susannah Fruen from Jennings to ask if they could create a memorial dedicated to the asylum, its people and its past,

Susannah became interested after hearing the interview on Three Counties Radio and reading an article in

The Comet news paper,

 After a few months consultation this is the result, a beautiful polished black granite stone inlaid with gold leaf bearing the original TCA crest and measuring 18 X 15 inches. This stone will be on display with us at various local events throughout the year, Eventually we would like it to  be placed at the asylum or incorporated into the memorial which is planned for the cemetery later this year.

Please visit the Press Cuttings ward to read the latest news paper articles concerning this memorial and the memorial planned by the FFPRA.

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Three Counties Asylum

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