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"The Middlesex Colony, begun in 1929, was opened on 20th May, 1936, by the Rt. Hon. Sir Kingsley Wood,
M.P. Minister of Health. The Colony is intended for mental defectives who are socially inadaptable in the
community, or who are neglected or without visible means of support. Male defectives who are capable of
being employed are provided with suitable agricultural occupations on the land, or at various industrial
occupations in the Colony's workshops. Female defectives are suitably employed in the laundry, general kitchen
or workrooms. Children who are capable of it are given various simple occupations. The patients live in
separate "homes" of the villa or pavilion type. The Administrative Centre, consisting of the main administrative
offices, dental and surgical clinics, dispensary, central kitchen, reception hall, workshops, laundries, &c.
has been built on an axial line running north and south, the Colony buildings for male and female being placed
east and west around and overlooking playing fields. An isolated site on the south side is allocated for the
children's section. The nurses' home is situated immediately to the west of the main administrative offices,
adjacent to the main entrance from Harper Lane. Wild Farm, an 18th century house, is the residence of
the medical superintendent: there are also residences for the Deputy Medical Superintendent and senior
officers, and a staff village situated east on the road frontage forms part of the scheme. The Recreation
Hall is equipped for talking pictures and has a stage; it will seat 700. There are tennis courts and sports
grounds. The buildings are surrounded by farm lands.
Medical Superintendent, H. E. Beasley M.B.
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