Hi Mike,

Apologies but i never replied after checking the records at Burghill hospital.

Mary Ann Davies was admitted into St Mary’s Mental Hospital in Burghill, Hereford in January 1909.
The Medical Register Records obtained through the Herefordshire Archive Service states that she was diabetic and had problems with her thyroid. Her admission was as a result of recent mania. She died of heart problems and senility in 1941, so was in the hospital for 32 years. Im sure modern day drugs would certainly have alleviated some of her problems.

Regarding Alfred Davies, I also received information from the Hereford Archive Service, but it was limited to Alfred being admitted on 2nd July 1930 and discharged on 2nd July 1932 as being “recovered”. He was then re-admitted on 6th September 1932, but no cause of admission mentioned. There are no other surviving case books covering this period. He died in January 1957, aged 85, whilst resident at the hospital in Burghill. His cause of death was a heart attack and senility. Was he in the hospital from around 1932 until his death in 1957, 25 years later? I'll never know.

Thanks everyone for your help.

Mike Davies