Report - Strathmartine Asylum - Dundee - January 2015

[Krypton]

History..

The Baldovan Institution was founded in 1852 as an orphanage, hospital and place of education and training for ‘imbecile’ children, accomodating 30 children. As such it was the first hospital of its kind in Scotland and the second in Britain. The Orphanage opened on 30th November 1854 and the Asylum opened on 6th January 1855.

In 1856 its name was changed to Baldovan Asylum and it expanded its operations after it received its license under the Lunacy Act of 1858, which legalised its function as a home for children. It was found that contact with 'imbeciles' had a detrimental effect upon the orphans and so in 1867 the Orphanage moved to other premises and the Baldovan Asylum concentrated its efforts on the care and education of mentally handicapped children. By 1879 the number of children accommodated at the Asylum had increased to 70 and the site where the Administrative block now stands was acquired. By 1904 the Main Building wards were built and occupied by 160 children.

The Mental Deficiency (Scotland) Act was passed in 1913, providing state supervision of mental defectives, which led to an increased demand for accommodation at Institutions like Baldovan. Between 1904 and 1932 further developments included another ward, staff residency, school facilities, a large Recreation Hall as well as occupational therapy and training in domestic, farm and garden work.

In 1948 the running of the Hospital was transferred to the National Health Service. Subsequent developments included a change of name in 1959 to Strathmartine Hospital and major building works in 1963-1965, which saw the demolition of the original premises and the creation of new and improved facilities, including three new single story wards and a swimming pool. Two new 25 bed wards were opened in 1980.

The site was closed in 2003 and a new hospital built next door.

Its not like your usual asylum, all the wards and buildings are spread out and separate over a very large site. Didn't go in all of them as they looked quite samey.

Admin

Admin Corridor

Workshops

Boiler House

Looking back over to the Engineering bit at the back and Admin

Outbuildings, no idea what purpose many of these served.

Typical ward blocks, quite a few of these.

Dining Room

Ward Stairs

Ward

Drawers

Pool

Krypton

 

[urblex]

Great stuff don't see enough from Scotland, suppose i should get my arse up there rather than winging about it lol.

 

[Krypton]

Cheers dont think there's a great deal left in terms of Asylums up there now though.

 

[mrex]

Didn't know there was a pool!, must have missed that bit when we were there.
You should have checked out "the house of gray" while you were up that way, you probably passed it on the way back...

Mr Ex

 

[Krypton]

Yeh we just stumbled across it. I missed the house of gray, but didn't head back to the NE after here, so probably wouldn't have been on route anyway.

 

[William Muir]

wow how did u get in there i am not far from the hospital id like to go down and have a look myself ill might have to use my phone for the camera as my own video camera wich can take pictures too battery is flat plz give me a idea of access onto the site thnx

 

[William Muir]

History..




Its not like your usual asylum, all the wards and buildings are spread out and separate over a very large site. Didn't go in all of them as they looked quite samey.

Admin

Admin Corridor

Workshops

Boiler House

Looking back over to the Engineering bit at the back and Admin

Outbuildings, no idea what purpose many of these served.

Typical ward blocks, quite a few of these.

Dining Room

Ward Stairs

Ward

Drawers

Pool

Krypton

how did you get in there id like go down and take some pictures for the forum and is there nay buildings that are accessable still and is there rolling security still thnx if you can get back to me