William Charles Ellis

Sir William Charles Ellis (10 March 1780 – 24 October 1839) was the superintendent of the West Riding Pauper Lunatic Asylum.

In 1817 a William Ellis was appointed as superintendent to the newly built West Riding Pauper Lunatic Asylum at Wakefield.

Also, by having something with real purpose to do that helped with the care of others or the running of the asylum, they could not only occupy their time, but take their minds off their troubles, so that suicides became rare.

Patients who preserved their everyday skills in this way found it easier to pick up their lives again, when they were well enough to leave, which now came sooner, as the methods speeded their recovery.

Since the institution was wholly funded by a levy on local rates, it was becoming important, in the opinion of the justices, to make best use of the assets and money spent.

William and his wife Mildred enjoyed being involved in all aspects of patient care and staff oversight, to create a "domestic" or homely environment (or as reinvented today, "nidotherapy").