History
The 300-acre (1.2 km2) site housed some 2000 patients and was based on the "Echelon plan" - a specific arrangement of wards, offices and services within easy reach of each other by a network of interconnecting corridors. This meant that staff were able to operate around the site without the need to go outside in bad weather.
The hospital closed as a psychiatric hospital in the early 1990's following the closure of other psychiatric institutions. However, a small section remained open until 20 March 1997 for the treatment of elderly patients suffering from the effects of serious stroke, as a temporary building for the nearby Colchester General Hospital which was in the process of building an entire new building for these patients. Since 1997 the remaining structures have changed little. Architecturally the site remains an excellent example of a specific asylum plan.
Explore
Visited with Sentinel, The_Raw, and 5PR1NK5, and Kiss-my-pixels. It's a shame this place is such a wreck, bit of a shell now, but it still maintains it legendary status.
All the photos I have put in this report are scans from a Canon A-1 35mm film camera. No editing save a touch of straighening has been done. I'm particularly proud of these photos as the camera belonged to my grandad who was massively into his photography, and it was in a poor condition due to disuse. Over the last few months I have stripped the camera, cleaned it out, replaced all the seals, and got it back into a lovely working condition. So, I'm really proud that my hard work has paid off and I'm sure my grandad would be extremely proud to see me using it.
Anyway, enough blabbering, onto the photos. I did take my normal digital camera, and should you be so inclined the photos from that can be seen on my flickr here - www.flickr.com/jpsimages/sets/72157641414253734/
New links!
Last edited:
