Hi peoples!
I know this follows a somewhat disheartening update about Hellingly Asylum, However the subject of this report is the one building on the estate remaining derelict and mostly intact.
(References and sources are listed at the bottom of this post)
This building is the ‘Homestead Ward’ It was one of several peripheral buildings which made up the larger hospital site.(1) These were referred to as Villas. Some of these buildings are still in use by the NHS, including Ashen Hill, now a secure psychiatric unit.(2) Some literature lists Homestead as the ‘male working patients block’(3) However in a nurses testimony from 1955 it is referred to as the Voluntary Admissions Villa:
“On entry through the big doors I was greeted by the porter who asked to see my letter of appointment. He was a severe looking man, which did not help my feelings at all! He then took me to the office of the Deputy Chief Male Nurse for registration. To reach that sanctum we passed through at least three doors all of which were locked. I was given my own pass key for which I had to sign, together with a homily on care of same. I was then taken to my room which was a side room in the voluntary admissions villa (Homestead) and was informed that resident staff living on wards were expected to be on call in case of any problems with the patients.”(4)
It lies on the north edge of the grounds, and is comprised of three floors including a small basement. Although many of the original fittings remain, it is evident from what remains of décor and furniture that it was probably still in use not long before the hospital closed down.
It has however been subject to much vandalism. This is probably due to its fairly accessible nature. We visited twice and on the second visit it was evident that people had been inside since.
To a certain extent I accept this destructive vandalism as just another force of erosion. But it would be sad to see this building fall victim to the arson attacks which plagued the other buildings.
There are lots of pictures, I just couldn’t narrow it down:
IMAGES
Ground floor corridor
Ground floor day room
Ground floor day room
Ground floor day room
Discarded Pillow
Shoes
Side room door
Light fittings
Utilities Cupboard
Linen storage
Fuse and electrical information
Broken furniture in a consultation room
Second ground floor day room
Comode
Old fashioned hair dryer in the remains of the conservatory
Graffiti in a bathroom
Old magazine
Tiled stairwell
Cabinet in patients bedroom
Door with observation window
Broken chair in upstairs bedroom
Upstairs treatment room
Medication jars on the ground outside
VIDEOS
Note: These are unlisted, you will need the links.
[nomedia]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPNdv6fuY-0[/nomedia]
[nomedia]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPgZkgySeRs[/nomedia]
[nomedia]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaMgsIuGP0c[/nomedia]
(1)http://www.thetimechamber.co.uk/Sites/Hospital/Hellingly/Plan.php
(2)http://www.countyasylums.com/mentalasylums/hellingly01.htm
(3)http://www.countyasylums.com/mentalasylums/hellingly05.htm
(4)http://www.thewinch.net/?p=452&cpage=1
I know this follows a somewhat disheartening update about Hellingly Asylum, However the subject of this report is the one building on the estate remaining derelict and mostly intact.
(References and sources are listed at the bottom of this post)
This building is the ‘Homestead Ward’ It was one of several peripheral buildings which made up the larger hospital site.(1) These were referred to as Villas. Some of these buildings are still in use by the NHS, including Ashen Hill, now a secure psychiatric unit.(2) Some literature lists Homestead as the ‘male working patients block’(3) However in a nurses testimony from 1955 it is referred to as the Voluntary Admissions Villa:
“On entry through the big doors I was greeted by the porter who asked to see my letter of appointment. He was a severe looking man, which did not help my feelings at all! He then took me to the office of the Deputy Chief Male Nurse for registration. To reach that sanctum we passed through at least three doors all of which were locked. I was given my own pass key for which I had to sign, together with a homily on care of same. I was then taken to my room which was a side room in the voluntary admissions villa (Homestead) and was informed that resident staff living on wards were expected to be on call in case of any problems with the patients.”(4)
It lies on the north edge of the grounds, and is comprised of three floors including a small basement. Although many of the original fittings remain, it is evident from what remains of décor and furniture that it was probably still in use not long before the hospital closed down.
It has however been subject to much vandalism. This is probably due to its fairly accessible nature. We visited twice and on the second visit it was evident that people had been inside since.
To a certain extent I accept this destructive vandalism as just another force of erosion. But it would be sad to see this building fall victim to the arson attacks which plagued the other buildings.
There are lots of pictures, I just couldn’t narrow it down:
IMAGES
Ground floor corridor
Ground floor day room
Ground floor day room
Ground floor day room
Discarded Pillow
Shoes
Side room door
Light fittings
Utilities Cupboard
Linen storage
Fuse and electrical information
Broken furniture in a consultation room
Second ground floor day room
Comode
Old fashioned hair dryer in the remains of the conservatory
Graffiti in a bathroom
Old magazine
Tiled stairwell
Cabinet in patients bedroom
Door with observation window
Broken chair in upstairs bedroom
Upstairs treatment room
Medication jars on the ground outside
VIDEOS
Note: These are unlisted, you will need the links.
[nomedia]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPNdv6fuY-0[/nomedia]
[nomedia]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPgZkgySeRs[/nomedia]
[nomedia]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaMgsIuGP0c[/nomedia]
(1)http://www.thetimechamber.co.uk/Sites/Hospital/Hellingly/Plan.php
(2)http://www.countyasylums.com/mentalasylums/hellingly01.htm
(3)http://www.countyasylums.com/mentalasylums/hellingly05.htm
(4)http://www.thewinch.net/?p=452&cpage=1
