County asylums - where did they all go???

[stouffer]

Leavesden Imbeciles Asylum is one local to me. Now Leavesden Country Park and a small housing development, some of the original buildings have survived, some inhabited and some bits dotted around the park derelict. The graveyard is particularly interesting as the gravestone of one of the Jack the Ripper suspects who was a resident in the hosptal is still there.

There's a guy who's a real enthusiast and happy to show anyone interested enough around the grounds and chat about the history, a great way to spend an afternoon if you're ever in the area.

http://www.leavesdenhospital.org/

 

[scottishbob]

St Matthews at Burntwood, Staffordshire was a beautiful old Victorian asylum, closed in 1995 but I used to play cricket against a team who were based on the grounds. I vaguely remember some of the old walls being standing in the late 90s and I think the Social Club may now be a nursery - but I'd love a little explore to see whether anything at all is still there. My great Uncle spent time there after the First World War with shellshock along with a lot of other broken men coming back from France.