Originally built with space for 200 patients, the North Wales Lunatic Asylum opened in October 1848. As with all County Asylums, North Wales had its own farms, tailors, joiners, shoemakers, laundry, kitchens, bakery and smithy. With the introduction of the mental health act in 1930, the hospital changed its name to ‘North Wales Counties Mental Hospital’. In 1948 on its hundred year anniversary its name changed for the final time to simply ‘North Wales Hospital’. By this point its population had expanded to 1,500 patients. After 147 years it finally closed in August 1995 and has sat derelict ever since.
I was pretty sure I was the only person on the planet who’d never been to Denbigh. And with rumours swirling about the appearance of construction materials, machinery and imminent demolition a plan was formulated to finally see it before it was too late.
As it turned out I actually enjoyed the visit. The place is even more ‘derelict’ looking than I imagined, with some parts being more like partial ruins. Thankfully it was also more photogenic than I was expecting too, especially with some late morning sunshine. In fact the only thing that ruined the place for me was the rubbish child graffiti that covered every wall.
Chapel
Thanks for looknig