St Mary’s Park stands on land shaped by over 150 years of local history. Once home to the former Hereford County and City Asylum, later known as St Mary’s Hospital, the site played a significant role in the county’s approach to mental health care from the late nineteenth century until its closure in 1994.
Today, while the grounds have been thoughtfully transformed into a private residential community, the character of the landscape and the legacy of those who lived and worked here remain an important part of its story.
The History Of St Marys Park
Origins and Early Years
The story begins in the late 19th century. In response to the growing demand for dedicated care for people with mental illness, Herefordshire commissioned its own facility under the County Asylums Acts. Designed by architect Robert Griffiths and built at Burghill, the hospital opened in August 1871 as the Hereford County and City Lunatic Asylum. It was purpose-built to provide therapeutic care in a landscaped setting, with separate wings for male and female patients, workshops and gardens, and extensive grounds including farm land and cottages.
Over 100 acres of land surrounded the asylum, with formal gardens, lawns, farm buildings and its own gasworks. Large windows and airy wards were thought to be beneficial to patients’ wellbeing, a common belief at the time. As years passed, the institution was expanded, reflecting changes in psychiatric practices and the rising number of patients.
Changing Names and Times
Through the early 20th century the institution was renamed several times, going from Hereford County Asylum to Burghill Mental Hospital, and finally becoming St Mary’s Hospital, named for the local parish church. It became part of the National Health Service in 1948.
For over a century St Mary’s served the community. Staff and patients built a complex daily life on the site, from gardening and workshops to recreation and routines. In later years, however, psychiatric care shifted increasingly toward community-based services, and large institutions like St Mary’s were gradually phased out.
Closure and Transformation
St Mary’s Hospital closed in 1994 after more than 120 years of operation. For a time the main buildings stood unused, but ultimately the site was acquired by developers and transformed into a new residential community between 1999 and 2001.
Many parts of the original hospital complex were carefully converted into homes, while some historic structures were demolished to make way for new build housing. Elements of the old landscape, including mature trees and sections of the original grounds, were integrated into the layout of what became St Mary’s Park.
