Mapperley asylum which is now on the market has a storied history

While primitive by today’s standards, Mapperley was part of a move away from the prison-like conditions of the past.

Mr Ford said: “It was a world away from the workhouse where people were made to work to earn a bed.

“People coming in were patients, and were treated as such.

“Although they did things like occupational therapy, it was to try and benefit them.”

Mapperley was noted for its sports pitches, electricity was introduced in 1924 and cinema equipment was installed in 1927.

It was used as a military hospital during World War One, but the conflict put a strain on the building for years afterwards.

Mr Ford said: “Although it was not talked about much at the time, there was a lot of post traumatic stress disorder afterwards.

“During the 1930s asylums were jam-packed, with some two to three times over capacity”.