Severalls Hospital -"now & then"

Pete · Mar 4, 2008

Lightbuoy said:
Ahh, Tamarisk Villa. The first time I've seen pics of it (seen the layout from an old O.S. map). I might be wrong here, but I think that the newish NHS Therapy Centre has been built where it stood). If this is correct, then this, I suppose, technically is the first part of Sevs to be re-developed (even though it happened about 6 years ago!!)

I also thought that Tamarisk stood on the site of the new building but it seems not! The new building stands between the social club site and the bowling green on old exit route to mill road - on the 1938/9 old maps Tamarisk is just south of fernholme. Heres a multimap link to the exact site, note the widening of the tarmac driveway which gave access to the rear (The social club is still standing on the flash earth and was identical). Not sure why Tamarisk and Iris were demolished back in 1997 - presumably they were small and probably long disused with no future value as they stood. Heres a very recent photo of Tamarisk villas site:
[lb=http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/imagehosting/179047cdc4fd97914.jpg]

[/lb]

Lightbuoy said:
I'm guessing that that window and wall used to form an external part of the bombed wing?

I think it's more likely that the window was either salvaged from the wreckage or from elsewhere within the complex as the section of wall is contemporary with the verandah and not the ward block.

Pete · Mar 4, 2008

Lightbuoy said:
Female Patients

Unfortunately, I can't seem to find any of my pics of the Female workplace (located off the north east tip of the main Hospital complex, next to the Nurses' block)

Heres the interior of the female industrial unit.
[lb=http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/imagehosting/179047cdc8c47ca00.jpg]

[/lb]

And a couple of comparsion views of three of the images I added before:
Alexandra Ward day room (on male side), slightly closer due to the addition of a partition:
[lb=http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/imagehosting/17904790de3db9490.jpg]

[/lb]
[lb=http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/imagehosting/179047cdca2b2527b.jpg]

[/lb]

Avon ward (on female side):
[lb=http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/imagehosting/17904790de484ece2.jpg]

[/lb]
[lb=http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/imagehosting/179047cdcb4e2ddd0.jpg]

[/lb]

Kirby ward dining room (also female side) - this is the closest match i can make, the partition behind the funky room divider/shelf unit appears to have been removed. Not exact positioning, but the fourth window along, slightly set back, corresponds with the third along on the more recent image.
[lb=http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/imagehosting/17904790de420ce78.jpg]

[/lb]
[lb=http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/imagehosting/179047cdcef24f2d0.jpg]

[/lb]

Pete

Neosea · Mar 4, 2008

Even these derelict hospitals look cleaner than one I had to go to in Brooklyn

King Al · Mar 5, 2008

chelle · Mar 5, 2008

Very interesting pics and info LB and Pete C,when it comes to Sevs you two are the knowledge for sure.

sneaker · Mar 5, 2008

Looking from the other end i believe!.

johno23 · Mar 5, 2008

Awesome report and pictures guys.Before and after angle really tells the story of the place.I bet it could tell a few stories in its time.

Pete · Mar 6, 2008

sneaker said:
Looking from the other end i believe!.[/quote]

Indeed it is! I had wondered whether it was from this direction but the door frame at the end is wrong, and a sanitary annexe exits from where the recessed window should be, also there would be a chimney breast missing from the left hand wall of the old shot. I have too much time on my hands clearly....

smileysal · Mar 6, 2008

I'm loving this thread, love seeing all the old pics of when it was in use, and its its derelict state now. I keep looking at the difference in the floors, how shiny the floor boards were to how they are now. Were they covering in carpets or lino during the later years? thats whats puzzling me now.

Cheers,

Sal

Lightbuoy · Mar 6, 2008

Pete C said:
I also thought that Tamarisk stood on the site of the new building but it seems not! The new building stands between the social club site and the bowling green on old exit route to mill road - on the 1938/9 old maps Tamarisk is just south of fernholme. Heres a multimap link to the exact site, note the widening of the tarmac driveway which gave access to the rear (The social club is still standing on the flash earth and was identical). Not sure why Tamarisk and Iris were demolished back in 1997 - presumably they were small and probably long disused with no future value as they stood. Heres a very recent photo of Tamarisk villas site:
[lb=http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/imagehosting/179047cdc4fd97914.jpg]

[/lb]

I think it's more likely that the window was either salvaged from the wreckage or from elsewhere within the complex as the section of wall is contemporary with the verandah and not the ward block.

Doh!

Thanks for putting me right on the Location of Tamarisk!
I'm currently editing a copy of a video film that's been kindly lent to me. This shows Severalls Hospital in the final stages of closing down in 1996/1997. This includes Tamarisk Villa during demolition. Apparently the buildings contained a high amount of Asbestos -but the demo' gang certainly didn't look too concerned!

Lb

Lightbuoy · Mar 6, 2008

Pete C said:
Heres the interior of the female industrial unit.
[lb=http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/imagehosting/179047cdc8c47ca00.jpg]

[/lb]

And a couple of comparsion views of three of the images I added before:
Alexandra Ward day room (on male side), slightly closer due to the addition of a partition:
[lb=http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/imagehosting/17904790de3db9490.jpg]

[/lb]
[lb=http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/imagehosting/179047cdca2b2527b.jpg]

[/lb]

Avon ward (on female side):
[lb=http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/imagehosting/17904790de484ece2.jpg]

[/lb]
[lb=http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/imagehosting/179047cdcb4e2ddd0.jpg]

[/lb]

Kirby ward dining room (also female side) - this is the closest match i can make, the partition behind the funky room divider/shelf unit appears to have been removed. Not exact positioning, but the fourth window along, slightly set back, corresponds with the third along on the more recent image.
[lb=http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/imagehosting/17904790de420ce78.jpg]

[/lb]
[lb=http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/imagehosting/179047cdcef24f2d0.jpg]

[/lb]

Pete

That's great detective work Pete!

Thanks for adding a more recent snap of the Female Work Unit. The other "old & new" photos are fab.
Personally, the most challenging part of matching the old with the new is to work out which floor the pictures were taken on (ground being just like the first floor in many cases!)

Lb

Lightbuoy · Mar 6, 2008

sneaker said:
Looking from the other end i believe!.

I'm really enjoying seeing Sevs from other people's photos -cheers Sneaks

Lb

P.s. -Think that Kirby Ward is one of the Wards that runs north-south, sort of cutting a corner on the main outside angled wards.

E.g. -

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v...t=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=7638331&encType=1

Might not have centred on Kirby Ward, but think that it is similar in location and oreintation.

FYI -follow this here link to a 3d view of Sevs -enjoy!

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v...am=51.908612~0.891932&scene=7638331&encType=1

MD · Mar 6, 2008

thats a great link lb
makes me want to go back there soon.
any luck with the map?

Lightbuoy · Mar 6, 2008

mattdonut said:
thats a great link lb
makes me want to go back there soon.
any luck with the map?

Thanks Matt. PM sent about map

Lb

Lightbuoy · Mar 6, 2008

chelle said:
Very interesting pics and info LB and Pete C,when it comes to Sevs you two are the knowledge for sure.

Thanking you kindly matey

The amount of spare time I've spent inside and outside Sevs, and research done, if they ever re-opened the Hospital, I reckon I'd be the first one in there for me ever-so-slight-obsession! :mrgreen:

Lb

Pete · Mar 9, 2008

smileysal said:
I'm loving this thread, love seeing all the old pics of when it was in use, and its its derelict state now. I keep looking at the difference in the floors, how shiny the floor boards were to how they are now. Were they covering in carpets or lino during the later years? thats whats puzzling me now.

Hi Sal, I think nearly every ward had its floor covered at some point. Most are Lino, but quite a few have hard wearing carpet or both. The photo of Kirby ward is a good example of where they used carpet and lino together to denote walkways/bedspaces etc. There is one ward, Nelson, at the top of the male side that retains its wooden floors on display. Not sure if this ward was ever significanlty upgraded or carpeted and looks like it must have closed long before 1997. The polished floors are something many staff and patients seem to remember from most mental hospitals as they used to have to keep them highly scrubbed.

Lightbuoy said:
I'm currently editing a copy of a video film that's been kindly lent to me. This shows Severalls Hospital in the final stages of closing down in 1996/1997. This includes Tamarisk Villa during demolition. Apparently the buildings contained a high amount of Asbestos -but the demo' gang certainly didn't look too concerned!

It sounds fascinating. Will it be available for public viewing? I've been offered something similar for Hill End Hospital, Herts which i hope to convert to a PC friendly format.

Lightbuoy said:
Personally, the most challenging part of matching the old with the new is to work out which floor the pictures were taken on (ground being just like the first floor in many cases!)

Yes, without a glimpse out of a window, or an external door this can be nigh-on impossible unless you can identify any alterations unique to that ward.

Lightbuoy said:
Ps. -Think that Kirby Ward is one of the Wards that runs north-south, sort of cutting a corner on the main outside angled wards.

E.g. -

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v...t=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=7638331&encType=1

Might not have centred on Kirby Ward, but think that it is similar in location and oreintation.

FYI -follow this here link to a 3d view of Sevs -enjoy!

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v...am=51.908612~0.891932&scene=7638331&encType=1

Cheers for the 3d view, it makes a very nice recent aerial shot. Kirby is the one to the right on the above link, the map is centred on Kent ward.

Pete

Pete · Mar 9, 2008

Found another couple of now and then type shots, more recent this time. Both are on the east/male side on Wentworth ward. The first is looking east away from the day room.
[lb=http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/imagehosting/179047d3d0c3d35e9.jpg]

[/lb]

[lb=http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/imagehosting/179047d3d0c4d2244.jpg]

[/lb]

This was the nurse's station.
[lb=http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/imagehosting/179047d3d0bf3cbd7.jpg]

[/lb]

[lb=http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/imagehosting/179047d3d0c07e6b5.jpg]

[/lb]

It was purely by chance that i realise i had comparable photos as i'd only just identified the earlier images from 3,000+ severalls interiors on my pc. The bottom photo is taken from the ward below due to the obvious lack of floor.

Pete

Megahurtz400 · Apr 23, 2008

Wow amazing thread!

Really good read, thanks for upping

BrickMan · Apr 24, 2008

excellent thread guys! keep it up! love to see the old shots!

Ghostyxx · Apr 24, 2008

Wow!

These are fantastic pics! I love the before and after shots, and I am really interested in this place as I understand an uncle of mine used to work there for some time, but I don't have any contact with him (long story!)

I would love to be able to see the book, and visit the site too! I went there when I was a child (Not as a patient lol!) but was too young to remember anything much about it. Would you please, please message me with details of the book and maybe where I could buy a copy from? I would be very, very grateful!

Keep up the fantastic work!

Love and happiness!
Ghostyxx

Severalls Hospital -"now & then"

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