The Explore
After hearing a couple of rumours that this place is currently accessible, @Buffalo and me decided to visit this place, too. It was actually a revisit for her and she was kind enough to show me around
The History
High Royds Hospital is a former psychiatric hospital, placed near Menston, Ilkley but still belonging to the city of Leeds.
The gothic-styled building was designed by architect J. Vickers Edwards and was formally opened on 8th October 1888 as one of the West Riding Pauper Lunatic Asylum hospitals. The hospital provided many facilities such as library, surgery, shop, post office, butchery and many more.
During its many years of operation, there have been many reports of violence and bad conditions at the High Royds Hospital. This includes Jimmy Savile's assaults in 1988 during the 100th year celebrations, where staff and patients claimed that he has "groped" them and even asked a porter if there was a room that Savile could go to if he "pulled one of the nurses".
The conditions at High Royds became cramped and not suited for modern medicine during its last years. This, along with suspected murders and violence, is most likely the reason for the hospital's closure in 2003. The closure was a part of Leeds Mental Health's £47 million reprovision process where the wards have been relocated to different hospitals (including St. James' and the Mount) across Leeds. The site was later used as film sets and even songs were written about the former hospital.
As of today, the site is being turned into flats and the only building left is the admin building with the clocktower. It is said that the clocktower and the ball room will be left, however everything else is being changed. The site is also said to be a council estate now.
The Pictures
Once again, they aren't the best (phone camera
) but I'm working on getting a good camera! Hopefully I'll get it soon, but for now you'll have to excuse the quality.
Thanks for reading!
After hearing a couple of rumours that this place is currently accessible, @Buffalo and me decided to visit this place, too. It was actually a revisit for her and she was kind enough to show me around
The History
High Royds Hospital is a former psychiatric hospital, placed near Menston, Ilkley but still belonging to the city of Leeds.
The gothic-styled building was designed by architect J. Vickers Edwards and was formally opened on 8th October 1888 as one of the West Riding Pauper Lunatic Asylum hospitals. The hospital provided many facilities such as library, surgery, shop, post office, butchery and many more.
During its many years of operation, there have been many reports of violence and bad conditions at the High Royds Hospital. This includes Jimmy Savile's assaults in 1988 during the 100th year celebrations, where staff and patients claimed that he has "groped" them and even asked a porter if there was a room that Savile could go to if he "pulled one of the nurses".
The conditions at High Royds became cramped and not suited for modern medicine during its last years. This, along with suspected murders and violence, is most likely the reason for the hospital's closure in 2003. The closure was a part of Leeds Mental Health's £47 million reprovision process where the wards have been relocated to different hospitals (including St. James' and the Mount) across Leeds. The site was later used as film sets and even songs were written about the former hospital.
As of today, the site is being turned into flats and the only building left is the admin building with the clocktower. It is said that the clocktower and the ball room will be left, however everything else is being changed. The site is also said to be a council estate now.
The Pictures
Once again, they aren't the best (phone camera
) but I'm working on getting a good camera! Hopefully I'll get it soon, but for now you'll have to excuse the quality.
Thanks for reading!
