Whatever your views have been on this place, it is indeed one of the last purpose built asylums to close it's doors in the UK.... Based on that fact and the fact it wasn't that far away from home we put a little effort in to seeing what we could this spring.
I was actually pleasantly surprised here...and I think timing had a little to do with it. By the time we had gotten around to having a pop at Shelton the conversion process had begun, stripping much of the suspended ceilings and other modern additions. This as always had revealed the usual dated wallpaper and other original features.
The kitchen ceiling was especially impressive once the poly tiles had been stripped out, revealing a vast ceiling complete with wooden gantries and louvered vents.
On to the wards which on the whole were quite modern, but there were plenty of dated fixtures and fittings, as well as the original "cell" layouts still being clearly visible. The conversion process had meant many floors had been lifted, so a while spent hunting for buttons and woodbine packets was a must
Of all the parts of the building which had escaped modernization were the toilets and washrooms, many of which looked as though they had not even been decorated for decades!
Admin was quite unique and differed greatly from the "Hine" style asylums. The most notable feature is of course the curved window seat, but the hardwood floor, staircase and fireplaces were also good to see. A tiny staircase led through a hatch to the hall's loft, again full of old fag packets and light bulb boxes!
Sadly for me the hall was sealed tight on both my visits, but by the look of the Raw's photos I didn't miss too much...
Double cast window, so the window can be opened without leaving a large gap... quite unique
It's like Whittingham all over again! Sadly the projection room we had been hoping to see has been stripped of projectors. Only a lone film reel and a few stray carbon arcs are left
I was actually pleasantly surprised here...and I think timing had a little to do with it. By the time we had gotten around to having a pop at Shelton the conversion process had begun, stripping much of the suspended ceilings and other modern additions. This as always had revealed the usual dated wallpaper and other original features.
The kitchen ceiling was especially impressive once the poly tiles had been stripped out, revealing a vast ceiling complete with wooden gantries and louvered vents.
On to the wards which on the whole were quite modern, but there were plenty of dated fixtures and fittings, as well as the original "cell" layouts still being clearly visible. The conversion process had meant many floors had been lifted, so a while spent hunting for buttons and woodbine packets was a must
Of all the parts of the building which had escaped modernization were the toilets and washrooms, many of which looked as though they had not even been decorated for decades!
Admin was quite unique and differed greatly from the "Hine" style asylums. The most notable feature is of course the curved window seat, but the hardwood floor, staircase and fireplaces were also good to see. A tiny staircase led through a hatch to the hall's loft, again full of old fag packets and light bulb boxes!
Sadly for me the hall was sealed tight on both my visits, but by the look of the Raw's photos I didn't miss too much...
Double cast window, so the window can be opened without leaving a large gap... quite unique
It's like Whittingham all over again! Sadly the projection room we had been hoping to see has been stripped of projectors. Only a lone film reel and a few stray carbon arcs are left
