 The hospital was built between 1868 and 1873, and designed by the local architect E. G. Paley.Its original name was "Royal Albert Asylum for idiots and imbeciles of the seven northern counties".An additional building, the Winmarleigh Recreation Hall was built at the rear of the hospital and designed by Paley, Austin and Paley (E. G. Paley in partnership with his son, Henry, and with Hubert Austin).