Among the improvements that Dr John Conolly (see various stories on this site) continued and developed at the Middlesex County Asylum at Hanwell were organised Christmas festivities for patients. These were gender-segregated, and pictured above is the males’ Twelfth Night Ball, 1848 (Illustrated London News, 15 January 1848). The female patients had a grand New Year’s Ball.

Music and dancing were hugely enjoyed by patients, whenever they were laid on; and some of the attendants were described as “tolerable” players of flutes and fiddles.

The Twelfth Night Ball of 1848 took place in No 9 Ward and was attended by around 250 men; standing on the right in the picture are some of the various medical men, inspectors and magistrates who came along too.

For patients who preferred not to dance, games, including dominoes, bagatelle and draughts, could be played. At 8 o’clock, a roast beef dinner was served, and beer and tobacco handed round. The evening ended at 9.30pm with the singing of the National Anthem.

The figure furthest right of the dancing trio was “Poor Rayner” – William Rayner, a comedian who used to play for many years the role of Harlequin at the Covent Garden Theatre. By 1848, Rayner had been an asylum patient for 16 years, having fallen into a deep depression following the death of his wife, who used to play Harlequin’s beloved Columbine in the same performances. At Hanwell, Rayner regularly acted his former role for his fellow patients’ enjoyment.

For a darker exploration of an asylum Christmas Ball, read Charles Dickens’ article “A Curious Dance Round a Curious Tree” here:
https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/75840210-7ba7-0131-2b03-58d385a7b928#/?uuid=76a100c0-7ba7-0131-49be-58d385a7b928