real time web analytics
Report - - Severalls Hospital. Colchester. Essex. July 2014 | Asylums and Hospitals | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - Severalls Hospital. Colchester. Essex. July 2014

Hide this ad by donating or subscribing !

norfolkexplorer

Quite often seen exploring further than Norfolk
28DL Full Member
This is one of those places that I had just never managed to get round to exploring, having passed it about a million times, I thought it would be a good laugh to go and have a look. So about 7 of us headed of in the small Hours from Norfolk and rocked up for a day of Fun.

The entry was something like I had never experienced before, loads of reports over the years of scaling fences, digging under fences, and we just walk straight in with my camera bag still on. PERFECT OR WHAT HEY....

Well roll on 6 hours of noisy exploring later (we had expected to last and hour), that was due to the younger members of the party and a older one with a gopro on a selfi stick spinning round and round for ages making funny videos.. We had seen all that we wanted too, and had made the decision to head on to site number 2 for the day down in Kent. So leaving the morgue and who should we bump into, yep the grounds-keeper on his tractor, who was rather chuffed with his catch as he gloated to Michael on the phone. So we walked up to the security gate and started with the usual bits and bobbs as you do, only to be told that they apparently Knew we had smashed the fence down to get in, and the police were getting called. So we let them do just that as we knew we had nothing to do with that, In the end all the police came to do was to check that we had given all the correct details so that The site owners could take civil proceedings against us all for trespass (somehow don't think they will prove that the criminal damage had anything to do with us)

So after I got a mega bollocking of the OTT copper for giving my child a happy childhood and taking her exploring, a threat of social services and her now being banned from exploring in Essex :crazy We all made the decision we would not return to sevs for a few weeks at least :thumb, we thought it might be a good idea as they had made it 100% clear that we will be going to court for trespass. As of yet nothing. But never say never. Apparently it is out of the onsite's security's hands and is in managements hands now, as they are sick and tired of the fence getting trashed all the time.

All in, it was a fab day, something I have always wanted to see, my Daughter saw it too and had a amazing day until the police showed up and Terminator cop gets out of his Car.

History

The 300-acre (120 ha) 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. Unlike modern British hospitals, patients in Severalls were separated according to their gender. Villas were constructed around the main hospital building as accommodation blocks between 1910 and 1935. Most of the buildings are in the Queen Anne style, with few architectural embellishments, typical of the Edwardian period. The most ornate buildings are the Administration Building, Larch House and Severalls House (originally the Medical Superintendent's residence).


Psychiatric experiments
Psychiatrists were free to experiment with new treatments on patients seemingly at will, using practices now considered unsuitable such as electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) and the use of frontal lobotomy. The use of these treatments peaked in the 1950s. In her book Madness in Its Place: Narratives of Severalls Hospital, 1913-1997,[1] Diana Gittins notes that often women were admitted by their own family, sometimes as the result of bearing illegitimate children or because they had been raped. As they would not always (or were unable to) carry out daily tasks, they were considered to be insane and some were even subjected to ECT and lobotomy. A change in management during the 1960s (and likely a change in social acceptance) saw reforms introduced including the creation of art and music therapy programs and the widespread use of drugs and medication.

Closure
The hospital closed as a psychiatric hospital in the early 1990s 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, etc., as a temporary building for nearby Colchester General Hospital which was in the process of building an entire new building for these patients. A few of the satellite villas as of 2013 are still operational as research facilities on the edge of the site. This includes "Chestnut Villa" (originally Children's Villa), which provides laboratory services, and "Willow House" (originally Male Acute Ward), and Severalls House (originally the Medical Superintendent's residence). "Rivendell", a more modern building is still in use at the entrance to the site. Apart from Chestnut Villa, all remaining Buildings still in use are owned and run by North Essex Partnership University Foundation Trust (NEPFT).

Since 1997 the remaining structures have changed little. Architecturally, the site remains an excellent example of a specific asylum plan. However, the buildings have suffered greatly from vandalism. In 2005 the main hall was subjected to an arson attack and in 2007 the charred building was demolished for safety reasons. The five boilers were removed from the Central Boiler House in 2007.

In 2008, the sale of the hospital site, including its extensive grounds, collapsed due to the slow-down in the building industry.

_MG_5213_zpsc3e92970.jpg


_MG_5219_zpsdbf0dbf9.jpg


_MG_5242_zps66316222.jpg


_MG_5261_zpsbc6ff654.jpg


_MG_5270_zps22cd3bb5.jpg


_MG_5276_zpscb9f8ec7.jpg


_MG_5280_zps70904e92.jpg


_MG_5299_zps7c99e647.jpg


_MG_5305_zps8608924e.jpg


_MG_5310_zps3400296e.jpg


_MG_5324_zps521d2631.jpg


_MG_5330_zps7e1f404e.jpg


_MG_5337_zps738bed81.jpg


_MG_5345-Edit-Edit_zpsb7de36a7.jpg


View attachment 609038

_MG_5360_zpsd2c94d0d.jpg


_MG_5369_zps7cf436b5.jpg


_MG_5381_zpsb81c4bea.jpg


_MG_5399_zps84d132b5.jpg


_MG_5411_zpsc162b718.jpg


_MG_5418_zpsabd8dbcd.jpg


_MG_5425_zpsabb4ed11.jpg


_MG_5430_zpsce3fa95c.jpg


_MG_5441_zpsee5d0966.jpg


_MG_5450-Edit_zpsbd7ff2e7.jpg


Met this Guy in there :D
_MG_5458_zps7b8ffba2.jpg


_MG_5474_zps230186f5.jpg


_MG_5479_zps87c32b0e.jpg


_MG_5487_zps24406f74.jpg
 
Last edited:

norfolkexplorer

Quite often seen exploring further than Norfolk
28DL Full Member
Cheers bud....Yep tried to explain that to the P.C but every time I tried to explain it, he was just rude and aggressive and not letting me speak, and this then led to my daughter getting scared... Funny that she was fine for the other 6 hours till they showed up ;)
 

The_Raw

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Not the first time I've heard this story about security threatening to pin criminal damage on people recently, apparently someone used power tools to cut through a load of palisade during the night so there are 24hr security on site now. I don't understand why anyone would need to go to that extreme personally, just climb over the bloody thing it's not rocket science. Excellent pics by the way :thumb
 

norfolkexplorer

Quite often seen exploring further than Norfolk
28DL Full Member
Cheers bud.. That was what we said to them. I think they said every night for 4 on the trot somebody had smashed through it. Funny how that also coincided with the school holidays starting. We even had a ladder in the car, so I am sure we would not have resorted to the destruction of it. I am just glad I got in to have a good look around and it was not cut short. Somebody else was in there at the same time, as they had also had a pop at the water tower palisade, and we had not gone near that. And yep the 24 hour security is true, he is cool though too.
 

slayaaaa

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Wow i've spent over 24 hours collectively in there and never met anyone else :/ love the report and pics, never seen that bath before!
 

Session9

A life backwards
28DL Full Member
Nice set fella. At least you got a good six hours before the agro.
Civil action... Yeah right :)
 

Lord Oort

Fear is the little death
Regular User
only to be told that they apparently Knew we had smashed the fence down to get in, and the police were getting called. So we let them do just that as we knew we had nothing to do with that, In the end all the police came to do was to check that we had given all the correct details so that The site owners could take civil proceedings against us all for trespass (somehow don't think they will prove that the criminal damage had anything to do with us)

Bought an action cam specifically for this type of situation.

Really good the pics, I adore corridor porn! Would love to get up here at some point but looks like it's being ruined by idiots
 
Last edited:

ACID- REFLUX

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Nice ones :thumb

Sounds like the OTFT Copper that Busted me @ Bass Maltings WTF?? Must be ex Met" Police or something :) Giving all the others a bad name
 

essxlad

28DL Member
28DL Member
I am new here but I was there the day you were here.

I have since seen one of you a couple of times since then and had some informative discussions including a very puzzled meeting last night until I remembered who you were (you know who you are ;) lol) The male copper that turned up was not only rude but his views on your daughter were wrong as I had to commend you privately she was in saftey gear and you admitted she never left you so posed no danger. I did disagree with the copper and felt so sorry for your daughter and the unneeded stresses she would have suffered because of the police officers poor handling of the matter.

After seeing some of the shots you had taken I have been in awe of some of the stuff that has been taken of the old place. I definitely want to see some more but dont have a clue on where to look to be honest.

As for the prosecution side of things we couldnt actually pin the damage on you as no weapons were present but the NHS are prosecuting for tresspass if they can get a definite conviction also there is 24 hour security on site but for friday, saturday and sunday nights. Even then some of the security is a little lacking (falling asleep and only doing half a job when they are meant to be patrolling).

If you need any help I can help and am an inbox away if you need any help as they have a few cameras around now, I know the locations as well lol.
 

norfolkexplorer

Quite often seen exploring further than Norfolk
28DL Full Member
Cheers buddy. I think for best I will just keep my distance from the site now lol. Much appreciated for the comments about my little 1. It was a good laugh till the plod turned up and ruined the party (as usual)
 

essxlad

28DL Member
28DL Member
As I said in the PM I set mate they have there ways of trying to prosecute now but it isnt fool proof. I could see how aggitated your little one was gettin when the police officer went on the offensive with no regards to feelings and emotions and the outcome of his actions. I felt sorry for you all when we had to detain you all and wait around but rules are rules unfortunately and the thing that didnt help was the damage to the balastrade where you came in from. After the chat with you all it was clear that it wasnt you guys, in my eyes anyway
 

Draven

28DL Member
28DL Member
As I said in the PM I set mate they have there ways of trying to prosecute now but it isnt fool proof. I could see how aggitated your little one was gettin when the police officer went on the offensive with no regards to feelings and emotions and the outcome of his actions. I felt sorry for you all when we had to detain you all and wait around but rules are rules unfortunately and the thing that didnt help was the damage to the balastrade where you came in from. After the chat with you all it was clear that it wasnt you guys, in my eyes anyway

I'm confused...are you security for the site?
 

AuntieKnickers

inquisitive historian
28DL Full Member
As I said in the PM I set mate they have there ways of trying to prosecute now but it isnt fool proof. I could see how aggitated your little one was gettin when the police officer went on the offensive with no regards to feelings and emotions and the outcome of his actions. I felt sorry for you all when we had to detain you all and wait around but rules are rules unfortunately and the thing that didnt help was the damage to the balastrade where you came in from. After the chat with you all it was clear that it wasnt you guys, in my eyes anyway

This must be the one you mentioned when you caught us in August.
 

Who has read this thread (Total: 4) View details

Top