Five Generations at the Fair Mile Hospital
The Fair Mile Hospital (before 1948 known by a succession of different names) was until relatively recently Berkshire’s county lunatic asylum. If the term ‘lunatic asylum’ sends shivers of dread down your spine, be ready to adjust your perceptions. Consider the alternatives and try to understand that the Victorian asylum system was a well-founded effort to tackle mental illness head-on through compassion, diligent care and research. No mental institution was ever entirely sweetness and harmony. However, these places made possible valuable and largely unrecognised advances in mental health care. Ian Wheeler’s illustrated talk examines Fair Mile’s foundation, growth and methods through the eyes of ten of its former employees. All were members of his family, and their service spanned over a century.
Free parking.
Free entry for members, non-members are asked to make a £5 donation towards costs.
Image: The Fair Mile Hospital by Bill Nicholls, CC BY-SA 2.0
Date
- Thu 30 Apr 2026
Time
Doors open at 7.15pm- 19:45 - 21:00
Location
- The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints, 280 The Meadway, Tilehurst, Reading, RG30 4PE, Berkshire
Category
Organiser
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Reading Branch - Berkshire FHS
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Email
reading@berksfhs.org.uk
Speaker
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Ian WheelerIan Wheeler was not only a Cholsey kid, but actually lived at Fair Mile Hospital for the first three months of his life. This distinction, plus long-term family associations with the hospital, led to the publication of his book Fair Mile Hospital: a Victorian Asylum in 2015.
Now busily retired, Ian’s ‘portfolio’ career has included sales, purchasing, computer systems, train driving, health & safety, quality assurance and editing for a major academic publisher. In quieter moments, Ian is a performing folk musician and enjoys model railways, morris dancing and good beer – although not necessarily in that order.