Comments on: At St Clement’s Hospital

By: lind J

lind J — Sun, 18 Jan 2026 12:48:09 +0000

My mum was in there for depression. It traumatised me and ruined my life. The places was horrendous. I was forced to visit my mum, I absolutely hated it. A woman used to sit and cry then disappear for days and would be pregnant when they found her. A lovely man who was an alcoholic disappeared. 2 weeks later they found him hanged in a bathroom up stairs in one of the wards that was out of use. The really mentally ill patients used to howl. Whenever I think of thus place I get a really heavy feeling in my stomach… My mum had it several times and the smell of the ether was awful but it did help for a few months … oh she shouldn’t gave been in there. All down to a doctor that didn’t know what he was doing. In the end she was fine but it still haunts me now .. By the path that led you up the side of hospital, there was a tree and a mentally ill patient from addiction ward was sitting in it throwing syringes, total chaos.. The smell of the long curtains just reeked of Sadness.. But that was all in 1976 on and off till ’87, but everything was great after that …

By: Selva

Selva — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 14:17:53 +0000

Amazing, just looked at this St clements, spitafield and saw Margaret. V’s entry. I thought itbwas Margaret. C. Ah well.. It was Clive and Edwin. You must be well retired by now. AS for Carolyn. B am still scraching my memory but sweet you named your childbafter my ex Ismay. Bye for now snd take care. Write if able, where is breeda these days and Clivy. Will check spitafield soon.

By: Carolyn Bevan

Carolyn Bevan — Mon, 24 May 2021 13:11:06 +0000

Wow! This thread about St Clements has really brought back memories!
I was a student nurse on the Intigrated nursing course, which meant you trained in psychiatric nursing and general nursing concurrently, between 1971 and early 1976. I had many placements at St Clements over this period, plus one long stay placement at Goodmayes hospital in Essex.
My first placement was on Pinney ward. Obviously I felt nervous about what to expect, but the ward sister had a brilliant attitude and told me just to speak to the patients as I would anyone else. From then on it was easy to form a therapeutic relationship. The patients spent time playing card games, going on outings and attending OT sessions, as well as individual sessions with psychiatrists, but a lot of the time they were just with us and we chatted, listened and tried to be supportive. On that ward we even put on a show for the whole hospital, patients family and friends and staff. It was a wonderful example of patients and staff collaborating together. I have many happy memories.
Coburg ward was a locked ward where patients were more closely supervised to prevent them harming themselves. Again the Sister and staff on the ward had a fantastic attitude, and helped me learn to cope with any difficult situations. We did ECT on this ward, which has become controversial since then, but everything was done meticulously and patients were treated with such care. I can remember some patients with chronic depression coming in and begging for the treatment because it was the only thing that helped them.
I worked twice on Lansbury ward, which was ahead of it’s time being run as a therapeutic community. There were group meetings of staff and patients every day, and I learnt a lot that helped me as my career developed. I remember working with a severe case of puerperal depression where we had to look after the mother and baby too..
I spent time in the OT department. I think it was quite innovative. I remember they had kitchens and helped patients with cooking and daily living tasks before they went back into the community. They ran relaxation classes on Lansbury ward, and I remember having to take these classes myself. I still use some of those techniques to this day.
I spent time with the psychiatric community team, again very advanced for it’s time, so saw a lot of how people lived in the East end at that time.
I recall watching Princess Anne’s wedding in the nurses home at St Clements, and many lively discussions in the staff dining room. I remember Ismay P – in fact met my first husband through her, and our third daughter is also called Ismay!
I learnt such a lot at St Clements and throughout my training I totally think it set me up for life. I understand some patients and relatives on this thread have bad memories having recently had a relative admitted to a psychiatric hospital it is always a dark period in their lives, but I truly believe there was a kindness and professionalism at St Clements.
I went on to live in Scotland and trained as a
Health visitor, a job at did until retirement a few years ago.
Must come down and visit all these old buildings, although I won’t recognize Whitechapel, Mile end and Stepney as they are today.

By: Steve Davidson

Steve Davidson — Fri, 08 Jan 2021 08:58:48 +0000

I trained as a nurse at St Clements ( RGN/ RMN ) between 1981 – 5 and worked on most of the wards These photos bring back a flood of memories – good and bad – a real institution – I’m sad that I didn’t keep in touch with the people I trained with – would love to be in touch

By: Allison Jaques

Allison Jaques — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 22:03:33 +0000

I used to visit my Uncle here in the late 80s and I must say that the thought of St Clements does not make me feel at ease although it does bring back varying feelings of nostalgia for my long gone Uncle. The imposing front entrance of the building to my young eyes was something to be afraid of and that fear and sense of unease has never left me, I believe that it’s a mixture of the poor souls of time gone by and those who were in current need that my young mind could not comprehend (I still experience this feeling now when I visit certain places), my Uncle was never the same after spending time here, along with that and the unpredictable nature of some of the more acute inpatients, I remember particularly an ex-soldier who used to march continually on the spot inside the front entrance door as if he were still on guard, I was fascinated by him as he seemed completely harmless yet terrifying at the same time (does that even make sense!) it was always a fascination to me along with the thought that this could befall any of us at any time! although my Uncle is long gone and I have not returned for probably 30 odd years this place has left a lasting impression on me that I still can’t really explain to this day. One thing is for sure though and that is I couldn’t live here even if you gave me all the money in the world!

By: Maggie V.

Maggie V. — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 16:20:06 +0000

I too was a student psychiatric nurse who worked on several of the wards and lived in the student accommodation there . It was much more relaxed than the nurses homes up the road at the Royal London site where wardens manned the front doors and visitors of the opposite sex were not allowed up to your room. I was there at the same time as Selva and Ismay N-P as she was before her marriage to Selva( see previous post). To be reminded of old friends from our small set , the two lads Clive and ?, Hilary, Margaret A , Sally, Katherine B and sister K. Fortune and the lovely Irish lass, Breda brought back fond memories. We always went down to the canteen before starting shifts and were served with the thickest porridge imaginable. Yes the building was old even then in the early 1970’s but some of the talking treatments and community ethos were leading edge in their day.

By: Ian Ford

Ian Ford — Sat, 23 Mar 2019 23:06:35 +0000

I worked at St.Clements between 1990 and 1998 and have only the fondest memories of this hospital at a transition phase between an “institution” and a move to community. Psychiatric care at that time was a mixed bag, it helped so many and let down so many too, but everything moves on, hopefully for the better. I miss its atmosphere, its people and whatever its legacy proves to be I can only say it will be forever in my heart.

By: selva

selva — Sun, 23 Dec 2018 10:12:37 +0000

I trained at St.Clements 1972 to 1976 before going on to other studies.I wonder where Clive Andrewes,Breeda and my former wife Ismay whom I met at St.clements are.And John Tartaris and,Anne Elizabeth Edwards my real love that I was a complete idiot to are.Anne is actually from the same area.Well we are all old now ,not long now so my heartfelt sorry if in anyway I was nasty young fool then.What happened to Sister Tina Chivers of Ansell ward.

By: michelle westburgh

michelle westburgh — Fri, 09 Nov 2018 23:25:48 +0000

My mum was a patient in St.Clements Hospital, she
was so young at the age of 28 and so much to live for. She had taken an overdose, a cry for help and
she ended up there and never recovered. Such
a devastating and traumatic time for her and the family. I have never liked black/white square floor
tiles, looking at one of the pics above I now know
Why…..

By: Jan lewis

Jan lewis — Sat, 01 Sep 2018 18:37:49 +0000

This is a long shot but does anyone remember Dr Ruth Smith who worked there in the early 1970s. I would love to be able to get in touch with her but do not think will be possible.