A rich heritage in mental healthcare

At St Andrew's Healthcare, we’re proud of our rich heritage in the provision of mental healthcare.

Our history as a charity begins in 1838 with the opening of our hospital at Northampton offering 'humane' care to the mentally ill.

St Andrew's was one of four Registered Psychiatric Hospitals that chose not to join the National Health Service in 1948, maintaining our charitable status.

Watch Video

Our History

The Northampton General Asylum, founded by public subscription, opened on 8 August 1838. The hospital was built on land once owned by the Cluniac Priory of St Andrew's.

1838

St Andrew's opens

Our history as a charity begins in 1838 with the opening of a hospital at Northampton offering 'humane' care to the mentally ill.

1860

450 patients now being cared for by 40 nurses

St Andrew's grew rapidly, having originally been built to look after just 70 people

1864

John Clare dies

The famous English poet dies, after 22 years of care at St Andrew's

1941

St Andrew's School of Occupational Therapy

The St Andrew's School of Occupational Therapy was established in Northampton

1948

NHS is formed

The National Health Service is formed. St Andrew's seeks exemption and is allowed to function outside the NHS, maintaining its charitable status.

1967

Launch of St Andrew's school of nursing

St Andrew's launched its own school of nursing, specialising in mental healthcare

1983

Princess Diana opens Spencer House

Diana opens Spencer House, a new unit in Northampton, near her family home. The wing is named after her father, Earl Spencer.

2000

New service in Essex

St Andrew's launches services from a new site in Essex

2009

New Birmingham site

We launch services for men at our new site in Birmingham

2011

William Wake House

We open William Wake House, a brand new facility in Northampton with 132 beds

2017

FitzRoy House opens

We open our state of the art Child and Adolescent Mental Health provision, FitzRoy House, providing support for up to 110 young people.

Hospital architecture

The hospital building in Northampton was purpose designed by Mr George Wallet of the Bethlem Hospital.

It was funded in large part from the reserves of the Northamptonshire Yeomanry, through the offices of Sir William Wake.

The original architecture is still appreciated by patients and staff alike, with our Great Hall often used for large events. However the Main Building no longer has any wards situated within it.

The 106 acre estate at Northampton includes the Hospital Chapel of 1863, designed by Sir Gilbert Scott, famous for The Midland Grand Hotel at St Pancras Station and the Albert Memorial.

Prominent people

St Andrew’s best-known past resident was Northamptonshire-born John Clare, England’s greatest rural poet. He died in 1864 after more than 22 years of care, having written many poems in the hospital.

Joseph Hassid, a pre-war Polish violinist compared with Heifetz and Menuhin, stayed briefly. Other artistic residents include Sir Malcolm Arnold, perhaps the greatest English composer of the twentieth century, who agreed to one of our newer buildings being named after him.