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This place used to be one of the darlings of the former-asylums urbex trail and used to have reports written about it on DP on a regular basis. These reached their peak in 2013 but since then there has been little in the way of reports. So inspired by The Wombat and Mikemutt's re-discovery of St John's asylum up the road in Lincoln recently, I decided to see what the state of play with was with the former Mental Institution at Rauceby. Normally a lack of reports are for a reason and that, coupled with very, very foggy and poor-visibility weather, didn't bode well. It would have been easy to turn back but I like a challenge. The challenge being to come up with a half-decent set of pictures for a report. Admittedly these are not the finest set of pictures I've ever posted but hopefully it does give an insight into the current state of play plus the fog does sort of add to the atmosphere of the place.
The buildings that are now left in an oval-shaped compound are a fraction of the former hospital's enormous site which has been subject to a top-end housing estate development. That said a number of the institution's iconic buildings remain. The elegant admin block (see below, pictured circa 1905), the chapel (now undergoing refurbishment), the red-brick ward buildings and the conservatory.
The buildings (bar the chapel) appear to have been left to decay. There are a number of building materials in the compound but these appear to be stored rather than for the purpose of renovating the buildings.
It was quite an enjoyable explore. The compound is easy enough to enter but once in, as you will see from the pictures, the place is tightly sealed, ruling out internal shots. Many of the buildings appear to have recently been sealed with breeze-blocks and cement.
The history of the place is a well-trodden path but here is a brief potted summary. The hospital was designed by GT Hine. Construction started in 1897 and was concluded five years when the institution opened in 1902. Kesteven County Council oversaw the hospital and it was renamed the Kesteven Mental Hospital in 1924 and then again in 1933 as the Rauceby Mental Hospital. During WWII the site was requisitioned by the RAF and renamed the No.4 RAF Hospital Rauceby. It was responsible for treating crash and burns patients under the direction of RAF Cranwell. The wartime Burns Unit itself was located in Orchard House. It was built alongside the main hospital on the site of the hospital's orchard. This was one of the last parts of the site to remain in NHS following the closure of the Mental Health Hospital in 1998. David Wilson Homes began redeveloping the site in 2004. The iconic water tower was controversially demolished in early 2006 David Wilson Homes cited subsidence caused by the long hot summer of 1976. Subsequently the site and the immediate vicinity have been officially renamed as Greylees. In 2012 the site was used as a set for the controversial horror movie "The Lucifer Effect". The unscripted flick featured eight people who volunteered to be locked inside the reportedly haunted mental asylum for three days. It got a little too real when two of the cast were hospitalised and the police became involved.
The definitive history of Rauceby entitled 'Rauceby Reflections' was written by Gwyneth Stratten in 1992. A fantastic information resource courtesy of Simon Cornwell can be found here:
urbex:uk
On with the pictures.
The first thing I come across is the former chapel. It's been receiving a top-end refurb:
img2487 by HughieDW, on Flickr
From these two internals work appears to be on-going:
img2545 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img2543 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Next up is the majestic admin building, all boarded up and looking a bit ghostly.
img2488 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img2490 by HughieDW, on Flickr
As you will see, bricked-up doors and windows are a continuing theme:
img2502 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The roofs on some of the former ward buildings are in a desperate sate of repair:
img2503 by HughieDW, on Flickr
On into the compound itself:
img2507 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Mmmm, perhaps in my younger days…
img2510 by HughieDW, on Flickr
…and in my slimmer days? Maybe not.
img2516 by HughieDW, on Flickr
An old out-house crumbles:
img2517 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Birds on a wire, erm, I mean the roof…
img2519 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Yet more boarded up ward buildings:
img2520 by HughieDW, on Flickr
I believe the correct definition for this one is "well-sealed".
img2521 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And on to the iconic conservatory:
img2524 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img2526 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And more ward buildings…these in slightly better nick:
img2528 by HughieDW, on Flickr
With original drain-pipes…
img2530 by HughieDW, on Flickr
…and exterior light!
img2531 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Finally is this tower-like structure:
img2532 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Perhaps this place merits a re-visit on a nicer day. Thanks for looking.
The buildings that are now left in an oval-shaped compound are a fraction of the former hospital's enormous site which has been subject to a top-end housing estate development. That said a number of the institution's iconic buildings remain. The elegant admin block (see below, pictured circa 1905), the chapel (now undergoing refurbishment), the red-brick ward buildings and the conservatory.
The buildings (bar the chapel) appear to have been left to decay. There are a number of building materials in the compound but these appear to be stored rather than for the purpose of renovating the buildings.
It was quite an enjoyable explore. The compound is easy enough to enter but once in, as you will see from the pictures, the place is tightly sealed, ruling out internal shots. Many of the buildings appear to have recently been sealed with breeze-blocks and cement.
The history of the place is a well-trodden path but here is a brief potted summary. The hospital was designed by GT Hine. Construction started in 1897 and was concluded five years when the institution opened in 1902. Kesteven County Council oversaw the hospital and it was renamed the Kesteven Mental Hospital in 1924 and then again in 1933 as the Rauceby Mental Hospital. During WWII the site was requisitioned by the RAF and renamed the No.4 RAF Hospital Rauceby. It was responsible for treating crash and burns patients under the direction of RAF Cranwell. The wartime Burns Unit itself was located in Orchard House. It was built alongside the main hospital on the site of the hospital's orchard. This was one of the last parts of the site to remain in NHS following the closure of the Mental Health Hospital in 1998. David Wilson Homes began redeveloping the site in 2004. The iconic water tower was controversially demolished in early 2006 David Wilson Homes cited subsidence caused by the long hot summer of 1976. Subsequently the site and the immediate vicinity have been officially renamed as Greylees. In 2012 the site was used as a set for the controversial horror movie "The Lucifer Effect". The unscripted flick featured eight people who volunteered to be locked inside the reportedly haunted mental asylum for three days. It got a little too real when two of the cast were hospitalised and the police became involved.
The definitive history of Rauceby entitled 'Rauceby Reflections' was written by Gwyneth Stratten in 1992. A fantastic information resource courtesy of Simon Cornwell can be found here:
urbex:uk
On with the pictures.
The first thing I come across is the former chapel. It's been receiving a top-end refurb:
img2487 by HughieDW, on FlickrFrom these two internals work appears to be on-going:
img2545 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg2543 by HughieDW, on FlickrNext up is the majestic admin building, all boarded up and looking a bit ghostly.
img2488 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg2490 by HughieDW, on FlickrAs you will see, bricked-up doors and windows are a continuing theme:
img2502 by HughieDW, on FlickrThe roofs on some of the former ward buildings are in a desperate sate of repair:
img2503 by HughieDW, on FlickrOn into the compound itself:
img2507 by HughieDW, on FlickrMmmm, perhaps in my younger days…
img2510 by HughieDW, on Flickr…and in my slimmer days? Maybe not.
img2516 by HughieDW, on FlickrAn old out-house crumbles:
img2517 by HughieDW, on FlickrBirds on a wire, erm, I mean the roof…
img2519 by HughieDW, on FlickrYet more boarded up ward buildings:
img2520 by HughieDW, on FlickrI believe the correct definition for this one is "well-sealed".
img2521 by HughieDW, on FlickrAnd on to the iconic conservatory:
img2524 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg2526 by HughieDW, on FlickrAnd more ward buildings…these in slightly better nick:
img2528 by HughieDW, on FlickrWith original drain-pipes…
img2530 by HughieDW, on Flickr…and exterior light!
img2531 by HughieDW, on FlickrFinally is this tower-like structure:
img2532 by HughieDW, on FlickrPerhaps this place merits a re-visit on a nicer day. Thanks for looking.
