Royal Victoria Hospital, Kent. Nov '11

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UrbanX

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So with the promise of a near mint hospital, I set off at silly o clock in the morning to do the 305 mile, 6 hour round drive to Folkstone to see this beauty.

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I’d love to tell you who I explored it with, but people kept on showing up, so apologies if I’ve forgotten you! Definitely present were: Nelly, Skeleton Key, Trogladyte, Mrs Trogladyte, Ian, Ginge, but I think I counted 13 of us at one point.

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I’m not a fan of graffiti, but I have to admit this did make me snigger:
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Most of the people had been around 6 months previous to this, and were constantly apologising for how stripped is was, but I love it like this!

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This hospital is an oldie, dating back to 1846, and as such has been known by a few different names over the years: Folkestone Dispensary (1846-1863), Folkestone Dispensary and Infirmary (1863-1890), Victoria Hospital (1890-1910)

Cot & Scales
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These take the p**s don’t they?
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Folkestone's Royal Victoria Hospital was built, facing Radnor Park, between 1889-90, at a cost of around £7,300, it boasted such luxuries as 33 beds, a dispensary, consulting and operating rooms.

I think there are some missing lists :p
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I was told this was a fully serviceable studio earlier this year:

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In October 2008 Plans to sell part of the Royal Victoria Hospital in Folkestone were placed on hold after bats were found in the building. During an ecology survey bats were discovered in the back of the main building .

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My favourite place there was the records office, and although stripped of nearly everything, there were still a few gems to be found if you looked hard enough:

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Doctors diaries
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Thanks for looking.
 
Stunning photos as always mate, it's a shame it had been emptied but I enjoyed it anyway, the start of a very good day exploring Kent :mrgreen:

Are you going to add the video showing my ample bottom?
 
Stunning photos as always mate, it's a shame it had been emptied but I enjoyed it anyway, the start of a very good day exploring Kent :mrgreen:

Are you going to add the video showing my ample bottom?

Lol, as I seem to have spent the day filming it, here is said video...
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJZJV6sPB4g[/ame]

I have cut the sound, which is hilarious:

Nelly:Caught on fence: "Can you help?"
UrbanX:"No, I'm filming"
then you just hear Nelly say "Li you fu..."
then it cuts out, lol! :mrgreen:

Oh and before anyone get upset about giving access details away, us climbing through this fence has NOTHING to do with accessing this building!
 
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well done on getting in guys.i tried this one when on my holidays in Folkestone in August but drew a blank...
 
Lol, great video Li, you quite clearly got me from my best side!!!

:mrgreen:
 
Okay, my take on the day................



Visited with Skeleton Key, UrbanX, Trog and Mrs Trog, Urban Ginger and IanB

Since it construction, the hospital has been known by a few different names......Folkestone Dispensary from 1846 to 1863, then between 1863 and 1890 it was called The Folkestone Dispensary and Infirmary, follwed by The Victoria Hospital between 1890 and 1910 and lastly The Royal Victoria Hospital from 1910 onwards.

The Hospital in 1898
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In 1973 the maternity unit was transferred to Willesborough Hospital and following the opening of the William Harvey Hospital at Ashford in 1979, the Royal Victoria was transformed into a centre for geriatric, stroke rehabilitation, eye surgery and general practitioner patients.

On the 14th September 1944, the Hopital was hit by a German shell. Two members of staff and a passing member of the home guard were killed.
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In 2005 it was decided that 2 wards were to close at the hospital,and in 2006 it was announced that the old victorian building at Royal Victoria was to be put up for sale by it’s owners, the East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust. Within a week an action group was setup, Save OUR Royal Victoria.

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The East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust confirmed in 2007 that the building would be sold, but did pledge to re-locate some of the services into adjacent hospital buildings which were remaining open.

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In 2008 the East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust committed to retaining all services at the current hospital site with a £3.6 million investment in upgrading and modernising the remaining buildings. There was also a deal struck to retain the main building facade of the origenal Victorian building when the land is developed.

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As the trust wants to sell the site with planning permission for houses, it first commissioned an ecology survey - during which the pipistrelle and rare serotine bats were discovered in the back of the main building and in the separate Wakefield Hall.

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This has set back the trust's plans by around nine months, while further information about the protected species is collected and alternative roosts are provided.

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Director of facilities Howard Jones said: "We had not noticed any bats before the survey so it was a surprise. It is a bit of a nuisance, but planning is a tricky thing these days, the trust is to apply for a licence to remove the bat roosts and to make sure they are caused minimum disturbance."

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BATS 1 - Developers 0

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A great couple of reports and write ups:)

You have got some great shots and covered the old place well.Liking the "peely paint"decay.

I am amazed at what "appears" to be patients records etc just lying about,I know we find allsorts on explores but there has been some health authorities clobbered for doing that fairly recently.

Also respect for doing the big mileage to get there:mrgreen:
 

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