Our History

At the end of the 19th century epilepsy was becoming a national problem. “Epileptic and feebleminded young women were thought to imperil the future of the race!”.

There were great worries that the health of the nation was declining compared with, in particular, Germany. Epilepsy sufferers tended to end up in the workhouse or a lunatic asylum.

In 1868 the Earl of Meath (then called Lord Brabazon) married Lady Jane Maitland. She was the sole daughter and heir of a Scottish peer, Lord Lauderdale, a rather brusque admiral decorated for his courage in China. The Meath Irish title goes back to the 17th century.

After a brief period in the Foreign Office, Lord Meath and his wife decided in 1873 to devote “their prodigious enthusiasm and energies to the consideration of social problems and the relief of human suffering”. In the Earl’s case it was London Parks, fitness of the people, the Boy Scout movement and the promotion of the Empire – he founded Empire, now Dominion, Day.

Lady Meath set up the Ministering Children’s League, homes for destitute children; worldwide membership about 40,000. She started the Brabazon Employment Society to help workhouse women occupy their time. That was where she came across epilepsy sufferers. Many other interests, including churches in the East End and Dublin slums, occupied her time and money.

She and her husband travelled extensively and in 1890 visited Bielefeld in Germany, where a number of colonies had been established to look after people with varying disabilities. One of the colonies was for epilepsy sufferers – over 1,000 – and the Meaths were very impressed by the way the residents were treated and the encouragement given to them to work and develop their own interests.

Representatives of what was shortly to become the National Society for Epilepsy at Chalfont, Bucks, also visited Bielefeld at about the same time and were similarly impressed.

Based on this experience, Lady Meath purchased our present property, Westbrook House, as a home for girls and young women suffering from epilepsy. The official opening in 1892 was performed by the Duchess of Albany and attended by many local people, who contributed generously to send the Meath on its way. It’s true to say that from that day, the Meath has never looked back.

We are very proud of the Meath’s record and its founder.