My lad has been pestering me to take him to explore a hospital for some time and this seemed like a great place for him to start.I should have known it was going to be an entertaining trip as we walked toward the entrance and someone appeared at the gate house staring at us...nothing was said but we decided to retreat,discresion being the better part of valour. carrying a camera case and tripod and two helmets was probably a give away we were not part of the contractors payroll. we approached from the other side of the complex and imediately found the Ida wing. we checked a few panels to see an easy way in but it was not to be - the nail through my shoe made me jump but seemed amusing to my fellow explorer - stealthy we were not. Once inside the comedy continued as i managed to fall through a floor and cut my arm open - after that things were uneventful and we spent a few hours checking both buildings out.I must admit though i walked in to a room and was pretty freaked out to find a teddy there sat on the shelf - it was a bit of a blair witch moment and i haven't seen it on another report so took a snap - all in all a good trip - just be careful in the boiler rooms - loads of stuff to photograph but asbestos is everywhere.
history courtesy of H1971 - thanks
History - Cookridge Hospital is located near Horsforth and Cookridge in Leeds, West Yorkshire. Designed and built in a Gothic vernacular style in 1869. It has provided cutting edge cancer treatment since 1952 but has been replaced with a £220m cancer centre at St James Hospital, which is now one of the largest of its kind in Europe and has about 1,600 staff.
Originally known as Cookridge Convalescent Hospital it was built at a cost of £10,000 to provide care and to promote recovery for patients who had been treated at Leeds General Infirmary. The area of Cookridge was chosen as it was a remote location from Leeds, 'where patients could be cheered up among the bracken and pure air'. The urban sprawl of Leeds soon engulfed Cookridge. John Metcalfe Smith of Beckett's Bank in Leeds, donated much of the money towards the building of the convalescent hospital.
As it was built in the days before the NHS, the patients had to pay for their own care. It cost approximately eight shillings a week for a three week stay but there was some charity, benefactors provided free beds for the needy. This was not an easy stay for the patients, they had to abide by a list of rules which remained the same until 1934. One of the rules was to 'obey the Matron and to perform all services in the house and grounds as she may appoint'.
The hospital played an important role in the World Wars; the hospital was requisitioned for the care of wounded servicemen. It briefly housed the Leeds Maternity Hospital in 1939.
In 1929 small scale experiments using radiation started in the treatment of cancer at the Cookridge but it wasn't till after World War II that the hospital embraced cancer treatment and patients. Leeds Regional Hospital Board took over the hospital, redeveloping the original convalescent hospital and building a new complex during the 1950s and 1960s.
The hospital continued to be at the forefront of cancer research and developed new technology as well as pioneering better, more effective treatments which improved the chance of survival in patients.
Finally the hospital grew too small, the outdated buildings could not support further growth so the hospital was abandoned in 2008 and sold. It was replaced with a £220m cancer centre at St James Hospital, which is now one of the largest of its kind in Europe and has about 1,600 staff.
The Met Police used the hospital for training purposes for a while.
not too hard to find this place!!!!
The building is open to the elements and damp is present everywhere - beware the floors
I slowly tested the floor and came round the corner to be greeted by this - it was a sureal moment and wouldnt have been out of place in a horror film
The boiler room has some great stuff in it but my shots didnt come out too well down here - i wasnt prepared to spend too much time in there as it is covered in asbestos everywhere - if youre going to do any shots down there i'd wear a mask.
This is a natural light shot - it always amazes me how bright and clear peoples pics are - being a noob i have now realised that boarded up buildings are dark.
- this was taken on a 1 sec exposure without flash
A great little trip out - next time the main wing will have to be done so i can find those theatre lights- any feed back always welcome
history courtesy of H1971 - thanks
History - Cookridge Hospital is located near Horsforth and Cookridge in Leeds, West Yorkshire. Designed and built in a Gothic vernacular style in 1869. It has provided cutting edge cancer treatment since 1952 but has been replaced with a £220m cancer centre at St James Hospital, which is now one of the largest of its kind in Europe and has about 1,600 staff.
Originally known as Cookridge Convalescent Hospital it was built at a cost of £10,000 to provide care and to promote recovery for patients who had been treated at Leeds General Infirmary. The area of Cookridge was chosen as it was a remote location from Leeds, 'where patients could be cheered up among the bracken and pure air'. The urban sprawl of Leeds soon engulfed Cookridge. John Metcalfe Smith of Beckett's Bank in Leeds, donated much of the money towards the building of the convalescent hospital.
As it was built in the days before the NHS, the patients had to pay for their own care. It cost approximately eight shillings a week for a three week stay but there was some charity, benefactors provided free beds for the needy. This was not an easy stay for the patients, they had to abide by a list of rules which remained the same until 1934. One of the rules was to 'obey the Matron and to perform all services in the house and grounds as she may appoint'.
The hospital played an important role in the World Wars; the hospital was requisitioned for the care of wounded servicemen. It briefly housed the Leeds Maternity Hospital in 1939.
In 1929 small scale experiments using radiation started in the treatment of cancer at the Cookridge but it wasn't till after World War II that the hospital embraced cancer treatment and patients. Leeds Regional Hospital Board took over the hospital, redeveloping the original convalescent hospital and building a new complex during the 1950s and 1960s.
The hospital continued to be at the forefront of cancer research and developed new technology as well as pioneering better, more effective treatments which improved the chance of survival in patients.
Finally the hospital grew too small, the outdated buildings could not support further growth so the hospital was abandoned in 2008 and sold. It was replaced with a £220m cancer centre at St James Hospital, which is now one of the largest of its kind in Europe and has about 1,600 staff.
The Met Police used the hospital for training purposes for a while.
not too hard to find this place!!!!
The building is open to the elements and damp is present everywhere - beware the floors
I slowly tested the floor and came round the corner to be greeted by this - it was a sureal moment and wouldnt have been out of place in a horror film
The boiler room has some great stuff in it but my shots didnt come out too well down here - i wasnt prepared to spend too much time in there as it is covered in asbestos everywhere - if youre going to do any shots down there i'd wear a mask.
This is a natural light shot - it always amazes me how bright and clear peoples pics are - being a noob i have now realised that boarded up buildings are dark.
- this was taken on a 1 sec exposure without flash
A great little trip out - next time the main wing will have to be done so i can find those theatre lights- any feed back always welcome
