Memories of Hill End

Hill End Hospital

Hertfordshire Archives & Local Studies

Creative writing at Francis Bacon School, St Albans

By Sue B

During October 2009, some pupils from Francis Bacon School, St Albans, took part in a creative writing project as part of the ‘Out of Sight, Out of Mind?’ community arts project. The project, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, is a partnership between St Albans City & District Council, St Albans Arts, Sport & Health, Trestle Theatre Company and Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies.

A patient's thoughts imagined

The pupils worked with writer Anna Reynolds to imagine what life might have been like for the residents of Hill End. The poem below is made up of some of their words and thoughts.  

You have punished me too severely

I am scared in the morning, and at night I hear things

I want to go to the beach, build a sandcastle like when I was little and safe

Eat myself silly with lovely chocolate

I don’t want to be trapped