First of all, a shout out to non 28DL member DesperateDan for the heads-up on this site.
Visited with SparkOnTheWater & Alley.
Clearly a few people have tried access to the site over the past couple of years, and given its very prominent location, I’m surprised it’s not been tackled and reported recently. Judging by the documents seen on our rummage, I would say the site was close to closure during mid 2011.
History
Presently known as Cherry Tree Hospital, dating back to its foundation year of 1880, the site was also titled Stockport Infection Diseases Hospital up until 1948, a reference to Whitehill Sanatorium is also noted. The cost of the build was reported to be £4,645, approximately £473,000 in todays money.
Prior to 1948, the hospital was used for the isolation of patients with diseases, particularly Tuberculosis, with a separate ward being provided for Typhoid sufferers. After 1948, the level of care was widened to accommodate other illnesses and ailments.
During the early years, the wards held between ten to sixteen simple framed beds, swan-neck bed lights and a large linear table as a focal point for the ward. The striking feature being the wooden herringbone floor.
The wards were provided with earth closets which would be emptied from the exterior of the building.
Aside from the general staff, there were seven live-in staff, Matron, three nurses and three servants.
Extensive ground works including soil sampling and clearances have taken place over the past year with the view of building homes on the site. The internals have been rinsed of any value, if there was a value in cable sheathing, we’d be quids in!
Site visit
A couple of days had gone by since the heads up from DesperateDan, the butterflies in our stomachs were fluttering to get out……we wanted this one!
Waiting anxiously for the evening of a crisp Saturday to fall, we stealthily kitted up, slid round the front entrance, as you do, all psyched up for a Ninja style entry, dodging mounds of bricks and general debris, we were sure on for a biggun, disappointment followed….we walked straight in, anticlimax.
The header of the commemorative stone, the original location being on the wall by ward five, sadly now discarded on the floor
The plaque belonging to the above header
We came across this lesser-spotted urbanite, clearly in the depths of short term hibernation, a beastly character by all accounts.
A security officers hangout, quite apocalyptic, aside from being a bit untidy, everything remains in place as though it were being used, even more so when you turn round to open the door and your reflection is a mere six inches away from your face, don’t care how ‘ard you are….your going to jump!
After a good look on the ground floor, which I must say isn’t anything special. We ventured upstairs to be greeted with more….non special stuff.
Offices and archive rooms, all empty, barring a few desks, documents and bits of rubbish.
Ladders? Pffft…..Up Periscope!
Surprisingly accurate.
Having finished on the top floor, we dropped into the basement, If you like your tunnels and rat runs, this is for you!
There is a series of service tunnels that serve the numerous buildings. Originating from the main plant rooms, ductwork, piping and cabling was serviced through these and fed into the required area of the hospital.
All in all, a nice wonder round. Few more areas we'd like to see, better grab the waders...
Visited with SparkOnTheWater & Alley.
Clearly a few people have tried access to the site over the past couple of years, and given its very prominent location, I’m surprised it’s not been tackled and reported recently. Judging by the documents seen on our rummage, I would say the site was close to closure during mid 2011.
History
Presently known as Cherry Tree Hospital, dating back to its foundation year of 1880, the site was also titled Stockport Infection Diseases Hospital up until 1948, a reference to Whitehill Sanatorium is also noted. The cost of the build was reported to be £4,645, approximately £473,000 in todays money.
Prior to 1948, the hospital was used for the isolation of patients with diseases, particularly Tuberculosis, with a separate ward being provided for Typhoid sufferers. After 1948, the level of care was widened to accommodate other illnesses and ailments.
During the early years, the wards held between ten to sixteen simple framed beds, swan-neck bed lights and a large linear table as a focal point for the ward. The striking feature being the wooden herringbone floor.
The wards were provided with earth closets which would be emptied from the exterior of the building.
Aside from the general staff, there were seven live-in staff, Matron, three nurses and three servants.
Extensive ground works including soil sampling and clearances have taken place over the past year with the view of building homes on the site. The internals have been rinsed of any value, if there was a value in cable sheathing, we’d be quids in!
Site visit
A couple of days had gone by since the heads up from DesperateDan, the butterflies in our stomachs were fluttering to get out……we wanted this one!
Waiting anxiously for the evening of a crisp Saturday to fall, we stealthily kitted up, slid round the front entrance, as you do, all psyched up for a Ninja style entry, dodging mounds of bricks and general debris, we were sure on for a biggun, disappointment followed….we walked straight in, anticlimax.
The header of the commemorative stone, the original location being on the wall by ward five, sadly now discarded on the floor
The plaque belonging to the above header
We came across this lesser-spotted urbanite, clearly in the depths of short term hibernation, a beastly character by all accounts.
A security officers hangout, quite apocalyptic, aside from being a bit untidy, everything remains in place as though it were being used, even more so when you turn round to open the door and your reflection is a mere six inches away from your face, don’t care how ‘ard you are….your going to jump!
After a good look on the ground floor, which I must say isn’t anything special. We ventured upstairs to be greeted with more….non special stuff.
Offices and archive rooms, all empty, barring a few desks, documents and bits of rubbish.
Ladders? Pffft…..Up Periscope!
Surprisingly accurate.
Having finished on the top floor, we dropped into the basement, If you like your tunnels and rat runs, this is for you!
There is a series of service tunnels that serve the numerous buildings. Originating from the main plant rooms, ductwork, piping and cabling was serviced through these and fed into the required area of the hospital.
All in all, a nice wonder round. Few more areas we'd like to see, better grab the waders...