Hi all; First report, so I hope it ticks all your boxes!
Firstly, I honestly believe that a quick note on asbestos is required here. If you are viewing this as research before a trip of your own, then for your own good, pay heed to this: I am qualified and knowledgeable in this subject. Asbestos causes Mesothelioma, which is a truly horrible way to die, albeit 25 years after exposure. Both the annex and the asylum are saturated with broken asbestos. The contractors are currently removing asbestos from the annex before they can demolish it, and you can see that they have taped and sealed the windows to contain the asbestos dust within the building. Look at this picture:
Those white tubes and the dust on the floor you see is 100% asbestos used to insulate the pipes around the hospital, and (presumably) pikeys have ripped it off to get the scrap metal. There is broken asbestos and asbestos dust all over this site. In an ideal world, anybody entering here would wear a fully hooded paper suit, overshoes, gloves and a full face P3 respirator, and then bag and safely dispose of them. What you choose to wear is up to you.
I visited on 2 different occasions; Firstly exploring the annex which was being demolished almost as I watched, and secondly the asylum itself. No issues were encountered on either trip. So; to the photographs!
The Annex
The Asylum
If HDR offends you, sorry!
Cheshire County Lunatic Asylum was opened in 1829 on a site in Liverpool Road. The original building, which housed 90 patients, was designed by William Cole, junior, county architect, and was erected under the direction of the county magistrates.
In 1855, the first of a number of name changes occurred when the asylum became Cheshire Lunatic Asylum and in 1870, it became Chester County Lunatic Asylum. In 1889, Cheshire County Council became responsible for the asylum and in 1899 the original name, Cheshire County Lunatic Asylum, was restored.
The early years- of the 20th century saw significant advances in the treatment of, as well as changing attitudes towards, mental illness. These were reflected in developments at the asylum. A new pathology laboratory was opened and in 1914, an annex. was built. This annex is currently being demolished peice by peice, as you can see in the pictures below. In 1921, the name asylum' was dropped and the name, County Mental Hospital, was adopted.
In 1948 the National Health Service took over the running of the hospital from Cheshire County Council and it was renamed Upton Mental Hospital. In the early 1950s it became Deva Hospital. Following the amalgamation of Chester and District Hospital Management Committee and Deva Hospital Management Committee in 1965, it was renamed the West Cheshire Hospital.
During the 1950s, there were important changes in the treatment of psychiatric illnesses, involving the use of new drugs and in consequence the number of in—patients was drastically reduced. By the 1980s, less than 4% of the patients were compelled to remain in hospital.
In 1983,- a new general hospital and an accident unit were opened on the West Cheshire Hospital site and following the visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales on 30 May 1984, the present name, Countess of Chester Hospital, was acquired.
In 1855, the first of a number of name changes occurred when the asylum became Cheshire Lunatic Asylum and in 1870, it became Chester County Lunatic Asylum. In 1889, Cheshire County Council became responsible for the asylum and in 1899 the original name, Cheshire County Lunatic Asylum, was restored.
The early years- of the 20th century saw significant advances in the treatment of, as well as changing attitudes towards, mental illness. These were reflected in developments at the asylum. A new pathology laboratory was opened and in 1914, an annex. was built. This annex is currently being demolished peice by peice, as you can see in the pictures below. In 1921, the name asylum' was dropped and the name, County Mental Hospital, was adopted.
In 1948 the National Health Service took over the running of the hospital from Cheshire County Council and it was renamed Upton Mental Hospital. In the early 1950s it became Deva Hospital. Following the amalgamation of Chester and District Hospital Management Committee and Deva Hospital Management Committee in 1965, it was renamed the West Cheshire Hospital.
During the 1950s, there were important changes in the treatment of psychiatric illnesses, involving the use of new drugs and in consequence the number of in—patients was drastically reduced. By the 1980s, less than 4% of the patients were compelled to remain in hospital.
In 1983,- a new general hospital and an accident unit were opened on the West Cheshire Hospital site and following the visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales on 30 May 1984, the present name, Countess of Chester Hospital, was acquired.
Firstly, I honestly believe that a quick note on asbestos is required here. If you are viewing this as research before a trip of your own, then for your own good, pay heed to this: I am qualified and knowledgeable in this subject. Asbestos causes Mesothelioma, which is a truly horrible way to die, albeit 25 years after exposure. Both the annex and the asylum are saturated with broken asbestos. The contractors are currently removing asbestos from the annex before they can demolish it, and you can see that they have taped and sealed the windows to contain the asbestos dust within the building. Look at this picture:
Those white tubes and the dust on the floor you see is 100% asbestos used to insulate the pipes around the hospital, and (presumably) pikeys have ripped it off to get the scrap metal. There is broken asbestos and asbestos dust all over this site. In an ideal world, anybody entering here would wear a fully hooded paper suit, overshoes, gloves and a full face P3 respirator, and then bag and safely dispose of them. What you choose to wear is up to you.
I visited on 2 different occasions; Firstly exploring the annex which was being demolished almost as I watched, and secondly the asylum itself. No issues were encountered on either trip. So; to the photographs!
The Annex
The Asylum
If HDR offends you, sorry!
