Ex - US Army Hospital Devon

TuningHouse · May 10, 2009

Probably been covered before but this was my girlfriend and my, first go at derelicts. new to camera skills too so please feel free to comment on everything.
This is an Ex US army hospital, that when shut down, then housed polish refugee's after 1947. All of the american bikes, Jeeps etc were crated and buried in the surrounding fields with a great big "order" placed on them to prevent digging. We got approached by police at the end who were pretty decent, then the owners of the land came and spoke to us. The were pretty cool and asked me to pass on a message - Please do not publish the location of this site - even if people know where it is. It is being pulled down this year, and part of it is now under Heritage act as 5 different types of rare bat are livving in the top buildings. The bats will not return if they see people entering the buildings.

Anyway, with that said

Over 200 pics in all, but this is 36 of them

I mean, what is Betamax haha

TuningHouse · May 10, 2009

TuningHouse · May 10, 2009

Not sure what this is, but it was in a room marked up Bakery

Really really eerie place this is.....

klempner69 · May 10, 2009

Interesting

Very interesting place especially knowing there is stuff buried...what a waste not to recover it.

Stu

Urban Mole · May 10, 2009

TuningHouse said:

OMG

Check out all that archive footage, and proberbly of the hospital too, some of that needs saving or atleast converting and uploaded... :neutral:

TuningHouse · May 10, 2009

In the late 50's part of it was opened up as a dance hall for the Poles and was a big hit with other locals too. It started to close in 1976 ans was eventually closed in 1992 with Asbestos issues. The Poles were re housed in a new block (on site and very close), and litterally once they have died out (they are on their 3rd generation) they will level the new block too, and sell the land off (except the bat buildings)

Got all that info from the land owner, a second generation Polish imigrant. I thought they were going to kick off at first, but they were ok when they found out we wernt Graffing the place.

Urban Mole · May 10, 2009

You should ask him if you could have some of that old film etc, might be something interesting on it, maybe

TuningHouse · May 10, 2009

Urban Mole said:
OMG

Check out all that archive footage, and proberbly of the hospital too, some of that needs saving or atleast converting and uploaded...

There was absolutely tonnes of them - at least 6-7000 reels, some new, some old. Some films included "Sparticus" and loads of items marked up with codes. The owner even said he ad no idea about it all.

We also got stopped before getting to the Mortuary !! Damn it

Badoosh · May 10, 2009

Urban Mole said:
OMG

Check out all that archive footage, and proberbly of the hospital too, some of that needs saving or atleast converting and uploaded...

I couldn't agree more with you! Let's hope they salvage the stuff before any demolition takes place.

Cracking pics & report. Need to get back here for another visit methinks.

Neosea · May 10, 2009

Good going for a first! Cool photos, looks a good place

TuningHouse · May 10, 2009

I may just phone and ask the land owner if I can go back, and get into the mortuary. Its very difficult not to offend those that have been born and brought up there though. I cant help feeling that its a bit crass, me with my camera photographing their entire life.

How many pics do you guys normally put on a thread ? Or is the above about right ?

Foxylady · May 10, 2009

TuningHouse said:
All of the american bikes, Jeeps etc were crated and buried in the surrounding fields with a great big "order" placed on them to prevent digging.

It's amazing how much that went on...most of the ex-US airfields had stuff buried so that they didn't have to take it back with them to America.
Excellent first report and photos, TH.

As far as the amount of photos, it's really up to the poster. Some post up a few and have a link to the rest, but I personally post up around the same amount that you have. Any more than that is porabably a bit too much though!

Urban Mole · May 10, 2009

Wow I missed this bit;

TuningHouse said:
All of the american bikes, Jeeps etc were crated and buried in the surrounding fields with a great big "order" placed on them to prevent digging. We got approached by police at the end who were pretty decent, then the owners of the land came and spoke to us. The were pretty cool and asked me to pass on a message - Please do not publish the location of this site - even if people know where it is. It is being pulled down this year

Scan reading

Its a pity that these things were buried, you would have thought that collectors or historians etc etc would want them dug up and put on display, I hate it when history is removed

When its being demo'd, get up there with a metal detector and see what lies beneath the ground :mrgreen:

kernowexpeditionary · May 10, 2009

didnt realise there was a mortuary??? any chance of a flashearth link [email protected]

S1MON · May 10, 2009

Nice pictures there, i've been there twice lately late at night tho, very interesting place. bit spooky at night.
shame to see most of it trashed tho.

Yeah any info on them mortuary would be helpful

EDIT: Oh yeah, has anyone noticed the oasis lyrics on bits of a4 paper around the reception area? lol

james.s · May 10, 2009

I think you should dig the jeeps up

I like the picture of the sofa and wheelchair. Nice work!

Lightbuoy · May 11, 2009

Good first post TH

Looks like there's a fair bit to see here too

sallybear · May 11, 2009

Betamax videos and old Walkers packets brings back my childhood that does *sniff*

Cracking explore!! gret pics

simaving · May 11, 2009

Army hospital Devon

Wow I thought stories of American equipment being buried at bases was an urban legend!! Has no one ever dug anything up? Would make a cool time team special or similar ha ha

escortmad79 · May 11, 2009

simaving said:
Wow I thought stories of American equipment being buried at bases was an urban legend!! Has no one ever dug anything up? Would make a cool time team special or similar ha ha

Couple of GMC 6x4s, a Diamond T & a few Willys/Ford Jeeps would be nice!

Ex - US Army Hospital Devon

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