Report - St Martins Hospital (West), Canterbury - Oct 2019

[KentBayBoy]

St Martins Hospital, Canterbury started life as Stone House. (Formally utilized as accommodation for private female patients - Now a car park). With the earliest records dating from 1885. [National Library of Scotland & Kent Archive] Designed by William Joseph Jennings and Gray and built as a 'compact arrow' in about 1900 to facilitate as an overflow for St Augustine's. Initially comprising of an admin block, main hall, and 2 pauper wings, and a private male unit. St Martin's eventually grew to 4 wings, mortuary, generator house... and an incinerator.

The site was under the then local Canterbury Council Asylum, which has had many name changes, including Canterbury & Thanet Health Authority, Canterbury & Thanet Community Health Care, East Kent NHS, EKNHSPCT and finally Kent & Medway Social Care Partnership Trust.

The main admin block was destroyed during WW2 (Which is now a car park) and was used as a School through WW1. A new admin block was built, with the addition of new dental department and staff flats.The 80's saw biggest changes, with 3 new wards, an office block-with movable internal walls- a fully fitted kitchen, new on site laundry, as well as a 'home help' unit, being built on the East site.

In 2014 a new ward block was built on the former superintendents house.

In 2018, part of the car-park collapsed, when excavated, a buried basement was found. Whilst a full scale excavation was discussed, alas the basement was filled in.

St Martins West was brought by Homes England in October of 2019, with the doors closing on 20th February.

 

[tumbles]

Ooh very nice. Need a date on your title tho - when are these from?

 

[catbalou]

I like that, looks like a big place, perhaps more areas to explore as well.

 

[TheTimeChamber]

That's superb, always wondered when this one would close!

 

[Calamity Jane]

Great report. Some good shots there. I like the externals as you can see remnants of 1885 , looks huge. Nice one

 

[Kidney]

That's lovely and Fresh, looks like you could have many a day spent here

 

[obscurity]

didnt realise any of it had shut yet but most looks closed even when actrive. Good effort there.

 

[Pander1985]

Cracking photos, I had forgotten that this had shut, I had a aunty work as a nurse/sister (as they were known back then) sadly no longer with us, I also have bad memories of that place, I had a tooth pulled from a mobile dentist van in the car park stupid woman numbed the wrong tooth! Felt it all!

I’ve also known a poor chap be sent there after nearly getting hit by a train By running in front of it, he came off the last train but where he came from no one knew but he wasn’t in any state of mind when the police removed him from the station, oh the paperwork I had after that as I was the one running shift at the station!

also I remember going to my aunty‘s retirement party held there in that big hall photoed, I was young but remember running around the long halls one was quite steep if I recall, shame to see it go if it’s going?

 

[KentBayBoy]

Cracking photos, I had forgotten that this had shut, I had a aunty work as a nurse/sister (as they were known back then) sadly no longer with us, I also have bad memories of that place, I had a tooth pulled from a mobile dentist van in the car park stupid woman numbed the wrong tooth! Felt it all!

I’ve also known a poor chap be sent there after nearly getting hit by a train By running in front of it, he came off the last train but where he came from no one knew but he wasn’t in any state of mind when the police removed him from the station, oh the paperwork I had after that as I was the one running shift at the station!

also I remember going to my aunty‘s retirement party held there in that big hall photoed, I was young but remember running around the long halls one was quite steep if I recall, shame to see it go if it’s going?

Thank you for your message.
it's only recently fully shut. February 28th 2020 was the official closing date. Though was slowly being shut down for about 8 years, since 2012. (More so since the new unit was built in 2014)
I too remember the mobile dental unit, and the chiropody unit too. I believe they went to the smaller sites/community units. I'm sorry you had a bad experience, though.
Yes, some of the corridors are quite steep... Though fun on a skateboard!... Not so fun in heavy rain, as prone to flooding..

 

[Pander1985]

Thank you for your message.
it's only recently fully shut. February 28th 2020 was the official closing date. Though was slowly being shut down for about 8 years, since 2012. (More so since the new unit was built in 2014)
I too remember the mobile dental unit, and the chiropody unit too. I believe they went to the smaller sites/community units. I'm sorry you had a bad experience, though.
Yes, some of the corridors are quite steep... Though fun on a skateboard!... Not so fun in heavy rain, as prone to flooding..

Ah I moved up north back in 2011 after living in Canterbury all my life, to be honest I don’t recognise the place I grew up in however that’s life, I used to run Lego built cars down that corridor, strangely built building tbh - thanks again for the post!

 

[Jackwhitaker99]

Just to let everyone know I went to this place yesterday and got caught there is a security guard with a dog patrolling the area 24/7 and also heat sensor alarms inside it’s a shame because the entrance is easy but it’s not worth getting mauled by a dog. But hopefully in the future the security leaves and the sensors go I believe that they have these things here because it is only a few months abandoned give it another 6 months I reckon it will be all good to go in.

 

[KentBayBoy]

That's lovely and Fresh, looks like you could have many a day spent here

Thank you for your message.
I've spent over 20 years working in the old building. I have so many memories, it's sad to see it go. That's progress!.
The photos were taken over a period of several weeks, during the final closure time frame.

 

[KentBayBoy]

Ooh very nice. Need a date on your title tho - when are these from?

Thank you for your message.
With the exception of the 'Basement-car park excavation', all photos were taken between December 2019, and February 2020

 

[KentBayBoy]

I like that, looks like a big place, perhaps more areas to explore as well.

Thank you for your message.
Indeed, it was a sizable building, sitting on about 10-12 acres of 'parkland'.
The split level 'arrow' design, made it feel a lot bigger.and spacious than first impressions. Indeed, one could get 'lost' if one so desired.
Whilst there was more to the site than I got, these were not so 'photogenic (due to unsympathetic additions).
I did take a few more photos, alas, they were corrupt.
KBB

 

[stoff urbex]

standby generator and turbo porn , nice to see good optimate batts on starting system