It had been decided in 1873 to separate children from adult lunatics in the Hampstead Asylum and Leavesden Asylum. To this end, the former London Orphan Asylum in Clapton was subsequently rented for 3 years at the end of 1874 as a temporary asylum, the Metropolitan District Asylum at Clapton. Land in Darenth, near Dartford Kent was bought in 1875 and building began on the erection of the new school buildings, capable of housing 500 children. The transfer took place in 1878, vacating the premises in Clapton. Due to heavy demand accomodation for adult lunatics was also included
The asylums are referred to variously as: "The Darenth Schools", "The Darenth Asylum", "Darenth Schools and Asylum" and "Metropolitan District School and Asylum for Imbeciles, Darenth"
Consists of a list of the Committee of Management, the report of the Committee of Management (Edmund Hay Currie, chairman), the report of the medical superintendent (Fletcher Beach), statistical tables, the report of the chaplain (W.H. Langhorne), report of the steward (A. Keaton Gower), report of the matron (Agnes Gower), report of the schoolmistress (M.J. Stephens) and the report of the Commissioners in Lunacy (C.S. Bagot, Robert Nairne).
