pumice
Well-known member
Saw these beautiful former workhouses whilst on Christmas duty picking up an aunt from Bow in East London. I was immediately fascinated by there appearance and the foreboding and seemingly easy scaled iron fences. Easily identified as St Clements hospital, I asked my 83 year old aunt if she knew anything about the hospital as she used to work in childrens services. Turns out she knew the hospital very well and argued with many social workers about referring some of her clients there......
Originally built in 1848/49 by the City Of London Union for the Board Of Guardians it became an infirmary in 1874 and in 1912, The Bow Institute For The Long Term Sick. It became a psychiatric unit in 1936 using the St Clements name once again. In 1968 it became part of the London Hospital and went through various organisational changes until closure in 2005 when mental health services were transferred to Mile End in October 2005.The site is now owned by the Homes & Communities Agency, who intend to create 275 new dwellings on the site. Local campaigners are advocating that it become the site of the UK's first urban Community Land Trust.
The site is massive, considering its proximity to the main road just outside and became a little mission for myself, LonDan and Wednesday86. We visited late one evening and after 3 hours attempting to gain entry and gashed finger in my case, decided it was gonna be very difficult to gain entry as the site was well sealed and Secca pretty hot. However, Wednesday and LonDans determination led to dirty access being found and a plan put in place to explore this historic and externally handsome hospital. We visited on bright and sunny morning in Feb, unfortunately, due to injury, Wednesday could not come and we had a further non-member with us. It was a fantastic explore and the access, tricky but much fun. Thanks to all in involved and to LonDan for his ninja skills in finding access and leading us in! :Not Worthy
Now on with the pictures..............
The adolescent unit we didn't crack; Yet.
The best staircase I have seen so far.........
The hospital is littered with paintings like this and others and I ponder whether it was the same artist/patient
So, sorry about the number of pictures, a pic heavy place, but I haven't seen it up here so thought I'd give you a taste. If you want to see them with a soundtrack, check this youtube link [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zcw_OHcb56s[/ame].
Thanks for looking and I hope you enjoyed it...........
Originally built in 1848/49 by the City Of London Union for the Board Of Guardians it became an infirmary in 1874 and in 1912, The Bow Institute For The Long Term Sick. It became a psychiatric unit in 1936 using the St Clements name once again. In 1968 it became part of the London Hospital and went through various organisational changes until closure in 2005 when mental health services were transferred to Mile End in October 2005.The site is now owned by the Homes & Communities Agency, who intend to create 275 new dwellings on the site. Local campaigners are advocating that it become the site of the UK's first urban Community Land Trust.
The site is massive, considering its proximity to the main road just outside and became a little mission for myself, LonDan and Wednesday86. We visited late one evening and after 3 hours attempting to gain entry and gashed finger in my case, decided it was gonna be very difficult to gain entry as the site was well sealed and Secca pretty hot. However, Wednesday and LonDans determination led to dirty access being found and a plan put in place to explore this historic and externally handsome hospital. We visited on bright and sunny morning in Feb, unfortunately, due to injury, Wednesday could not come and we had a further non-member with us. It was a fantastic explore and the access, tricky but much fun. Thanks to all in involved and to LonDan for his ninja skills in finding access and leading us in! :Not Worthy
Now on with the pictures..............
The adolescent unit we didn't crack; Yet.
The best staircase I have seen so far.........
The hospital is littered with paintings like this and others and I ponder whether it was the same artist/patient
So, sorry about the number of pictures, a pic heavy place, but I haven't seen it up here so thought I'd give you a taste. If you want to see them with a soundtrack, check this youtube link [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zcw_OHcb56s[/ame].
Thanks for looking and I hope you enjoyed it...........