London Underground Station Built on Site of Infamous Asylum and Plague Pit
Liverpool Street Station has a haunting history beneath its bustling surface. Once the site of an infamous asylum, it now serves as a major transport hub in London.
London, Bethlem Hospital, Liverpool Street Station, Plague Pit, Mental Health, UK
London: You know how busy Liverpool Street Station gets, right? Well, it has a pretty creepy past. Underneath all that hustle and bustle, there’s a story that’ll give you chills.
This spot used to be home to Bethlem Hospital, the first mental health asylum in England. It was so notorious that people would visit just to gawk at the patients. Can you imagine?
Originally, the hospital was located right where the station stands today, from 1247 to 1676. Now, it’s in Beckenham, but that first location is a big part of its history.
During some recent Crossrail work, they stumbled upon a 17th-century plague pit right under the station. Talk about a spooky discovery!
The hospital was pretty small, just two acres, with a courtyard and a chapel. It had around 12 patient cells and even an exercise yard. From the 14th century, people started calling it ‘Bedlam,’ which is where we get the term for chaos today.
Over the years, the hospital moved a few times. It first went to Moorfields in 1676, then to St George’s Fields in 1815, and finally to Beckenham in 1930. It’s still around today, providing mental health care and keeping its history alive.
So, next time you’re at Liverpool Street, just think about what’s beneath your feet. It’s a wild mix of history and modern life!