Writing the Asylum

28 writers and artists invite you to share their work

The writers come from both creative and academic arenas in Glasgow and beyond; each one has included a commentary on their research and writing process as they took part in the project.

The work for Writing the Asylum was undertaken between late 2021 and early 2023, and supported by group meetings, shared walks at Gartnavel, social media groups and a monthly Newsletter.

Some contributors chose to write about a particular record or item in the Gartnavel archive (these are identified by a reference number in square brackets at the end of each creative piece), while others reflected on family or personal experience of Gartnavel or mental ill health. There are reflections on Empire, ghosts, gender, football, wildfowl and forbidden love as well as characters from the Asylum’s rich history and stories of recent ill health healed within the Gartnavel environs. Now read on…

Writing the Asylum

28 writers and artists invite you to share their work

The writers come from both creative and academic arenas in Glasgow and beyond; each one has included a commentary on their research and writing process as they took part in the project.

The work for Writing the Asylum was undertaken between late 2021 and early 2023, and supported by group meetings, shared walks at Gartnavel, social media groups and a monthly Newsletter.

Some contributors chose to write about a particular record or item in the Gartnavel archive (these are identified by a reference number in square brackets at the end of each creative piece), while others reflected on family or personal experience of Gartnavel or mental ill health. There are reflections on Empire, ghosts, gender, football, wildfowl and forbidden love as well as characters from the Asylum’s rich history and stories of recent ill health healed within the Gartnavel environs. Now read on…