Our heritage
St Andrew’s Healthcare has a long history in the provision of mental healthcare.
Its origins date back to 1838 with the opening of a hospital in Northampton offering humane care to the mentally ill, funded by the local community in Northampton.
Hospital architecture
The original hospital building in Northampton was purpose designed by George Wallet of the Bethlem Hospital in London.
It was funded in large part from the reserves of the Northamptonshire Yeomanry, through the offices of Sir William Wake.
Charity timeline
1838: St Andrew's history as a charity begins in 1838 with the opening of a hospital at Northampton offering humane care for the mentally ill
1860: 450 patients were being cared for by 40 nurses. St Andrew's grew rapidly, having originally been built to look after just 70 people
1941: The St Andrew's school of Occupational Therapy was established in Northampton
1948: The National Health Service is formed. St Andrew's seeks exemption and is allowed to function outside the NHS, maintaining its charitable status
1967: St Andrew's launched its own school of nursing, specialising in mental healthcare
1983: Princess Diana opens Spencer House, a new unit at our Northampton hospital, near her family home. The wing was named after her father, Earl Spencer
2000: St Andrew's launches services from a new hospital in Essex
2008: A successful pilot scheme for medico-legal consultancy saw the beginning of our Outpatient Services.
2009: St Andrew's launches services for men's mental health at our new hospital in Birmingham
2011: St Andrew's opens William Wake House, a brand-new facility in Northampton with 132 beds
2016: St Andrew's Winslow opens – a new residential facility in Bestwood, Nottinghamshire.
2018 – The avenue homes (ACS)
2026: Inpatient services Northampton are transferred to Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, with continued support from St Andrew’s, which provides hospital buildings and facilities to the trust
