The York Retreat: Moral Management and Music in a Quaker Context

Abstract

The York Retreat is closely connected with moral management and provides further important context for this concept, as well as some illustrations of the early use of music. However, its Quaker foundation also demonstrates the role of religious belief in asylum management practice, with music very restricted until the mid-nineteenth century. From the 1850s the Retreat began to move away from its Quaker heritage, accepting middle-class patients and offering a greater range of entertainments in response to this. Under John Kitching a scheme of musical entertainment similar to those found in other asylums was instituted, drawing heavily on the support of local amateurs and professionals, while towards the end of the century more informal music making imitated the opportunities available at Bethlem. Nevertheless, it was music’s social, rather than therapeutic, role which remained to the fore.