Walnut Tree Hospital
My first report of many hopefully, any pointers let me know, enjoy
History
The hospital started out life as accommodation for St George's Collage until work to convert it in to a workhouse begun in 1718. By 1837 the work house was open and received its first inmates, however a year later the residents would suffer a smallpox outbreak and admissions stopped. Form this point onwards, hospital related additions were made (possibly to combat the smallpox?) until it had evolved in to a fully fledged hospital. By 1930 the name changed from Walnut Tree House to Walnut Tree Hospital, completing its transformation. Throughout the 1990's Sudbury was struggling to keep up with the demand for care to the point where a third hospital was being considered. This new hospital complex would replace both Walnut Tree and St Leonards due to the current two not being viable for upgrade. Since then the hospital provided rehabilitation, continuing care, and for the care of older people with severe mental illness. The hospital would provide care up until October 2010 when it closed as part of plans to nurse more people in their homes or at care homes in the region. The future of the hospital is as yet undecided but approval of flats has been confirmed.
(Peter Higginbotham 2001)
References
http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Sudbury/
(Extensive history 1703-1930)
http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1995/dec/12/walnuttree-hospital-sudbury
(Considerations for the third hospital)
My first report of many hopefully, any pointers let me know, enjoy
History
The hospital started out life as accommodation for St George's Collage until work to convert it in to a workhouse begun in 1718. By 1837 the work house was open and received its first inmates, however a year later the residents would suffer a smallpox outbreak and admissions stopped. Form this point onwards, hospital related additions were made (possibly to combat the smallpox?) until it had evolved in to a fully fledged hospital. By 1930 the name changed from Walnut Tree House to Walnut Tree Hospital, completing its transformation. Throughout the 1990's Sudbury was struggling to keep up with the demand for care to the point where a third hospital was being considered. This new hospital complex would replace both Walnut Tree and St Leonards due to the current two not being viable for upgrade. Since then the hospital provided rehabilitation, continuing care, and for the care of older people with severe mental illness. The hospital would provide care up until October 2010 when it closed as part of plans to nurse more people in their homes or at care homes in the region. The future of the hospital is as yet undecided but approval of flats has been confirmed.
(Peter Higginbotham 2001)
References
http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Sudbury/
(Extensive history 1703-1930)
http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1995/dec/12/walnuttree-hospital-sudbury
(Considerations for the third hospital)
Future Development
Similar to every other abandoned building in the country that hasn't fallen down yet, Walnut Tree is set to be converted to flats and/or housing. As of 2015 plans for 46 flats were approved however there was still speculation whether the original building would remain. This is because it would cost more to convert the current building instead of pulling it all down and starting again. However, a year later in 2016 and the plans to retain the old building are revealed to be "not financially viable". The plans put in place by the West Suffolk Hospital NHS Trust hoped to keep the large majority of the core site creating 36 new flats in the process. The rest of the site would then be used to build a collection of three story houses. Unfortunately, this plan has be shot down by profit margins which have laid fear that the site may be sold to a private contractor. Should this occur then they would likely demolish the entire building and start from fresh. This would be a real shame as although redevelopment is inevitable, the plans provided by the Trust retain the 300-year -old building.
(East Anglian Daily Times, Emma Brennan)
References
http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/plans-to-convert-walnuttree-hospital-to-create-42-flats-approved-but-restrictions-mean-scheme-may-not-be-financially-viable-1-3917792
(Flat conversion approval)
http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/sudbury-...uring-flat-conversion-is-not-viable-1-2967741
(Flat Conversion deemed not viable)
The Explore
Summary
The trip to Walnut Trees was well worth it assuming you are willing to go above and beyond to get in, however it can be done without breaking anything or leaving a trace. The exterior is still quite appealing if access isn't an option. The interior is completely stripped of equipment but places like the wards are still identifiable buy the lamps and curtain rails. I would definitely recommend going if you love a challenge as you will be rewarded with unadvertised beauty.
Complete Account
After scouting the area around the hospital we choose the subtlest entry point to get inside the grounds; once we were in realised how difficult it would be to gain access without the use of a digger. Fair play to the NHS, I've never seen so much effort put in to securing some windows. Never the less we still persisted to try and find an opening of some sort. After half an hour of challenging our gymnastics skills we found out there was another court yard the other side of the hospital. This was also in a similar state of lock down however our prior gymnastics warm up proved to be the key for gaining access.
As soon as we were in i knew it was going to be a good explore, the place was stripped but there was no vandalism in sight. The first room we came across just set the tone for the whole location, a completely bare bones room apart from the selection of Christmas decorations with un-pulled crackers! We then moved down the corridor only to be met with a nice PIR and a rather loud alarm approximately 5 seconds later. As we weren't in a socialising mode we decided to swiftly exit the way we had come in. After we had retreated, a lady (presumably security) came around the floor we were on calling out for us. We kept low for 20 minutes then decided to make our way back in.
We tried an alternative route which lead to different wards and a storage cupboard, along with a load of junk was a scroll with someone's heart rate on. Found this pretty interesting and really put in to perspective how old the place was. Moving on from there we continued our explore and inevitably found another PIR scanner which in turn started screaming again. Instead of hiding again we just carried on exploring. We had put so much effort in to the access, we wanted to see as much as possible. Also, should we get caught then we would have exited a different way allowing us to see more of the hospital. A win win situation really.
After setting of the alarm about six times we decided to keep to the upper floors which didn't seem to have PIR's. Similar to the previous, the tops floors where completely stripped apart from the odd chair and table. With the knowledge that there was someone else somewhere in the building, our paranoia kept us from going to the bottom two floor so we decided to call it a day.
We left the interior and finished the explore up with some more exterior shots.
Photos
Video Clips
When I explore, I like to have my GoPro strapped to my chest or head; and before you ask, no I don't have a YouTube channel. There are two main reasons I have it recording, firstly it proves my innocence should I get caught and get accused of one thing or another. And secondly it's a nice memento of the trip, photos are great but they don't always capture the mood and atmosphere that video can. Below are a few clips of raw footage from the place, no fancy music or editing, just a different perspective of the location.
Similar to every other abandoned building in the country that hasn't fallen down yet, Walnut Tree is set to be converted to flats and/or housing. As of 2015 plans for 46 flats were approved however there was still speculation whether the original building would remain. This is because it would cost more to convert the current building instead of pulling it all down and starting again. However, a year later in 2016 and the plans to retain the old building are revealed to be "not financially viable". The plans put in place by the West Suffolk Hospital NHS Trust hoped to keep the large majority of the core site creating 36 new flats in the process. The rest of the site would then be used to build a collection of three story houses. Unfortunately, this plan has be shot down by profit margins which have laid fear that the site may be sold to a private contractor. Should this occur then they would likely demolish the entire building and start from fresh. This would be a real shame as although redevelopment is inevitable, the plans provided by the Trust retain the 300-year -old building.
(East Anglian Daily Times, Emma Brennan)
References
http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/plans-to-convert-walnuttree-hospital-to-create-42-flats-approved-but-restrictions-mean-scheme-may-not-be-financially-viable-1-3917792
(Flat conversion approval)
http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/sudbury-...uring-flat-conversion-is-not-viable-1-2967741
(Flat Conversion deemed not viable)
The Explore
Summary
The trip to Walnut Trees was well worth it assuming you are willing to go above and beyond to get in, however it can be done without breaking anything or leaving a trace. The exterior is still quite appealing if access isn't an option. The interior is completely stripped of equipment but places like the wards are still identifiable buy the lamps and curtain rails. I would definitely recommend going if you love a challenge as you will be rewarded with unadvertised beauty.
Complete Account
After scouting the area around the hospital we choose the subtlest entry point to get inside the grounds; once we were in realised how difficult it would be to gain access without the use of a digger. Fair play to the NHS, I've never seen so much effort put in to securing some windows. Never the less we still persisted to try and find an opening of some sort. After half an hour of challenging our gymnastics skills we found out there was another court yard the other side of the hospital. This was also in a similar state of lock down however our prior gymnastics warm up proved to be the key for gaining access.
As soon as we were in i knew it was going to be a good explore, the place was stripped but there was no vandalism in sight. The first room we came across just set the tone for the whole location, a completely bare bones room apart from the selection of Christmas decorations with un-pulled crackers! We then moved down the corridor only to be met with a nice PIR and a rather loud alarm approximately 5 seconds later. As we weren't in a socialising mode we decided to swiftly exit the way we had come in. After we had retreated, a lady (presumably security) came around the floor we were on calling out for us. We kept low for 20 minutes then decided to make our way back in.
We tried an alternative route which lead to different wards and a storage cupboard, along with a load of junk was a scroll with someone's heart rate on. Found this pretty interesting and really put in to perspective how old the place was. Moving on from there we continued our explore and inevitably found another PIR scanner which in turn started screaming again. Instead of hiding again we just carried on exploring. We had put so much effort in to the access, we wanted to see as much as possible. Also, should we get caught then we would have exited a different way allowing us to see more of the hospital. A win win situation really.
After setting of the alarm about six times we decided to keep to the upper floors which didn't seem to have PIR's. Similar to the previous, the tops floors where completely stripped apart from the odd chair and table. With the knowledge that there was someone else somewhere in the building, our paranoia kept us from going to the bottom two floor so we decided to call it a day.
We left the interior and finished the explore up with some more exterior shots.
Photos
Video Clips
When I explore, I like to have my GoPro strapped to my chest or head; and before you ask, no I don't have a YouTube channel. There are two main reasons I have it recording, firstly it proves my innocence should I get caught and get accused of one thing or another. And secondly it's a nice memento of the trip, photos are great but they don't always capture the mood and atmosphere that video can. Below are a few clips of raw footage from the place, no fancy music or editing, just a different perspective of the location.
Thanks for reading
Exxperious
Exxperious
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