Ernest Thomas HART 1879 -1954 Longhope -> Pontypridd (General)

by Jefff , West London, Middlesex, Friday, January 06, 2012, 20:27 (4701 days ago) @ Davidhart

Hi again David and Happy New Year to you & yours, I hope your elderly relative's warm n well, how lucky you are to have such a good source of family history !. The mental hospital you refer to is Coney Hill which was located on the outskirts of Gloucester, it's now closed. As immature/ignorant Forest kids in the 70s we unfortuantely used the phrase "being sent to Coney Hill" as a derogatory insult; I'm pleased I actually know what we were referring to, all thro' this forum. If you read the following prior threads, found using the "search" link, you'll see it was the County Mental Hospital, previously the Lunatic Asylum. Within the thread is a mention of the Hospital's records for staff & patients, which hopefully you'll find of use via the Glos Archives website.

http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=14550

Also see
http://www.countyasylums.com/mentalasylums/gloucestershire.htm

On a slight aside, my mother now in Cinderford originated from the Longhope area in the 40s, in fact we were there last weekend. Do you know of Hart's Barn ?. In recent years its become a tourist "attraction" as a craft centre from what I can gather, having only driven past without going in. I wonder if it's part of your family history ?.
http://www.hartsbarncraftcentre.co.uk/aboutus.asp

Just in case you hadn't already found them the following local websites may interest you. Both can be tricky to navigate but are well worth it as they have plenty of history references, old photos, Census extracts, Church records etc etc.
http://www.taynton.btinternet.co.uk/index.htm
Includes this great article about May Hill.
http://www.taynton.btinternet.co.uk/fleur.htm

http://www.longhopevillage.co.uk/