Maida Vale Hospital for Nervous Diseases

The Maida Vale Hospital for Nervous Diseases began its life in 1867 as the London Infirmary for Epilepsy and Paralysis, founded by a German physician named Julius Althaus. In its earliest years, the institution was a modest operation based in a small house in Marylebone, reflecting the era's specialized focus on conditions that were often misunderstood or stigmatized. By 1876, the name had evolved to the Hospital for Epilepsy and Paralysis, signaling a growing commitment to the emerging study of neurological disorders. It eventually moved to this location in the early twentieth century, with the building officially opened by the Duchess of Argyll in 1903 to provide specialized inpatient care for those suffering from complex nervous ailments.