Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

Sad story of the last 10 years of T.S. Eliot's first wife in Harringay

Tom Eliot (T.S. Eliot) cut an impressive figure when he arrived in England. To Vivienne Haigh-Wood, meeting him for the first time in March 1915, he seemed an old-fashioned American 'prince' and his 'deep and thrilling voice' with its slow drawl added a dash of glamour. Vivienne was a young woman who, as she wrote years later, found 'the shout of the baseball team... deep, stirring, madly exciting'...........

In 1938 she was committed to a mental asylum. (Northumberland House)

Vivienne's committal took place in July 1938. Her brother Maurice's letter of 14 July 1938 to Tom, who was on holiday in Gloucestershire, appears to exonerate him and Eliot from any responsibility: 'Dear Tom, I am very sorry to write to you on your holiday but I'm afraid I must. V. was found wandering in the streets at 5 o'clock this morning and was taken into Marylebone police station... The inspector told me she had talked in a very confused manner and appeared to have various illusions. Dr Miller feels V. must go either to Malmaison or to some home, and I am also inclined to think that. I would be grateful if you would send me a telegram in the morning to say what you decide.'

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by dubmill on May 22, 2010 at 13:33

Interesting to read this. By the way I have edited the Wikipedia section on Northumberland House (part of the History of Harringay, 1750-1880 page). My understanding is that this was built as a private mansion but for some reason was quite quickly converted for use as a lunatic asylum. This is supported by the page on the British History Online site (extracted from the book on the History of the County of Middlesex). It all seems a little strange but, to me, the building looks in the picture like a typical mansion house of that period rather than a purpose built mental institution.

Permalink Reply by Hugh on May 22, 2010 at 13:40