Fairmile Asylum in the snow, Dec 09

mookster · Dec 22, 2009

I hope ukmayhem doesn't mind me pilfering the history he put in his report from last year...

Fairmile Hospital finally closed its doors in April 2003, It brought to an end more than 132 years of caring for people with mental health pronlems and with loss of a much valued community.

Built in 1870, the Victorian asyum has been a place of treatment, a home and a work enviroment to thousands of people. For some individuals, incarcerated against their wil, the experience would have been less than memorable. but for many others who have successfully recieved a high level of care their memories are hopefuul good and long lasting. The staff, many from overseas, lived, worked and often played at the hospital and will have a history all of their own to call upon.

The site was purchase for the sum of £8,317 4s 9d in 1866. The architect C.H. Howell of Lancaster Place, London Built the asylum at a cost of £68,000.

Provided in the budget was main building, which wouldcould accommodate 500 patients and offices, a superintendent's house, Lodge cottage, engineers and bailiffs cottages, dairy farm buildings and chapel. The Hospital was named Berkshire, Reading and Newbury Lunatic Asylum followed by other titles i.e. Moulsfordm Asylum and Berkshire Mental Hospital before being named Fairmile Hospital in the late 1940's.

Patients were first admitted on 30th september 1870 and by November 1871 all patients for whom teh asylum was built were in residence amounting to 248 ( 116 males and 132 females ). The number of inpatients rose to its highest in teh mid 40's when over 1000 were accommodated.

The total staffing in December 1871 amounted to 44: By Contrast in 2002/2003 the establishment for around 220 patients was approximately 400.

This was a very much last minute decision for me, only deciding to go at about 11pm last night! Me, The2Musketeers and vmlopes met up on a gorgeously sunny snowy winters morning to try our luck at Fairmile, a notoriously hard nut to crack. After a bit of blind luck we were in, but the blind luck turned sour when we realised there were contractors making themselves busy in the nice wood panelled wards so those were off limits, I can't believe we weren't heard at some stage as we could hear them sawing and talking and working clear as anything. Anyway, stealth modes engaged, we made our way around as much of it as we could and it was a very enjoyable explore. I didn't take nearly as much photos as I would have liked, but I guess I'll just have to go back :mrgreen:

the rest of the pics can be found here http://www.flickr.com/photos/mookie427/sets/72157623050810832/

diehardlove · Dec 22, 2009

bloody hell thats some nice work,i like that alot,ive got to get myself to there very sexy place

Pincheck · Dec 22, 2009

very nice indead

lost · Dec 22, 2009

Looks grand in the snow, bet you're glad you made the effort now.

klempner69 · Dec 22, 2009

I like these a lot Mookster..you been a busy bunny this year!

mookster · Dec 22, 2009

lost said:
Looks grand in the snow, bet you're glad you made the effort now.

very, despite my appalling nights sleep and bringing too little food :lol:

klempner69 said:
I like these a lot Mookster..you been a busy bunny this year!

Not even a year, my very first explore was only just over 6 months back! Done more than I could ever dream of this year and got my sights set on some new stuff (to me anyway) for next year

night crawler · Dec 22, 2009

I almost had a walk up there today. No security then or were they frozen in their hut

BTW my Dad worked in Yattenton ward

mookster · Dec 22, 2009

night crawler said:
I almost had a walk up there today. No security then or were they frozen in their hut BTW my Mother worked in Yattenton ward

We saw a security guy as we made our way out so spent a few minutes crouched behind a wall waiting for him to continue his round, if he had turned around he'd have seen us. T2M also saw either a security guy or a contractor when we were inside the kitchen area walking down the corridor next to it, but he didn't see us and that was when we realised we'd need to be more stealthy as there were others in the building with us :mrgreen:

It's handy that workmen have written the names of almost every single room on the wall outside each doorway so it's quite easy to find your way around

vmlopes · Dec 23, 2009

Hey Mooks...............was a good few hrs in there..............glad you enjoyed it.

Not my first time so not too many pics from me always nice to return here, was my first ever asylum explore, first solo and considering its right on my doorstep still one of my favourites.......

I'm gonna tag my photos in here, hope you dont mind but saves cluttering the site with multiple posts from the same visit

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

To finish off a few in the snow

#6

#7

#8

mookster · Dec 23, 2009

Don't worry about cluttering it up, those pics are ace :mrgreen:

mexico75 · Dec 23, 2009

Nice shots bud, and good to see the main hall is open again

sj9966 · Dec 23, 2009

Very nice, I aim to see this place before the New Year, thats if the weather holds out and I can get there next week.

Fairmile Asylum in the snow, Dec 09

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