Kara gave us a very interesting, illustrated talk about a group of people who were less visible in society historically. People who had learning difficulties were described differently in the past with society using terms like imbecile, lunatic, feebleminded, mental defectives – all terms used as insults and terms that are unacceptable today.
Kara is doing a PhD in Social Policy and has been investigating what happened when the Mental Deficiency Act came into law in 1913. There were several institutions in Kent that housed people with mental deficiencies including the Tenterden Institute, Leybourne Grange colony, East Kent Lunatic Asylum at Chatham and Eastry Mental Hospital.
Women who lived in these institutions could be released on licence but generally had to be well-behaved and obedient. The licence holder (usually their employer) was in control and the licence could move from employer to employer. Any woman released on licence could be recalled if their situation changed for the worse. On the other hand, someone successfully on licence for at least 2 years could be released from their institution and lead a more normal life.
Religion was a very important aspect of people’s lives in the first half of the 20th century. The institutions were run by a local Committee for the Care of the Mentally Defective, usually about 10 people, often including the vicar’s wife. Individual files record attendance at religious services and all the staff were expected to attend.
Kara used two anonymised case studies to show how the course of two women’s lives played out around their licences. In one case in the 1930s,’Brenda’ was licensed by a local vicar at Tenterden but contrary to her conditions of licence, she befriended a local man of good character with the vicar’s encouragement. Her licence was revoked and she was returned to the colony, her chance of happiness removed. Another lady ‘Marjorie’ was luckier. She was described as ‘feeble-minded and honest with no moral depravity’ and was one of only 3 Methodists at the Tenterden colony. She was befriended by the congregation with many offers from people to take her out for the day. Even when Marjorie was transferred to Leybourne Grange in 1943, when petrol was still rationed, the locals remained in contact with her. Marjorie benefitted from the social status of her friends and that network of friends was able to advocate for her.
This talk shone a light on a part of society that often has no voice and is little discussed. Hopefully we now live in more enlightened times.
---------------------------------------
Report by Lesley Smith – Deal Branch Secretary of Kent FHS