The Old Mill By The Stour

It was not unusual for patients from the hospital to fetch up at the paper mill, especially at night (the mill worked around the clock). As the wards were locked at night, sometimes patients couldn’t get in readily and would turn up at the mill. We would often give them a cup of tea and send them on their way. One night a young man turned up completely naked. It was cold outside so we wrapped and covered him in paper. We phoned the hospital and were told that he’d be collected in the morning.

Usually the patients were no bother and grateful for the attention we gave them, although there was one man who was extremely agitated whom we were reluctant to approach. On another occasion a man stood in the yard directing traffic and forklifts. My wife tells me that it was not unusual for patients to wander into nearby houses and get invited in for a cup of tea. One woman always left her door unlocked and found that she had been relieved of her milk.

Generally there was a high degree of tolerance for the patients, many of whom were known by the villagers who worked in the institution.

Submitted by a Chartham Paper Mill worker