The History of Bethlem is a scholarly history of this key establishment, looking at Bethlem's role within the caring institutions in the context of the history of Britain, London, hospitals and psychiatry.

List of plates, List of figures, List of tables, Acknowledgements, List of abbreviations, 1. Introduction, PART I: 1247-1633, 2. Background, 3. The foundation of the Priory of St Mary of Bethlehem, 4. The development of the Bethlem precinct, 5. Politics and patronage, 6. Bethlem's income, 7. From Bethlehem to Bedlam: changing roles and personnel, 8. Medieval attitudes towards and treatment of the insane, 9. Institutional care for the insane in medieval and early modern times, 10. Images of Bedlam, PART II: 1633-1783, 11. Background, 12. 'Charitable persons for excellent ends': the administration and finance of Bethlem, 13. Visiting, 14. 'The discipline of the house': environment, management and architecture, 15. The architecture of Bethlem at Moorfields, 16. Medicine, medical officers and therapeutics, 17. The rule of'sky-colour'd coats': inferior officers and servants, 18. Admission and discharge, 19. The politics of committal to early modern Bethlem, PART III: 1783-1900, 20. Encomium: Bethlem, charity and the first history of the Hospital, 21. Fact and fancy, 22. A change of scene: Bethlem's move to Southwark, 23. Attack: Bethlem and the 1815 Select Committee, 24. Bethlem and reform, 25. Investigation, 26. Classifying and consoling, 27. A Victorian institution, PART IV: 1900 to the present, 28. Bethlem and the twentieth century, 29. A new Eden: Bethlem's move to Monks Orchard, 30. New beginnings: the merger of Bethlem and the Maudsley, 31. Managing millions: administration and finance, 1901-82, 32. Serving Bethlem: medical and nursing staff, 1901-82, 33. 'In a presumably curable condition': the character of admissions in the twentieth century, 34. Tempering madness: patients and the treatment of mental illness in twentieth-century Bethlem, 35. From SHA to NHS trust, 1982-94, 36. Conclusion, PART V: Appendices, 1. Masters, wardens or keepers of Bethlem, 1247-1633, 2. Bethlem and Bridewell presidents, 1606-1793, 3. Bethlem and Bridewell apothecaries, 1634-1816, 4. Bethlem and Bridewell physicians, 1619-1816, 5. Bethlem and Bridewell surgeons, 1629-1815, 6. Bethlem medical officers, 1783-1900, 7. Twentieth-century Bethlem officers, Name index, Subject index