Archaeologists Discover 20,000 ‘Lost Souls of Bedlam’ Under London Streets

Archaeologists Discover 20,000 ‘Lost Souls of Bedlam’ Under London Streets -

See more at: ancient-origins.net... b.dpuf

Never heard of it.

thousands of bodies are not the only items to have been recovered from the dig. Incredibly, archaeologists have found everything from reindeer and mammoth bones dating back 68,000 years to a Mesolithic tool-making facility, numerous 2,000-year-old horseshoes, an entire stretch of Roman road, the remains of a Tudor manor house, medieval ice skates, an 800-year-old piece of a ship, and rare Roman coins.

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Published on Mar 30, 2012

Bethlem Hospital was an integral part of London's charitable provision for the poor in medieval and early modern times. Hand in hand with public benevolence went great public interest in the objects of charity. Until 1770, the Hospital was open (at specified times of the week) to any member of the public who wished to see inside, and 'poor boxes' were strategically placed near the entrance for donations. Bethlem was by no means the only early modern hospital to permit this level of public access to its inner workings, but it is probably the best known for having done so. The memory of Bethlem's display of the misery of its patients for entertainment and gain is a powerful metaphor to this day.

Bedlam Sculptures - Romancing the Stone:

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Couldn't get that video to post.

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Ever since I found out the term Bedlam came from an actual place the topic has fascinated me, pre-modern takes on psychology and all that.

S&F

Originally posted by benrl
Ever since I found out the term Bedlam came from an actual place the topic has fascinated me, pre-modern takes on psychology and all that.

S&F

Yes, fascinating subject indeed, and I just found out myself.

The lost souls of 'Bedlam' are found

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Hell is empty and all the devils are here.
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more; it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
William Shakespeare

For to see Mad Tom of Bedlam,
Ten thousand miles I've traveled.
Mad Maudlin goes on dirty toes,
For to save her shoes from gravel

The remaining stanzas include:

I went down to Satan's kitchen
To break my fast one morning
And there I got souls piping hot
All on the spit a-turning.

There I took a cauldron
Where boiled ten thousand harlots
Though full of flame I drank the same
To the health of all such varlets.

My staff has murdered giants
My bag a long knife carries
To cut mince pies from children's thighs
For which to feed the fairies.

No gypsy, slut or doxy
Shall win my mad Tom from me
I'll weep all night, with stars I'll fight
The fray shall well become me.
[4][5]

It was apparently first published in 1720 by Thomas d'Urfey in his Wit and Mirth, or Pills to Purge Melancholy. "Maudlin" was a form of Mary Magdalene.

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Haunting

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check this out tomo

a video with sound

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www.dailymail.co.uk... tml

Bedlam was also the subject of a Boris Karloff horror movie by the same name


Bedlam 1946

And a 2011 tv series

Bedlam 2011

Originally posted by damwel
Bedlam was also the subject of a Boris Karloff horror movie by the same name


Bedlam 1946

And a 2011 tv series

Bedlam 2011

edit on Mon August 12th, 2013 by damwel because: (no reason given)

I didn't know that either, thanks for the edumacation.

...how ironic. I was looking at www.documentaryaddict.com last night, and there was a documentary on Bedlam there, too. Not sure if it was the same one or not, but I bookmarked it...

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[edit] nope - completely different (and also awesome) documentary. Add it to the list!

For those interested in a detail examination of Bedlam I can recommend

Bedlam: London and Its Mad
Catherine Arnold
978-1-84983-552-7

Read it about nine months ago and it has a number of interesting details and stories about the various establishments that were called Bedlam and its competitors.