real time web analytics
Report - - High Royds - West Yorkshire | 01/15 | Asylums and Hospitals | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - High Royds - West Yorkshire | 01/15

Hide this ad by donating or subscribing !

UrbexploreUK

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
High Royds - West Yorkshire | 01/15

Opened in the Autumn of 1888 under the name of the "West Riding Pauper Lunatic Asylum" the estate served as an institute for the mentally ill for well over a century before being deemed unfit for purpose and closed in 2003.

Designed to be as self sufficient as possible High Royds was provided with it's own library, surgery, dispensary, butchery, dairies, and bakery amongst other facilities that would allow the expenses of the asylum to be kept as low as possible in the long run. Patients that were deemed fit to earn their keep were put to work in various areas of the estate, including but not limited to the kitchen, laundrette and farm.

During the 1920s the name was changed from "West Riding Pauper Lunatic Asylum" to the "Menston Mental Hospital" and with the name change came a new era, an era in which doctors used techniques such as shock therapy in an attempt to "cure" the mentally ill rather than contain them. Many of the patients that were institutionalised during the asylum's lifespan were done so because of a lack of understanding, during a time where sufferers of phobias and disabilities alike were all grouped under the banner of "mentally ill" and hidden away from the rest of society.

During 1963 the asylum's name was changed for a second time, but this was to be it's third and final name, High Royds, a much less severe sounding name that would remain it's label for the rest of it's operating years.

As mentioned earlier in the post, High Royds was deemed unfit for purpose and between the late 1990s and 2003 no new patients were taken in, because of this plans were made and before long the development of a residential estate began. Luckily, the administration building (The site we had the pleasure of visiting) achieved Grade II listed status before the this all began due the presence of it's clock tower and the Italian mosaic flooring which meant this building was exempt had to remain the centre piece of the development.

There seems to be a certain atmosphere given off by a property based on it's origins, and even though you're fully aware that all of this is in the past it feels to linger, putting you on edge with every corner you turn. It's this extraordinary experience that attracted us to Urban Exploration and I have a feeling that it's this that will keep us hooked for years to come.

This was our first post so feedback would be appreciated, please see below for images/video content from our second visit to High Royds.

[video=youtube;4q81VCgBF3w]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4q81VCgBF3w&spfreload=10[/video]

15779685474_fbef1d0a7d_b.jpg


16401238582_090374b11f_b.jpg


16214750040_4bb2177615_b.jpg


16214736120_95e886763f_b.jpg


16214739230_a52a665edb_b.jpg


15779661414_5122ec079d_b.jpg


16376146746_a76dafcdf9_b.jpg


16214509098_3010b2c0dc_b.jpg


16215890839_b49fc8a0f0_b.jpg


16401202262_9447aea0bd_b.jpg

I'll be the first to admit some of the photos aren't my best work, but we were more focused on filming the entire experience in all honesty, the photographs were a bit of a byproduct!

Side note: A big thanks to ZerO81 for being so patient/helpful with me during the first posting of this report, hopefully this revised version will pass the test!
 
Last edited:

UrbexploreUK

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Nice Photos, Horrendous Watermark.

Oh trust me, I don't want them there as much as the next guy, but as some of them have been submitted as coursework I was instructed to "Put a massive, obnoxious watermark on them to deter every man and his dog from using them" and I'm one for consistency, regardless of whether it's consistently good or bad! :p:
 

FaZy_UK

28DL Regular User
Regular User
Nice work.

I thought it had been totally flattened.

It was one of the best, by all accounts.
 

Ojay

Admin
Staff member
Admin
Nice Photos, Horrendous Watermark.

Yeah it is a bit of a distraction, urbexsplore

Good effort all the same and good to see again, had 1 or 3 laughs at secca here with cregg & mgay etc

"Why do you keep coming here" hahaha
 

Krypton

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Good effort all the same and good to see again, had 1 or 3 laughs at secca here with cregg & mgay etc

"Why do you keep coming here" hahaha

The only English they could speak when I was there was 'Hey you'. lol
 

Oxygen Thief

Admin
Staff member
Admin
Yeah horrific watermark, I see where you're coming from though. But seriously, and with all due respect, there's thousands of better and larger pictures out there for the taking, I don't think there's much risk in having a smaller and more discrete watermark.

Anyway, nice explore, nice to see this in it's final phase.
 

Mars Lander

Throbbing Member
28DL Full Member
This is ace, didn't think there was anything left due to redevelopment. Enjoyed your vid to, are you using some kind of steadycam in parts?
 

UrbexploreUK

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
This is ace, didn't think there was anything left due to redevelopment. Enjoyed your vid to, are you using some kind of steadycam in parts?

There is a little drone footage thrown in the video with a little shake reduction in post so that could be the part you're referring to? The long corridor shots primarily.
 

WildBoyz

Is this the future?
28DL Full Member
Have to agree on the others about the giant watermark I'm afraid, but your shots are good. That one second from the bottom with the crazy ceiling design is really cool.
 

Speed

Got Epic?
Regular User
Drop the tag line too. The people who really delve into the unknown dont use tag lines. Otherwise quite impressed to see something left.
 

tumbles

Drama Queen
Staff member
Moderator
I'm not sure why you think admin is the only bit left too? All the wards are converted not demolished
 

Raz

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Nice mate was under the impression there was nothing left or it had been converted!
 
Top