Ada Ward
Name: Ada Ward
Occupation: Spinner
Chargeable To: North Bierley, Bradford
Admitted on the: 14th day of July 1911
Age: 19 years
Religious persuasion: Wesleyan
Married, Single or Widowed: Single
Previous place of abode: 26 Robin Lane
Whether first attack: Yes
Asylum, insane: 3 Weeks
Age on first attack: 19 years
Supposed cause: Not Known
Epilepsy: No
Suicidal: Yes
Dangerous to others: Yes
Nearest known relative: Ben Ward (Father) 26 Robin Lane
Relatives similarly affected: None
Facts observed by H. Kershaw : On interviewing her she was abusive and would not answer questions and ordered me out of the house and then suddenly burst into a fit of laughter. She would not allow anyone to approach her and when not talking was muttering incoherently to herself.
Other facts communicated: Susan Ward, her mother, living at home address states that she cannot leave her alone as she has threatened injury to younger children in the house, she had the greatest difficulty in stopping her from putting her head in the fire. She is constantly talking to herself and suddenly without cause bursting into fits of laughter or crying.
Physical Condition: Patient will not engage in conversations and is very resistant to examination mental or physical. She is childish and irrational in her manner, laughing and crying without any cause. She appears to have no knowledge of her surroundings and has no sense of responsibility for her actions. Pupils equal and react normally. Respiratory system, apparently normal. Teeth fair and tongue furred.
February 21, 1911: Patient has been erratic, emotional and restless since her admission, she takes food well and has slept. Continues childish and emotional and incapable of sustaining a conversation. Bodily condition is well maintained.
March 15, 1911: Emotional, hysterical and silly in conduct and capable of the most limited conversation only.
November 12, 1911: Has shown some mental improvement and is more natural in her conversation. She is now working steadily in the laundry though still very simple and childish.
January 29, 1912: She occasionally has hysterical outbursts of screaming and is very childish.
February 29, 1912: There is no material change in any respect since last note.
August 25, 1912: She has been somewhat depressed of late and has been sent to Ward 16. She is quiet, but reduced mentally and takes little interest in her surroundings.
November 30, 1912: She remains in a condition in all respects similar to that above noted.
May 7, 1913: She is reduced in mind and unable to give any account of herself. She is in poor physical condition and is in the sick room. She smiles in a apathetic manner and frequently does not reply to questions.
May 20, 1914: She has been sent to the Chronic Block. She has very little mind. Her health is good. She is inclined to bite and scratch and is very bad tempered at times. An impulsive patient, reduced mentally.
July 20, 1915: There is no improvement in her condition.
July 13, 1916: There is no appreciable change to report since last note.
Ada was to spend the next fifty years at the Hospital, she died in September 1967 aged 75 years old. She was buried at Buckle Lane Cemetery, Row 13, Grave 27 on the 8th September.
There was only to be eleven more burials before the Cemetery finally closed in January 1969.
