St. Ebba's Hospital

St Ebba's Hospital formerly Ewell Epileptic Colony and later Ewell Mental Hospital is a mental handicap and former psychiatric hospital near Epsom in the county of Surrey in the United KingdomSt. Ebba's was the third hospital to be built within the Epsom Cluster, opening in 1904. The colony was designed for the London County Council by William C. Clifford Smith and constructed at a cost of £98,000 to house a total of 326 epileptic patients, 60 of whom were female.The hospital consisted of eight free-standing villas housing 38 patients each centered on a central block containing administrative offices, a recreation hall and other hospital services as well as a 32-bed admission ward for female patients.Epileptic ColonyIn the hospital's first year 315 patients were admitted, 25% of whom had attempted suicide at one time. Nearly 50% were regarded as of faulty heredity. A well-defined history of head injury or severe falls was found in 14% and a further 14% had arteriosclerosis. Patients received regular treatment including doses of bromide of strontium and a specially regulated diet. By the end of the year 17 of the 315 patients had died.War HospitalIn 1918 the hospital became the Ewell War Hospital for treating neurasthenic ex-servicemen returning from the First World War, administered by the Ministry of Pensions.