Report - Wolverhampton Eye Infirmary, various dates in April / May 2017

[Post-apocalyptic Pete]

History
The original Infirmary was designed by the architect T H Fleeming (1849‑1935) whose works also include Barclays Bank, Lichfield Street (1876), the College of Adult Education, Old Hall Street (1899) and the late 19th century spire of St. Jude's Church, Tettenhall Road (itself built in 1867‑9), all of which are Grade II Statutorily Listed Buildings, and the former Higher Grade School, Newhampton Road which is on the Council's Local List.

There are three principal buildings on this site: the original Infirmary of 1888; the Nurses' Home of 1927; and the Outpatients'/Accident and Emergency Extension of 1937. These buildings are quite different in style but all are of definite architectural and historic interest and all were designed by significant local architects.

This place has always had a special interest to me; it is about 10 minutes away from my house (Nice to have a site you can walk to!), my grandparents both worked as nurses here and I did my work experience in the place many moons ago. The articles that most of the reports on this place quote for the history of the Infirmary were written by my Granddad (Roy Stallard) which are linked below:

http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/articles/EyeHospital/EyeInfirmary.htm
http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/listed/localist/EyeInfirmary.htm

The explores
Visited on 3 occasions in April and May after not visiting for about 4 years; the first visit was a solo explore which was cut short by some needle waving addicts. The second visit on 18/04/17 with @lou2209 and @rakadactyl was more productive although the nurses home had been sealed. A final visit on 06/05/17 with a non member took another look in the main hospital building and a quick look around the nurses home which had been opened up again.

The Infirmary in 1900, from Granddad's collection



The tower, taken from within the grounds

[url=https://flic.kr/p/XiRsqN]

Pharmacy

[url=https://flic.kr/p/XnJvg6]

Each report seems to have a picture of this truck! During our visits it was at the bottom of the stairs by the lockers

[url=https://flic.kr/p/XiRqLW]

Up the stairs, peeling paint.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/WXBQgs]

Along the corridor, top floor

[url=https://flic.kr/p/XmyCA2]

Up the ladders to the roof space; we propped the loft hatch open for to make it easier for the next explorers. You're welcome!

[url=https://flic.kr/p/WkgxHB]

Some fairly elderly looking lift gear

[url=https://flic.kr/p/XiQSzS]

Looking out of the top floor window near the lift; despite all the decay and destruction, the old beauty is still there in places. Just look at that stonework

[url=https://flic.kr/p/XyG1pa]

The "Blue Room" according to older reports, most of the paint has now peeled

[url=https://flic.kr/p/WXCjwA]

Looking out of the education room at the back of the Children's Ward. The photo doesn't do the sunrise justice (In fairness my photos rarely do...)

[url=https://flic.kr/p/WhTgbq]

Children's Ward ("Jenny Wren Corner") The floor in this part of the building was really poor, it moved with every step; as the roof and ceiling are now sieve like, it will only be a matter of time before the elements make it collapse.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/XnL12F]

Down to the first floor

[url=https://flic.kr/p/XnL32n]

One of the more interesting things I have found while exploring; tattered pages from the Daily Herald newspaper, 06/05/1940. The British Expeditionary Force had withdrawn from Norway the previous day, effectively surrendering Norway to Hitler. 2 days later the Norway Debate in Parliament would lead to Winston Churchill becoming Prime Minister and the changing of the course of history. The Daily Herald became The Sun in 1964. Found in first floor office.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/XzTE2r]

Former coffee shop, near the main entrance

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[Six]

I think that paper may have been part of the newspaper Dweeb and I found, it was wrapped around some quite delightful breadcrusts /vom.

 

[Post-apocalyptic Pete]

I was surprised to see it to be honest, given how little is left in there now- probably the only interesting item we found (Apart from a copy of the Readers Digest magazine from 1993)

I only hope the sandwiches weren't from the 1940s too!

 

[Chloe1210]

Easy access to both buildings that go on forever it’s such a shame seeing it in the state it’s in because I could imagine how beautiful it could be security signs everywhere but none in sight full on homeless people and needles so beware watch your step as some needles are well hidden in cloths stairs giving way and second floor to but stick to the sides and you will Be fine I felt like I wasn’t being watced at all times which was spooky curtains still hanging in some places its a must see

 

[desertedurbex]

One of my favorite places to explore with extremely easy access (however, attempts have now been made to prevent access with fences being repaired, CCTV security signs in place and windows and doorways being boarded up).

It's hard to find much these days as it's been so easy to access for such a long time but still to this day you can find a few things, earlier this year we found some old files dating back to the 1980s.

For the most part the building is secure and safe, some needles on the floor and typical hazards you'll find in any abandoned building however the second floor has had at leased one known fire recently and parts of the floor seem to have holes, other than this the only real downside/caution to the building is the amount of homeless people in and around the property, we've encountered some not so friendly ones during a night time explore once.