Warneford 200
Mental Health
through the Ages
About the project
Warneford 200 is a year-long programme of events led by Oxford Health Charity and partners, marking 200 years of mental health care at the Warneford Hospital in Oxford.
Since its opening in July 1826, the Warneford has been a working hospital at the heart of mental health care.
The bicentenary is not just a moment to reflect on the past, it’s a chance to uncover and share untold stories from patients, staff and the wider community. Through exhibitions, talks, creative projects and digital storytelling, Warneford 200 will explore how mental health care has evolved in Oxfordshire over two centuries, shaped by the people who lived, worked and received treatment at the Warneford Hospital.
This project has been made possible by a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. We thank lottery supporters for enabling us to commemorate this history and highlight the importance of compassionate, patient-centred care.
If you would like to share your memories of the Warneford Hospital, please get in touch.
Discover The Warneford
Read about Warneford Hospital’s history and its future; discover its people and find out how care for mental health has evolved over the years.
These pages offer a glimpse into the history of Warneford Hospital, with a selection of stories, photographs and artefacts from the archives. There’s much more to see at our travelling exhibition events though that take place throughout 2026.
The History of the Warneford tells the story of the founding of the Warneford Hospital – who it was for, who paid for it and how it developed over two hundred years.
Be Part of Warneford 200 – join us for a printmaking workshop
A special printmaking workshop takes place on Friday 30 January at the Museum of Oxford as part of the Warneford 200 commemorations. It is a unique opportunity to learn a new skill, explore local history, and create artwork that could feature in one of our upcoming exhibitions. The workshop is open to all (although spaces are…
Get involved in Warneford 200
Would you like to be involved in Warneford 200? We are recruiting volunteers to support with the running of planned events throughout the bicentenary year, including the Warneford 200 exhibitions and the Within These Walls theatre productions. This is a great opportunity to get involved in supporting Oxford Health Charity to deliver the commemorative events…
If you would like to share your memories of the Warneford Hospital, please send us a message here.
Events & exhibitions
Stay informed
Register your interest below to hear more about Warneford 200 and the work of Oxford Health Charity.
Partners & volunteers
The Warneford 200 project is supported by the following project partners:
Additional funding for the Warneford 200 project is provided by:
