Had my first visit to Denbigh and i was very impressed with the size of the place but very saddened by the amount of decay.
All in all a great morning and glad i made the effort.
History of Denbigh
Built: 1844
Opened: 1848
Closed: 1995
Age: 167 years old
Abandonment: Main building - 1995, complete site - 2002
Location Type: Psychiatric
Current Status: Being demolished or renovated
Located In: Denbigh, Denbighshire
Alternate Names: North Wales Lunatic Asylum
Denbigh Asylum was the first psychiatric institution built in Wales under the name The North Wales Lunatic Asylum. Constuction started in 1844 and it took four years to complete.
The hospital had many renovations and was extended from 1867 until 1956, by which time the hospital has 1500 live-in patients and 1000 staff.
Many drugs and treatments were developed at this hospital, including malarial treaments, insulin shock treatments and sulpher based drugs during the 1920's and '30's. The early '40's saw the introduction of electro convulsive therapy (ECT) and prefrontal lobotomy treatments.
The end was in sight for Denbigh when in 1960 Enoch Powell visited the site. Soon after the visit, he announced the hospital plan for England and wales, which would see psychiatric care facilities being attached to general hospitals and the introduction of care in the community.
Here are some pics.
All in all a great morning and glad i made the effort.
History of Denbigh
Built: 1844
Opened: 1848
Closed: 1995
Age: 167 years old
Abandonment: Main building - 1995, complete site - 2002
Location Type: Psychiatric
Current Status: Being demolished or renovated
Located In: Denbigh, Denbighshire
Alternate Names: North Wales Lunatic Asylum
Denbigh Asylum was the first psychiatric institution built in Wales under the name The North Wales Lunatic Asylum. Constuction started in 1844 and it took four years to complete.
The hospital had many renovations and was extended from 1867 until 1956, by which time the hospital has 1500 live-in patients and 1000 staff.
Many drugs and treatments were developed at this hospital, including malarial treaments, insulin shock treatments and sulpher based drugs during the 1920's and '30's. The early '40's saw the introduction of electro convulsive therapy (ECT) and prefrontal lobotomy treatments.
The end was in sight for Denbigh when in 1960 Enoch Powell visited the site. Soon after the visit, he announced the hospital plan for England and wales, which would see psychiatric care facilities being attached to general hospitals and the introduction of care in the community.
Here are some pics.
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