West Park Hospital april 08

[silverstealth]

West Park Hospital

Visited with fiendicus last week, lots of it locked down including the padded cell.

Date founded: 1912
Date opened: 1923

outlying blocks completed 1924

Date closed: Closure currently taking place (2005).

Location: West Park Road , Horton Lane , Epsom, Surrey .

Architect(s): William C. Clifford-Smith, Architect to the London County Council.

Layout: Compact arrow with villas on colony plan.


West Park was the last mental hospital to be developed on the Horton Estate, having been planned since 1906, prior to the opening of neighbouring Long Grove asylum. Initial development to have been completed for opening in 1916. From 1917 the main hospital was largely complete and utilised by Canadian Military, and subsequently handed back to London county council. The complete hospital was anticipated to hold approximately 2,000 patients of mixed class.

 

[freebird]

Jesus, this place is in a right state! It looks like it's set in a pond. Its pretty haunting to see the old clothes and the beds too. Nice report and pics.

 

[ERNIE99_UK]

Re

It looks like its going downhill fast considering it only closed in 2005.
Great pics, did you have to use a boat to explore it?

 

[Pete]

It looks like its going downhill fast considering it only closed in 2005.
Great pics, did you have to use a boat to explore it?

It didn't close in 2005 as such - much of the main building and some of the villas closed 5-10+ years ago, however the site is not yet empty either. The acute hospital across from admin is still occupied (although as offices) as are a trio of villas at the very back as well as staff housing and a handful of newer blocks. I hadn't seen the 'village pond' before though.

 

[mechanised]

Excellent pictures, silverstealth. The clothes picture is particularly beautiful, and I really love all the flooding (always makes buildings more interesting for me)

Why the sudden burst of reports on West Park, incidentally? I thought it was extremely secure etc, and in the process of being cleared. Is it suddenly more of a possibility? (any PMs extremely welcome). There are loads of recent reports on here and 28DL.

I'd written off my chances of revisiting (paid one miserable half-failed visit in 2005) - but with all the incredible stuff still inside, I'm desperate to visit soon.

 

[iwaniwan]

i love WP, very nice shots