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I decided to take a drive south to West Park recently, it was the first time I have been.
I was surprised to see how much of it is still in use. Although this proved to be handy with regard to parking the car.
I had a good 6 hours in there and other than spotting 2 blokes in high vis waistcoats boarding up a window, I saw no one else. Not a lot of external external shots, as I thought it best to get inside as soon as possible.
I managed to get around quite a bit of it but in no way did I see it all.
A revisit is on the cards I think.
Here is some history from Wikipedia,
West Park Asylum (or West Park Hospital) was a large psychiatric hospital in Epsom, Surrey. The hospital was designed by William C Clifford-Smith
When complete the hospital could cater for around 2,000 patients of mixed class, and hence the site had extensive boiler houses and plant rooms, a large laundry and a substantial water tower. There were enormous kitchens located behind the canteen, and in turn this was behind the main hall/ballroom. However, the main hall suffered an arson attack in 2003 and is now a burnt out shell. The asylum also boasted its own railway but this was removed in 1950, and no trace remains except around the central engineering block. The main stores and sewing rooms were also located here, but other services, such as the mortuary and chapel were located by the entrance road, along with two lodges for the matrons and a large manor for the superintendent.
The hospital was slowly run down from the mid 1990's, and by 2003 most of the hospital was closed and derelict. A few outer ward buildings and villas remain open today, still used for pshyciatric treatment.
Here are some pictures
The recently polished padded cell
View from the top of the water tower
I was surprised to see how much of it is still in use. Although this proved to be handy with regard to parking the car.
I had a good 6 hours in there and other than spotting 2 blokes in high vis waistcoats boarding up a window, I saw no one else. Not a lot of external external shots, as I thought it best to get inside as soon as possible.
I managed to get around quite a bit of it but in no way did I see it all.
A revisit is on the cards I think.
Here is some history from Wikipedia,
West Park Asylum (or West Park Hospital) was a large psychiatric hospital in Epsom, Surrey. The hospital was designed by William C Clifford-Smith
When complete the hospital could cater for around 2,000 patients of mixed class, and hence the site had extensive boiler houses and plant rooms, a large laundry and a substantial water tower. There were enormous kitchens located behind the canteen, and in turn this was behind the main hall/ballroom. However, the main hall suffered an arson attack in 2003 and is now a burnt out shell. The asylum also boasted its own railway but this was removed in 1950, and no trace remains except around the central engineering block. The main stores and sewing rooms were also located here, but other services, such as the mortuary and chapel were located by the entrance road, along with two lodges for the matrons and a large manor for the superintendent.
The hospital was slowly run down from the mid 1990's, and by 2003 most of the hospital was closed and derelict. A few outer ward buildings and villas remain open today, still used for pshyciatric treatment.
Here are some pictures
The recently polished padded cell
View from the top of the water tower
