Woodilee Lunatic Asylum

The Woodilee Lunatic Pauper Asylum opened on 22 October 1875. It was one of the most modern facilities of its kind at the time and housed 400 patients, or inmates, as they were called. The original buildings were designed by Glasgow architect, James Salmon. Soon additional land was purchased and a farm was developed. The labor force were the patients.

Glasgow saw a significant population expansion from the 1870s to the outbreak of World War I. The numbers of mentally ill grew in proportion. As a result, from Woodilee's opening until 1914, there was almost continuous building and rebuilding. During the time Agnes was a patient the capacity had increased to 1,300 beds.

In 1929 it was designated a mental hospital and taken over the next year by the Glasgow Corporation. After a 125 years of continual service Woodilee was closed in 2000.

Several record sets related to the hospital are housed at the University of Glasgow.

Woodilee Lunatic Asylum

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NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Archives
The Story of Six Strathkelvin Hospitals