Report - Workhouse/Asylum & Chapel: Eastry; Sept 17

[Calamity Jane]

Eastry workhouse/asylum & chapel

Apologies
not my best photos, not sure what happened. Forgot tripod too.

The workhouse was erected in 1835/6. It was designed by William Spanton following the design of Sir Francis Heads courtyard design, which was adopted by other Kent unions, that designed workhouses and asylums in other areas. The workhouse was originally built to accommodate 500 inmates.
A separate infirmary block was added in 1871. Then a church/chapel were built in the south west corner of the courtyard. Near the road.

The workhouse then became the Eastry hospital for the disabled, infirm and mentally ill patients. A separate 3 storey wing was built as a fever isolation wing.
The area grew in size and housed a farm and once upon a time two cottages. The cottages were burnt down in the 18 hundreds and never rebuilt.

Former workhouse

Plan of site

The Church/Chapel

The Explore

The explore was easy, and very interesting. A few local kids turned up and warned of regular police patrols, but nothing to be concerned about. I explored the workhouse, and asylum wings, then the chapel. All pretty straight forward. I resisted the urge to go into the boiler room, as the roof had already caved in, didnt fancy any accidents. The atmosphere felt quite sad knowing the history. The stories of frontal lobes being removed and ect were playing on my mind during the explore. The upper levels of most wings had floor boards removed, so a very stealth walk along beams to get to see certain bits.

Enough of history and onto photos.

First bit I entered

On route up stairs

Very trashed offices

On to work house

Housed electric boxes stripped of course

Over to workhouse
accommodation

Not alot left to photograph so onto chapel

Thanks for reading/looking
​

 

[pigeonboy]

This is beautiful! Might have to take me one day

 

[Calamity Jane]

This is beautiful! Might have to take me one day

Yep no worries. Will have to get you to mine and then go down, there is more to see and explore here

 

[pepperplant]

Great report! Might have to head on over

 

[Calamity Jane]

Great report! Might have to head on over

Yep go for it. I may head there Sat night, not sure yet

 

[ChrisHowell]

Good pictures, I've seen many places like this but this one seem to stand out more, think a visit is in order.

 

[Calamity Jane]

Good pictures, I've seen many places like this but this one seem to stand out more, think a visit is in order.

Thanks, it looks better in photos than in flesh lol. Id say go for it, I love it here

 

[ChrisHowell]

Thanks, it looks better in photos than in flesh lol. Id say go for it, I love it here

It reminds me of my explore to St Agustines asylum before it got knocked down. Just need to find some new buddies to go with as its a bit of mission to get too but I'll make sure to put it on my list.

 

[Calamity Jane]

It reminds me of my explore to St Agustines asylum before it got knocked down. Just need to find some new buddies to go with as its a bit of mission to get too but I'll make sure to put it on my list.

yep a mission for me too lol. I dont drive so have to rely on others. Im always up for an out though. btw you in a band? strange question I know, seem familiar

 

[ChrisHowell]

yep a mission for me too lol. I dont drive so have to rely on others. Im always up for an out though. btw you in a band? strange question I know, seem familiar

Haha yes I am in a band called Spawn of Pyschosis. Where abouts are you based?

 

[Calamity Jane]

Haha yes I am in a band called Spawn of Pyschosis. Where abouts are you based?

I knew it lol. Im based NW Kent. I run a band too, an alt/rock/indie band Schiller lool . Im good at faces

 

[ChrisHowell]

Its a small world lol. Ill have to check your band out. I find most of the places i have explored have been in kent, makes me miss living there. but next time I down Ill have to catch up on some explores there.

 

[Calamity Jane]

Its a small world lol. Ill have to check your band out. I find most of the places i have explored have been in kent, makes me miss living there. but next time I down Ill have to catch up on some explores there.

Yes definitely give me a shout. I just had a feeling I knew your face or name from somewhere, it can only be UE or bands for me, unless old biker crowd count lol. I know im a female, but there are a few on here, and I love to UE

 

[ChrisHowell]

I Completely agree. Its a smaller world than we think lol Have you got facebook or any other of communicating?