It is managed by Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust.

The hospital has its origins in the Norwich Pauper Asylum which was established near the St. Augustine's gate area of Norwich in 1828.

[1] These facilities became inadequate and a new purpose-built hospital was designed by Richard Phipson using a corridor plan layout.

[1] It became the Norwich City Mental Hospital in the 1920s and it joined the National Health Service as Hellesdon Hospital in 1948.

[2] Modern facilities have been added at the rear of the hospital but the main accommodation block remains in use.