The history - with apologies for any mistakes.
Denbigh Asylum is an imposing building and in 1981 was Listed Grade II "for its special importance as an exceptionally fine and pioneering example of early Victorian asylum architecture, recognised as the best example of its kind in Wales."
Originally named the
North Wales Lunatic Asylum, Denbigh was designed by architect Thomas Fulljames in consultation with Dr Samuel Hitch. It was opened in 1848, having originally being funded by local businessmen, landowners, and clergy, and donations of land, in response to the need for local care of Welsh speaking patients, who would otherwise be sent to asylums in England. This coincided with the passing of the County Asylums Acts which required each county to have its own asylum.The aim was to provide humane care modelled on the more progressive asylums of the time.
There was accommodation for 200 patients and the hospital was designed to be self sufficient with its own farm, workshops, kitchens etc, all worked by the patients.
In the early years, wards were not staffed between 10pm and 6am with the consequence that some suicidal or epileptic patients died overnight. Night shifts were not introduced until 1860 after pressure from the Lunacy Commissioners.
In 1865 the hospital was extended to increase capacity from 200 to 300 patients. At this time mental health care was such that patients received little or no treatment, but were sedated as was felt necessary. In 1871 Turkish baths were introduced in an attempt to improve the patients wellbeing.
During the 1870s Denbigh became so overcrowded that some patients had to sleep on the floor, but in 1881 extensions to the building provided space for another 210 patients. Denbigh was not alone in being criticised for overcrowding and lack of staff on duty. Some patients were boarded out to other asylums and plans were made to build another asylum for north Wales. Further extensions were approved for Denbigh in 1895, and the hospital became an important part of the local economy and a major employer in the area. Capacity grew to 753 patients by 1905.
In 1930, with the introduction of the Mental Health Act, the name was changed to the North Wales Counties Mental Hospital and new treatments were introduced. These included electro convulsive therapy, (originally without anaesthesia) and chemical treatments to induce fits or coma. In the early 1940s pre-frontal leucotomy and chemical aversion therapies were used.
In contrast to those, now controversial treatments, Denbigh provided occupational therapy in 1937, and in 1945 employed their first Psychiatric Social Worker to support discharged patients in their homes.
The National Health Service was established in 1948 and Denbigh was renamed the North Wales Hospital. By this time it housed 1500 patients and staff, and as new anti-depressant and psychotropic drugs became available patients were allowed greater freedoms in a more relaxed atmosphere. Entertainment and sports facilities were provided, and in-patient numbers gradually reduced.
During the 1960s the government estimated that the requirement for in-patients would decline to about half by 1980, and planned to reduce the number of asylums accordingly. The Care in the Community Act of 1983 promoted the closure of many mental hospitals and Denbigh was closed in1995.
Denbigh was eventually bought by offshore-based company Freemont (Denbigh) Ltd, and in 2006 plans for "restoration and partial demolition" were accepted by Denbighshire County Council, but work never began (??). In 2008 part of the hospital was destroyed by fire and the buildings continued to decay.
By 2011 the planning permission had lapsed and the Council served an urgent works notice on the owners to make the necessary repairs to preserve the Grade II listed structures. Freemont failed to comply so the council undertook the emergency repairs at a cost of over £940.000 and billed Freemont for the work. Freemont disputed the cost and unsuccessfully appealed against it. Denbighshire County Council then submitted a Compulsory Purchase Order in 2013, and after another unsuccessful appeal by Freemont this was granted in 2015.
In May 2016 the site was put up for auction by Freemont, who were still technically the owners, (as the CPO had not yet been served) but did not reach its reserve price and remains unsold.
The latest information I can find now is this, from the Prince's Regeneration Trust.
"The CPO requires the owner to sell the building to Denbighshire County Council, who will then transfer ownership of the site to the newly-formed North Wales Building Preservation Trust. The Trust will be supported by PRT to drive forward the redevelopment of the site.
In May 2016, PRT is continuing to work alongside the Denbigh County Council and the North Wales Building Preservation Trust following the successful compulsory purchase of this prominent listed site, which had been allowed to fall into a derelict state. Detailed plans have been drawn up for the regeneration scheme, including the restoration and conversion of the most important historic buildings."
The explore -
I visited with three non members, my daughter, grandson, and grandsons fiancé, so it was more like a family day out than the usual explore.
Access was easy although someone was driving around the perimeter. Not in a white van though, so no idea if it was the notorious Elwyn. We crossed paths with two other groups of explorers, and kept out of sight of a small group of people who seemed to getting a guided tour. There were also some lads climbing over one of the roofs. It was surprisingly busy.
It's an impressive place in spite of the neglect and must have been handsome in its day. We missed some parts we really should have seen, as there's lots to get around, and we ran out of time with a four hour drive ahead of us. I really should have done some more advanced planning.
Got a good excuse to go back now though and I'm pleased we managed to go while it's still accessible and worth seeing.
Thanks for looking.
Denbigh Asylum is an imposing building and in 1981 was Listed Grade II "for its special importance as an exceptionally fine and pioneering example of early Victorian asylum architecture, recognised as the best example of its kind in Wales."
Originally named the
North Wales Lunatic Asylum, Denbigh was designed by architect Thomas Fulljames in consultation with Dr Samuel Hitch. It was opened in 1848, having originally being funded by local businessmen, landowners, and clergy, and donations of land, in response to the need for local care of Welsh speaking patients, who would otherwise be sent to asylums in England. This coincided with the passing of the County Asylums Acts which required each county to have its own asylum.The aim was to provide humane care modelled on the more progressive asylums of the time.
There was accommodation for 200 patients and the hospital was designed to be self sufficient with its own farm, workshops, kitchens etc, all worked by the patients.
In the early years, wards were not staffed between 10pm and 6am with the consequence that some suicidal or epileptic patients died overnight. Night shifts were not introduced until 1860 after pressure from the Lunacy Commissioners.
In 1865 the hospital was extended to increase capacity from 200 to 300 patients. At this time mental health care was such that patients received little or no treatment, but were sedated as was felt necessary. In 1871 Turkish baths were introduced in an attempt to improve the patients wellbeing.
During the 1870s Denbigh became so overcrowded that some patients had to sleep on the floor, but in 1881 extensions to the building provided space for another 210 patients. Denbigh was not alone in being criticised for overcrowding and lack of staff on duty. Some patients were boarded out to other asylums and plans were made to build another asylum for north Wales. Further extensions were approved for Denbigh in 1895, and the hospital became an important part of the local economy and a major employer in the area. Capacity grew to 753 patients by 1905.
In 1930, with the introduction of the Mental Health Act, the name was changed to the North Wales Counties Mental Hospital and new treatments were introduced. These included electro convulsive therapy, (originally without anaesthesia) and chemical treatments to induce fits or coma. In the early 1940s pre-frontal leucotomy and chemical aversion therapies were used.
In contrast to those, now controversial treatments, Denbigh provided occupational therapy in 1937, and in 1945 employed their first Psychiatric Social Worker to support discharged patients in their homes.
The National Health Service was established in 1948 and Denbigh was renamed the North Wales Hospital. By this time it housed 1500 patients and staff, and as new anti-depressant and psychotropic drugs became available patients were allowed greater freedoms in a more relaxed atmosphere. Entertainment and sports facilities were provided, and in-patient numbers gradually reduced.
During the 1960s the government estimated that the requirement for in-patients would decline to about half by 1980, and planned to reduce the number of asylums accordingly. The Care in the Community Act of 1983 promoted the closure of many mental hospitals and Denbigh was closed in1995.
Denbigh was eventually bought by offshore-based company Freemont (Denbigh) Ltd, and in 2006 plans for "restoration and partial demolition" were accepted by Denbighshire County Council, but work never began (??). In 2008 part of the hospital was destroyed by fire and the buildings continued to decay.
By 2011 the planning permission had lapsed and the Council served an urgent works notice on the owners to make the necessary repairs to preserve the Grade II listed structures. Freemont failed to comply so the council undertook the emergency repairs at a cost of over £940.000 and billed Freemont for the work. Freemont disputed the cost and unsuccessfully appealed against it. Denbighshire County Council then submitted a Compulsory Purchase Order in 2013, and after another unsuccessful appeal by Freemont this was granted in 2015.
In May 2016 the site was put up for auction by Freemont, who were still technically the owners, (as the CPO had not yet been served) but did not reach its reserve price and remains unsold.
The latest information I can find now is this, from the Prince's Regeneration Trust.
"The CPO requires the owner to sell the building to Denbighshire County Council, who will then transfer ownership of the site to the newly-formed North Wales Building Preservation Trust. The Trust will be supported by PRT to drive forward the redevelopment of the site.
In May 2016, PRT is continuing to work alongside the Denbigh County Council and the North Wales Building Preservation Trust following the successful compulsory purchase of this prominent listed site, which had been allowed to fall into a derelict state. Detailed plans have been drawn up for the regeneration scheme, including the restoration and conversion of the most important historic buildings."
The explore -
I visited with three non members, my daughter, grandson, and grandsons fiancé, so it was more like a family day out than the usual explore.
Access was easy although someone was driving around the perimeter. Not in a white van though, so no idea if it was the notorious Elwyn. We crossed paths with two other groups of explorers, and kept out of sight of a small group of people who seemed to getting a guided tour. There were also some lads climbing over one of the roofs. It was surprisingly busy.
It's an impressive place in spite of the neglect and must have been handsome in its day. We missed some parts we really should have seen, as there's lots to get around, and we ran out of time with a four hour drive ahead of us. I really should have done some more advanced planning.
Got a good excuse to go back now though and I'm pleased we managed to go while it's still accessible and worth seeing.
Thanks for looking.
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