Hospital history at heritage museum

Date published: 23 September 2009

A new exhibition looking at the history of Prestwich Hospital will be opened by the Mayor of Bury, Councillor Sheila Magnall.

Aptly titled “The Prestwich Hospital”, it will comprise artefacts and memorabilia along with photographs and a fascinating history about the largest mental hospital of its time in Europe.

The mayor will launch the exhibition on Tuesday October 13 at Prestwich Heritage Museum, which is based in Prestwich Library & Adult Learning Centre.

This is the fourth exhibition at the heritage museum, which was created with the help of Heritage Lottery funding in partnership with Prestwich Heritage Society, Bury Library Service and Bury Art Gallery and Museum.

It has proved a great success with the public, with visitor numbers from local schools and community increasing year on year.

Residents may remember that the churchyard of St Mary’s Church in Prestwich is where former hospital patients and staff are buried, and a memorial stone was erected there in 2006.

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