Mockingbirds Visit To The Mighty Severalls!
I had been planning a visit here for some time, seeing a few reports floating about I decided on the spur of the moment to visit this beautiful place, so I called my boss up and told him to get sorted and yes you can bring your wife, so come half 3 we set off on our way to Severalls.
Upon arriving and making our way towards Sevs we soon made our way inside only to bump into a solo explorer who seemed surprised to see anyone (UE-OMJ) so after a quick chit chat he decided to show us some good bits, as to be honest alone I would of got lost, about an hour or so into the explore we heard voices an movement, after UE_OMJ said about Michael being on the ball here and telling us a time he started (or thought he started) we approached the noises only turned out to be Chopper and his group, didnt notice you at first but glad you noticed me mate, after another quick chit chat we went our seperate ways.
After 4 hours and god knows how many minutes, we arrived at the mortuary (excuse the pics below) I dont know what comes over me when I find one, I just want to lay in it... anyway moving on from there, we then heard more noises, sure enough Michael had caught up with Chopper and his group and apparently was looking for us oh the fun! after some laughs and some more chit chat he escorted us out, still find it funny he is on first names basis with UE_OMJ.
After such excitement and laughs, we all went home on what was nothing but a fun explore and we all lived happily ever after.
Below is some history, but no doubt most of you will know it.
Severalls Mentall Asylum is over 300 acres of site, built in 1910 opened in 1913, the asylum housed 2000 patients, and was based on the "Echelon plan" - a specific arrangement of wards, offices and services within easy reach of each other by a network of interconnecting corridors. This meant that staff were able to operate around the site without the need to go outside in bad weather. Unlike modern British hospitals, patients in Severalls were separated according to their gender. Villas were constructed around the main hospital building as accommodation blocks between 1910 and 1935. Most of the buildings are in the Queen Anne style, with few architectural embellishments, typical of the Edwardian period. Psychiatrists were free to experiment with new treatments on patients seemingly at will, using practices now considered unsuitable such as electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) and the use of frontal lobotomy. The use of these treatments peaked in the 1950s. In her book Madness in Its Place: Narratives of Severalls Hospital, 1913-1997. Diana Gittins notes that often women were admitted by their own family, sometimes as the result of bearing illegitimate children or because they had been raped. As they would not always (or were unable to) carry out daily tasks, they were considered to be insane and some were even subjected to ECT and lobotomy. A change in management during the 1960s (and likely a change in social acceptance) saw reforms introduced including the creation of art and music therapy programs and the widespread use of drugs and medication. The hospital closed as a psychiatric hospital in the early 1990s following the closure of other psychiatric institutions. However, a small section remained open until 20 March 1997 for the treatment of elderly patients suffering from the effects of serious stroke, etc., as a temporary building for nearby Colchester General Hospital which was in the process of building an entire new building for these patients. A few of the satellite villas as of 2013 are still operational as research facilities on the edge of the site
Not sure how long is left of this place, so if you want to go or missed bits the first time I would certainly go now, lovely weather for it Enjoy!
IMGP7102 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7047 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7050 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7053 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7073 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7085 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7096 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7115 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7119 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7129 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7132 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7135 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
Seems someone didnt make it out from Santa Sevs now vanished!
IMGP7143 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7145 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7147 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7150 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7161 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7164 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7166 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7169 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7177 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7178 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7183 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7186 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7195 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7204 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7212 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7214 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
MORTUARY HAPPY!
IMGP7218 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7224 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7229 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7240 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7242 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7217 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
ADDED BONUS!
IMGP7246 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
10288556_10152386791031672_1163543776_o by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
As you can tell a rather fun filled action packed day! Cheers for looking, big thanks to UE_OMJ for showing us the good bits, nice to meet you Chopper also.
So I said this will be the last for me for awhile, I shall be lurking and I shall try and get an explore done or two after May hope you enjoyed this be safe exploring people!!
I had been planning a visit here for some time, seeing a few reports floating about I decided on the spur of the moment to visit this beautiful place, so I called my boss up and told him to get sorted and yes you can bring your wife, so come half 3 we set off on our way to Severalls.
Upon arriving and making our way towards Sevs we soon made our way inside only to bump into a solo explorer who seemed surprised to see anyone (UE-OMJ) so after a quick chit chat he decided to show us some good bits, as to be honest alone I would of got lost, about an hour or so into the explore we heard voices an movement, after UE_OMJ said about Michael being on the ball here and telling us a time he started (or thought he started) we approached the noises only turned out to be Chopper and his group, didnt notice you at first but glad you noticed me mate, after another quick chit chat we went our seperate ways.
After 4 hours and god knows how many minutes, we arrived at the mortuary (excuse the pics below) I dont know what comes over me when I find one, I just want to lay in it... anyway moving on from there, we then heard more noises, sure enough Michael had caught up with Chopper and his group and apparently was looking for us oh the fun! after some laughs and some more chit chat he escorted us out, still find it funny he is on first names basis with UE_OMJ.
After such excitement and laughs, we all went home on what was nothing but a fun explore and we all lived happily ever after.
Below is some history, but no doubt most of you will know it.
Severalls Mentall Asylum is over 300 acres of site, built in 1910 opened in 1913, the asylum housed 2000 patients, and was based on the "Echelon plan" - a specific arrangement of wards, offices and services within easy reach of each other by a network of interconnecting corridors. This meant that staff were able to operate around the site without the need to go outside in bad weather. Unlike modern British hospitals, patients in Severalls were separated according to their gender. Villas were constructed around the main hospital building as accommodation blocks between 1910 and 1935. Most of the buildings are in the Queen Anne style, with few architectural embellishments, typical of the Edwardian period. Psychiatrists were free to experiment with new treatments on patients seemingly at will, using practices now considered unsuitable such as electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) and the use of frontal lobotomy. The use of these treatments peaked in the 1950s. In her book Madness in Its Place: Narratives of Severalls Hospital, 1913-1997. Diana Gittins notes that often women were admitted by their own family, sometimes as the result of bearing illegitimate children or because they had been raped. As they would not always (or were unable to) carry out daily tasks, they were considered to be insane and some were even subjected to ECT and lobotomy. A change in management during the 1960s (and likely a change in social acceptance) saw reforms introduced including the creation of art and music therapy programs and the widespread use of drugs and medication. The hospital closed as a psychiatric hospital in the early 1990s following the closure of other psychiatric institutions. However, a small section remained open until 20 March 1997 for the treatment of elderly patients suffering from the effects of serious stroke, etc., as a temporary building for nearby Colchester General Hospital which was in the process of building an entire new building for these patients. A few of the satellite villas as of 2013 are still operational as research facilities on the edge of the site
Not sure how long is left of this place, so if you want to go or missed bits the first time I would certainly go now, lovely weather for it Enjoy!
IMGP7102 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7047 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7050 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7053 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7073 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7085 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7096 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7115 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7119 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7129 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7132 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7135 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrSeems someone didnt make it out from Santa Sevs now vanished!
IMGP7143 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7145 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7147 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7150 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7161 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7164 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7166 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7169 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7177 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7178 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7183 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7186 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7195 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7204 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7212 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7214 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrMORTUARY HAPPY!
IMGP7218 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7224 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7229 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7240 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7242 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7217 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrADDED BONUS!
IMGP7246 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr10288556_10152386791031672_1163543776_o by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrAs you can tell a rather fun filled action packed day! Cheers for looking, big thanks to UE_OMJ for showing us the good bits, nice to meet you Chopper also.
So I said this will be the last for me for awhile, I shall be lurking and I shall try and get an explore done or two after May hope you enjoyed this be safe exploring people!!
