The hospital has its origins as the third Surrey County Pauper Lunatic Asylum, designed by Charles Henry Howell,[2] which was built in two stages between 1882 and 1888.

[1] Upon opening Cane Hill Asylum had capacity for 1,124 patients (644 women and 480 men) making it the largest of its kind in the UK.

The medals were presented at County Hall, Westminster by Mary Ormerod, chairman of the LCC Mental Hospitals Committee.

[7][8][9] In 1956 Members of Parliament, Norman Nodds and Donald Johnston successfully campaigned for the discharge of patient, Harriet Thornton, aged 53.

[12][10] By the late 1980s the number of patients had greatly declined, largely due to the recommendations of the Mental Health Act 1983 with its emphasis on care in the community.

[3] The secure unit moved into what had been the Coulsdon Cottage Hospital: in 2006 it held 23 patients and was run by the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM).

[14] Cane Hill suffered numerous arson attacks between 2000 and 2002 resulting in the destruction of the Main Hall, Blocks C and V and heavy damage to other derelict buildings.

[17][18][19] The repeated incidents of arson prompted an increase in security on the site and construction of a 9 ft 0 in (2.74 m) barbed wire fence.