PRESCRIBING mercury and crude opium to patients might sound horrifying now, but in its day the Old Manor hospital was at the forefront of pioneering treatment for mental disorders.

The Fisherton House Asylum, as it was known then, was opened in the early 19th century by Dr William Finch.

By 1841, it was licensed for the admission of 100 patients. Of these, 70 were “pauper lunatics” confined under the Poor Law, and 30 were “private lunatics”.

Within 20 years it was housing 276 harmless criminals in a specially-built extension.

Although crude early medical treatments such as purges, bleeding, induced vomiting and hallucinogenic drugs would be considered shocking by modern standards, at the time these were groundbreaking procedures.

A spike in patients came after the First World War with many suffering from the after-effects of life in the trenches. However, along with it came more entertainment such as music in the ballroom, as seen in the picture above from 1930.

The ballroom was constructed in 1869 as an area for social activities. It is believed it played host as a concert venue for a visit by the Prince of Wales, later Edward VII, in 1870.

In 1954 the hospital was transferred from private ownership to the NHS. At the time it had around 672 beds.

The practices at the hospital were revolutionised by Brian Antsy, a consultant psychiatrist in the 1970s who brought with him an emphasis on rehabilitation and resettlement.

He established day care support systems.

But by the 1990s services at the hospital began to winddown.

With the construction of Salisbury District Hospital acute services moved and many elderly residents were transferred to nursing homes.

A smaller more modern facility was built at Fountain Way and the Old Manor shut in 2003.

Plans have been submitted to turn the old site into retirement flats.