The Explore
After our last, failed, attempt at this place (we ended up going to the Ida ward), @Buffalo and me decided to give it another go and woohoo - we were successful! Unfortunately, we didn't get to meet @Max Morrison there (where were you, mate? We were waiting for hours) but overall, I'd say the mission was a success.
The History
Cookridge Hospital is located near Horsforth and Cookridge. The main ward (which we visited) was designed by Norman Shaw in 1868 and is listed as a Grade II building along with the lodge. It opened its doors in 1869 and was extended with more wards later on. During WW1 it was requisitioned to care for wounded soldiers and after 1919 it went back to caring for civilians. In 1939, it was taken by the government and housed the Leeds Maternity Hospital, though not for long.
The hospital was made up a few wards (one of which is the Ida mental health ward), each specialised in different medical fields. The main Cookridge ward specialised in the treatment of cancer from 1950s - 20 years after the experiments using radium against cancer have started. Before that, it was mainly used for patients from the Leeds General Infirmary to recover.
Cookridge Hospital closed its doors in 2008 as the patients were moved to the Bexley Wing of St James's Hospital which took over Cookridge's job. Unfortuntaly, the pretty building has been awaiting demolition ever since.
The Pictures (you'll have to forgive me for the quality, phone cameras aren't as good in low light as they should be)
We were kindly welcomed by this, what looks like, reception.
And this room basically falling apart (like the rest of the place anyway).
Then this creepy light just showed up to the party.
Make sure you know how to follow the rules, though!
Turned out the lift wasn't working...
...so we took the stairs.
The view from the window was great!
Hang on, are these blinds new...?
Then I entered this room, which perfectly emphasised the contrast between man-made and nature,
Does anyone actually know what this was used for?
Now I get why some people say it's haunted.
Oh, the memories. It's a shame that they're going down with this place.
Thanks again to @Buffalo for a great day out, and thank you for reading!
After our last, failed, attempt at this place (we ended up going to the Ida ward), @Buffalo and me decided to give it another go and woohoo - we were successful! Unfortunately, we didn't get to meet @Max Morrison there (where were you, mate? We were waiting for hours) but overall, I'd say the mission was a success.
The History
Cookridge Hospital is located near Horsforth and Cookridge. The main ward (which we visited) was designed by Norman Shaw in 1868 and is listed as a Grade II building along with the lodge. It opened its doors in 1869 and was extended with more wards later on. During WW1 it was requisitioned to care for wounded soldiers and after 1919 it went back to caring for civilians. In 1939, it was taken by the government and housed the Leeds Maternity Hospital, though not for long.
The hospital was made up a few wards (one of which is the Ida mental health ward), each specialised in different medical fields. The main Cookridge ward specialised in the treatment of cancer from 1950s - 20 years after the experiments using radium against cancer have started. Before that, it was mainly used for patients from the Leeds General Infirmary to recover.
Cookridge Hospital closed its doors in 2008 as the patients were moved to the Bexley Wing of St James's Hospital which took over Cookridge's job. Unfortuntaly, the pretty building has been awaiting demolition ever since.
The Pictures (you'll have to forgive me for the quality, phone cameras aren't as good in low light as they should be)
We were kindly welcomed by this, what looks like, reception.
And this room basically falling apart (like the rest of the place anyway).
Then this creepy light just showed up to the party.
Make sure you know how to follow the rules, though!
Turned out the lift wasn't working...
...so we took the stairs.
The view from the window was great!
Hang on, are these blinds new...?
Then I entered this room, which perfectly emphasised the contrast between man-made and nature,
Does anyone actually know what this was used for?
Now I get why some people say it's haunted.
Oh, the memories. It's a shame that they're going down with this place.
Thanks again to @Buffalo for a great day out, and thank you for reading!
It's gone now
