Wheelbirks TB Sanatorium, County Durham
This place is a tad hard to find, but found it eventually! Went through a stream and got wet feet, twice, before realising that really didn't need to go through it at all!!
The Richardson family built this building in the early 1900’s as a Tuberculosis (TB) hospice. The structure itself involved fresh-air as the main form of treatment. TB hospitals generally occupied upland locations with lots of open spaces, glass windows and covered verandas for patients to breathe in the clean, upland air.
However, the building was never used for its intended purpose as the development of antibiotics led to a change in the treatment of TB and the use of upland, isolation hospitals was rendered unnecessary.
The building is now open to the elements and has been commandeered by a local farmer who uses parts of it to store farm equipment and boats.
There's not alot left inside the building now, but its worth going for a look just to see the structure - looks like something from Cansas, like Dorothy's house from the Wizard of Oz.
Not too many pic's i'm afraid on account of having already done an explore earlier in the day and the fact that my Sunday lunch was calling.
External view from the back of the building.
Old cooker / stove.
Tasteful Deco.
Milk bottles left on window ledge (obviously)
Not sure if these have been left by the farmer or kids or former residents....whoever it was must have liked a drop of whiskey
If anyone fancies a visit, need to be very discreet as there is a farmhouse very close by with people coming and going.
This place is a tad hard to find, but found it eventually! Went through a stream and got wet feet, twice, before realising that really didn't need to go through it at all!!
The Richardson family built this building in the early 1900’s as a Tuberculosis (TB) hospice. The structure itself involved fresh-air as the main form of treatment. TB hospitals generally occupied upland locations with lots of open spaces, glass windows and covered verandas for patients to breathe in the clean, upland air.
However, the building was never used for its intended purpose as the development of antibiotics led to a change in the treatment of TB and the use of upland, isolation hospitals was rendered unnecessary.
The building is now open to the elements and has been commandeered by a local farmer who uses parts of it to store farm equipment and boats.
There's not alot left inside the building now, but its worth going for a look just to see the structure - looks like something from Cansas, like Dorothy's house from the Wizard of Oz.
Not too many pic's i'm afraid on account of having already done an explore earlier in the day and the fact that my Sunday lunch was calling.
External view from the back of the building.
Old cooker / stove.
Tasteful Deco.
Milk bottles left on window ledge (obviously)
Not sure if these have been left by the farmer or kids or former residents....whoever it was must have liked a drop of whiskey
If anyone fancies a visit, need to be very discreet as there is a farmhouse very close by with people coming and going.
