The Madhouses Act 1774 created a Commission of the Royal College of Physicians with powers to grant licences to premises housing "lunatics" in London; Justices of the Peace were given these powers elsewhere in England and Wales. Failure to gain a licence resulted in a hefty fine. Admission to a "madhouse" required certification signed by a doctor, and lists of detained residents became available for public inspection.[1] This Act was later considered ineffectual and was repealed by the Madhouses Act 1828, itself repealed shortly afterwards by the Madhouses Act 1832.[2] These Acts altered the composition of the Commission in several ways, such as including barristers in addition to doctors.