Visited with: @UrbanZ & a non-member
History
The hospital, built by Architects Messrs Oatley and Skinner of Bristol between 1902-1908, took 10 years to construct at a cost of £350,000, and was officially opened on the 15th April, 1908.
Being an outstanding example of modernization for its time, having provisions for the latest treatment methods, a large recreation hall, bakery, kitchen, boiler house, it's own fire station, two Belliss and Morcomsteam engine powered generator sets (which were only removed from standby in the mid-1980s), a self contained farm, (providing both food supplies and therapeutic work for the patients)... no doubt contributed to it's lengthy time in active service.
In 1914 the site was commandeered by the military before being renamed 'Welsh Metropolitan War Hospital', and later, in 1919, renamed again as the 'Whitchurch Emergency Hospital'.
On 5 July 1948, the hospital was taken over by the Ministry of Health as the National Health Service came into existence. It continued to be used through to the mid-1980s, when Care in the Community began to reduce the number of resident patients, and was finally decommissioned in 2016.
Explore
This was the only site we had planned for the day, and being such a long way from home we were really hoping it wouldn't be a bust, so I'm glad to report it wasn't. Quite the opposite in fact.
Approaching the site, the main clock tower protruding 150ft above the hospital in the distance, it quickly became apparent how large the place was, it's huge, and this made us all the more eager to get in, so after a quick recce that's exactly what we did.
Most of the hospital is in a pretty good condition considering, and many parts still have mains water and electricity, including the main hall stage, where i had some fun testing out the curtains and lighting.
There are also baths used for bathing patients, beds, snooker tables, x-ray machinery and much more left behind, including notes from patients and rotas for the staff working the last shifts before closing for the final time.
We spent quite a number of hours here and managed to see a large part of the hospital, although i'm sad to say i did not see the cells, so a revisit may be in order.
The police also regularly train at the site as we found police tape everywhere, mock hostage situations and spent munitions cartridges on the floor.
All in all we spent a large amount of time at the site and it was a great explore, but enough talking and onto the pictures.
1. View from Clock tower.
2. One of the main halls.
3. Game room.
4.
5. Hospital gym.
6. Main hall and stage with working curtains.
7. Stage control panel.
8. Kitchen.
9. Strange room. These arrows have been individually drawn and stuck to the wall.
10. Bath. Unfortunately it has been disconnected from the mains.
11. Canteen.
12.
13. Maintenance room with old Betamax recorder. All items are categorized into sections and labeled.
15. Hallway
16. Final view from clock tower.
Thanks for looking
History
The hospital, built by Architects Messrs Oatley and Skinner of Bristol between 1902-1908, took 10 years to construct at a cost of £350,000, and was officially opened on the 15th April, 1908.
Being an outstanding example of modernization for its time, having provisions for the latest treatment methods, a large recreation hall, bakery, kitchen, boiler house, it's own fire station, two Belliss and Morcomsteam engine powered generator sets (which were only removed from standby in the mid-1980s), a self contained farm, (providing both food supplies and therapeutic work for the patients)... no doubt contributed to it's lengthy time in active service.
In 1914 the site was commandeered by the military before being renamed 'Welsh Metropolitan War Hospital', and later, in 1919, renamed again as the 'Whitchurch Emergency Hospital'.
On 5 July 1948, the hospital was taken over by the Ministry of Health as the National Health Service came into existence. It continued to be used through to the mid-1980s, when Care in the Community began to reduce the number of resident patients, and was finally decommissioned in 2016.
Explore
This was the only site we had planned for the day, and being such a long way from home we were really hoping it wouldn't be a bust, so I'm glad to report it wasn't. Quite the opposite in fact.
Approaching the site, the main clock tower protruding 150ft above the hospital in the distance, it quickly became apparent how large the place was, it's huge, and this made us all the more eager to get in, so after a quick recce that's exactly what we did.
Most of the hospital is in a pretty good condition considering, and many parts still have mains water and electricity, including the main hall stage, where i had some fun testing out the curtains and lighting.
There are also baths used for bathing patients, beds, snooker tables, x-ray machinery and much more left behind, including notes from patients and rotas for the staff working the last shifts before closing for the final time.
We spent quite a number of hours here and managed to see a large part of the hospital, although i'm sad to say i did not see the cells, so a revisit may be in order.
The police also regularly train at the site as we found police tape everywhere, mock hostage situations and spent munitions cartridges on the floor.
All in all we spent a large amount of time at the site and it was a great explore, but enough talking and onto the pictures.
1. View from Clock tower.
2. One of the main halls.
3. Game room.
4.
5. Hospital gym.
6. Main hall and stage with working curtains.
7. Stage control panel.
8. Kitchen.
9. Strange room. These arrows have been individually drawn and stuck to the wall.
10. Bath. Unfortunately it has been disconnected from the mains.
11. Canteen.
12.
13. Maintenance room with old Betamax recorder. All items are categorized into sections and labeled.
15. Hallway
16. Final view from clock tower.
Thanks for looking
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