This female ward was named after Bicester-born Frederick Wintle, the Warneford’s first long-serving Medical Superintendent, in post from 1828 until his early death in 1853. Dr Wintle lived onsite with his wife Jane (formerly Tustin), who was the Matron. They had seven children together at the asylum.
Note the bay windows, allowing plenty of light to enter the ward and a view of the grounds. Providing patients with opportunities to be outside in nature, and to have views of the natural environment from inside the building, was all part of the plan to optimise the therapeutic environment. This was considered of great importance in 1826, just as it is today, two hundred years later.
Image: ?plan of the ward from 2004 (Insall Assocs)
