York Retreat

asylum, York, England, United Kingdom

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 15, 2026

Quick Summary

The York Retreat, established in York, England, was an asylum founded on humane and enlightened principles for the mentally ill. It was part of a broader movement in the late 18th century to build hospitals for those with mental disorders, aiming for respectful treatment rather than neglect or brutality. This era saw a significant increase in segregated institutions for the mentally ill, with an underlying belief in the curability of mental illness driving these reforms. However, by the end of the 19th century, many of these hospitals became overcrowded, and the focus shifted from moral treatment to custodial care.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

mental disorder
Early history
…William Tuke, who established the York Retreat for the humane care of the mentally ill in 1796, and the physician Vincenzo Chiarugi, who published a humanitarian regime for his hospital in Florence in 1788. In the mid-19th century Dorothea Dix led a campaign to increase public awareness of the inhumane…
Read More
…William Tuke, who established the York Retreat for the humane care of the mentally ill in 1796, and the physician Vincenzo Chiarugi, who published a humanitarian regime for his hospital in Florence in 1788. In the mid-19th century Dorothea Dix led a campaign to increase public awareness of the inhumane…
Read More