A snowy Leybourne Grange - January 2010

Visited with Kent-Urbex.

Despite living very close to the Grange for a decade, I'd never taken a look around (by all accounts, it was pretty special before demolition/vandalism eroded it down to it's current state). Kent-Urbex is a bit of a veteran, having spent a decent wedge of his youth down there so it seemed rude not to go and have a wander.

The grounds are absolutely lovely - it would make a brilliant park, shame the National Trust didn't buy it.

History has been done before, so I'll just put a token bit in;

The Grange, originally known as Leybourne Grange Colony for Mental Defectives, opened in 1936 and housed 1,200 patients. It closed in 1996. The grounds cover 270 acres.

Click to expand...

Pictures:

Nurses' Block










We saw a security man when we were up on the roof, but he didn't see us and we never chanced upon him again. They were some kids milling about, but Kent-Urbex had a hi-vis jacket on so they scarpered.




The Clock Tower




Clock Mechanism




The Manor House from the top of the Tower




Inside the Manor













We then attempted to get home, but traffic was proper chronic so we decided to kill some time taking pictures until it eased up. Here's one of Kent-Urbex's car after we had decided to go walkabout:



Cheers for looking!

Nice work getting inside the manor house, I haven't seen photos of the interior before though I know a few have been in it.

just remember if you go off main roads be prepared and looking at the snow on those branches a good chance of the weight bringing them down.

Good work, Leybourne looks half respectable in these pictures.

Thanks for commenting, lads.

Hi, first time I have seen the inside, I know a couple of people who have been, but only took pics of the outside, must go there soon,


Andy

Internal of manor house are graeat, shame to see wooden panelling is being cosumed by wet rot, dry rot fungus.

jeeeeeeeeez, those are special. well done.
i thought the grange was almost all gone due to demolition? obv a good amount is still around.

and resoect on getting in the tower and manor, ive looked about 3 times and not found any way in. nice to see someone has!

might organise another trip if your upfor it?