Southerndown Care Home
November 2024
We first stepped foot inside the former Southerndown Care Home 12 years ago and were amazed with the views looking across the coastal town, the grand staircases and saddened by the memories left behind such as family photographs and personal belongings.
12 years on, we anticipated that this abandoned building would be fully renovated and enjoying its new life. Unfortunately, we were very wrong and quickly learned that after a partial demolition, it remains exposed to the British elements.
Formally known as the Dunraven Hotel, this historic building has sat derelict since 2006 and throughout those 18 years, has suffered from vandalism, metal thefts, natural decay and now stands as a broken version of its historic self following a partial demolition of building extensions completed over the years. We had hoped that this building would have been saved many years prior to this revisit but for unknown reasons, in 2024 it remains empty, disused and crying out to be saved.
Southerndown Care Home for the Blind & Elderly was built in the 1890 and was originally known as “The Dunraven Hotel”.
Since the 1940’s it has been occupied as a convalescence and a care home for the blind. The building was constructed in the style of a castle with accommodation on three floors with attic accommodation above.
The Dunraven Hotel was originally a low thatched building. This was demolished in 1890 to cater for a higher class of visitor, running a horse brake service to and from Southerndown Road Station (now closed) at Castle-upon-Alun. On June 5 1948, the Wales Council for the blind opened the premises as Southerdown Care Home for the Blind and Elderly, originally offering holidays for people with visual impairment.
Southerndown Care Home was a registered charity with any profits being used to improve and upgrade the facilities. However, it is understood that with the significant rising costs to maintain such a grand building, it was permanently closed in 2006, sitting empty and exposed ever since.
As we entered Southerndown Care Home 12 years after our last visit, it was immediately clear that this wasn’t going to be the same type of explore as we had previously. We were now stood in what could only be described as a cold, damp building site.
Walls that were once covered in dated wallpaper, now stand bare with the wallpaper hanging off in places. Plastering fallen throughout, floorboards fully exposed, ceilings taken down and doors missing entirely.
If you take a few moments to look through, the memories of its former life still remain present and strong.
Pull cords that would have been used by residents 18 years ago still hang strong next to the windows overlooking the vast coast surrounding the former Southerndown Care Home.
Wallpaper boarders cling on the walls as tightly as possible, fireplaces once used to warm the residents wait in hope for a new life and mirrors that saw the beauty in everyone that stood before it remain.
Over the many years we’ve been exploring our forgotten buildings, we have learned that for many, the only fate would be demolition. This particular building however, we hoped would end in a re-purpose, a redevelopment and although it is clear that a certain degree of work has certainly taken place, it is heartbreaking that it remains empty and unloved with the exception of those that look over it daily.
We are to believe that there is however a future for the former Southerndown Care Home. One that involves building houses on the land available and redeveloping the grand building into a number of apartments.
Whether this will ever actually happen though is another matter. One thing is certain though, the Urban Exploration team at Beyond The Lens Photography will certainly be returning.
Thank you for looking, as always, our full report is available on our website!
View Full Location Report Here!
November 2024
We first stepped foot inside the former Southerndown Care Home 12 years ago and were amazed with the views looking across the coastal town, the grand staircases and saddened by the memories left behind such as family photographs and personal belongings.
12 years on, we anticipated that this abandoned building would be fully renovated and enjoying its new life. Unfortunately, we were very wrong and quickly learned that after a partial demolition, it remains exposed to the British elements.
Formally known as the Dunraven Hotel, this historic building has sat derelict since 2006 and throughout those 18 years, has suffered from vandalism, metal thefts, natural decay and now stands as a broken version of its historic self following a partial demolition of building extensions completed over the years. We had hoped that this building would have been saved many years prior to this revisit but for unknown reasons, in 2024 it remains empty, disused and crying out to be saved.
Southerndown Care Home for the Blind & Elderly was built in the 1890 and was originally known as “The Dunraven Hotel”.
Since the 1940’s it has been occupied as a convalescence and a care home for the blind. The building was constructed in the style of a castle with accommodation on three floors with attic accommodation above.
The Dunraven Hotel was originally a low thatched building. This was demolished in 1890 to cater for a higher class of visitor, running a horse brake service to and from Southerndown Road Station (now closed) at Castle-upon-Alun. On June 5 1948, the Wales Council for the blind opened the premises as Southerdown Care Home for the Blind and Elderly, originally offering holidays for people with visual impairment.
Southerndown Care Home was a registered charity with any profits being used to improve and upgrade the facilities. However, it is understood that with the significant rising costs to maintain such a grand building, it was permanently closed in 2006, sitting empty and exposed ever since.
As we entered Southerndown Care Home 12 years after our last visit, it was immediately clear that this wasn’t going to be the same type of explore as we had previously. We were now stood in what could only be described as a cold, damp building site.
Walls that were once covered in dated wallpaper, now stand bare with the wallpaper hanging off in places. Plastering fallen throughout, floorboards fully exposed, ceilings taken down and doors missing entirely.
If you take a few moments to look through, the memories of its former life still remain present and strong.
Pull cords that would have been used by residents 18 years ago still hang strong next to the windows overlooking the vast coast surrounding the former Southerndown Care Home.
Wallpaper boarders cling on the walls as tightly as possible, fireplaces once used to warm the residents wait in hope for a new life and mirrors that saw the beauty in everyone that stood before it remain.
Over the many years we’ve been exploring our forgotten buildings, we have learned that for many, the only fate would be demolition. This particular building however, we hoped would end in a re-purpose, a redevelopment and although it is clear that a certain degree of work has certainly taken place, it is heartbreaking that it remains empty and unloved with the exception of those that look over it daily.
We are to believe that there is however a future for the former Southerndown Care Home. One that involves building houses on the land available and redeveloping the grand building into a number of apartments.
Whether this will ever actually happen though is another matter. One thing is certain though, the Urban Exploration team at Beyond The Lens Photography will certainly be returning.
Thank you for looking, as always, our full report is available on our website!
View Full Location Report Here!
