The Nurse's Block
On my recent visit to Denbigh Lunatic Asylum I spent some time exploring the nurses block which is the three storey white building next door to the main site. It's a huge building so it felt like a separate explore to the rest of the site, I don't know the exact history of this block but I am told it is where the nurses were accommodated and it also has a rather creepy fire damaged toddler unit.
Here's the history taken from my previous Denbigh report:
Denbigh Lunatic Asylum was built in 1848, being the first ever asylum in Wales it's purpose was to cater for Welsh psychiatric patients who had previously been sent to English asylums. It increased in size over the years and became the North Wales Hospital, at it's peak hosting 1500 patients and 1000 staff. Many drugs and treatments were developed at this hospital, including malarial treaments, insulin shock treatments and sulphur based drugs during the 1920s and 30s. The early 1940s 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. In 1987 a ten year plan was in place to facilitate the closure of the site, it closed in sections starting in 1991 with the main hospital building closing in 1995. By 2002 the Grade II listed building had been completely abandoned and in the same year was sold at auction to a redevelopment company called Freemont. Freemont had planned to build up to 280 homes, businesses and community facilities on the site, with the redevelopment enabling the original listed buildings to be restored. However, the planning consent expired in 2009.
The main hall was burnt down in 2008 and the rest of the hospital now remains in a serious state of disrepair. Denbighshire council have recently undertaken works costing in the region of £900,000 to repair part of the roof although this has done little to improve the general state of the place. The Council are now in the process of taking steps to make a compulsory purchase order of the site.
The Pics:
External shot taken from the main site
Toddler unit entrance
Jungle wallpaper, note the monkey that looks like it's hanging from the peeling paper on the ceiling
Beatrix Potter wallpaper darkened by fire smoke
Fire Damage, I found evidence of two fires that must've gone out before causing major damage
Bay Window
Plants taking over
Fireplace with pile of twigs at the bottom of the chimney from years of nest building
First floor corridor
I spotted a few of these bizarre posters (this one says 'Michigan Police Department'!?) all containing people pointing guns
Bathtub in Corridor
Pentagram drawing with unknown language, presumably some sort of devil speak....
Ritualistic selfie
View across the landscape
Elwyn's ponies, approach with caution....
Thanks for looking, my report from the main part of the site can be found here http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums...lum-north-wales-hospital-december-2013-a.html
On my recent visit to Denbigh Lunatic Asylum I spent some time exploring the nurses block which is the three storey white building next door to the main site. It's a huge building so it felt like a separate explore to the rest of the site, I don't know the exact history of this block but I am told it is where the nurses were accommodated and it also has a rather creepy fire damaged toddler unit.
Here's the history taken from my previous Denbigh report:
Denbigh Lunatic Asylum was built in 1848, being the first ever asylum in Wales it's purpose was to cater for Welsh psychiatric patients who had previously been sent to English asylums. It increased in size over the years and became the North Wales Hospital, at it's peak hosting 1500 patients and 1000 staff. Many drugs and treatments were developed at this hospital, including malarial treaments, insulin shock treatments and sulphur based drugs during the 1920s and 30s. The early 1940s 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. In 1987 a ten year plan was in place to facilitate the closure of the site, it closed in sections starting in 1991 with the main hospital building closing in 1995. By 2002 the Grade II listed building had been completely abandoned and in the same year was sold at auction to a redevelopment company called Freemont. Freemont had planned to build up to 280 homes, businesses and community facilities on the site, with the redevelopment enabling the original listed buildings to be restored. However, the planning consent expired in 2009.
The main hall was burnt down in 2008 and the rest of the hospital now remains in a serious state of disrepair. Denbighshire council have recently undertaken works costing in the region of £900,000 to repair part of the roof although this has done little to improve the general state of the place. The Council are now in the process of taking steps to make a compulsory purchase order of the site.
The Pics:
External shot taken from the main site
Toddler unit entrance
Jungle wallpaper, note the monkey that looks like it's hanging from the peeling paper on the ceiling
Beatrix Potter wallpaper darkened by fire smoke
Fire Damage, I found evidence of two fires that must've gone out before causing major damage
Bay Window
Plants taking over
Fireplace with pile of twigs at the bottom of the chimney from years of nest building
First floor corridor
I spotted a few of these bizarre posters (this one says 'Michigan Police Department'!?) all containing people pointing guns
Bathtub in Corridor
Pentagram drawing with unknown language, presumably some sort of devil speak....
Ritualistic selfie
View across the landscape
Elwyn's ponies, approach with caution....
Thanks for looking, my report from the main part of the site can be found here http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums...lum-north-wales-hospital-december-2013-a.html
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