Hello there everybody
This is a very large post with many pics, (I won’t do it again: I hope there maybe just one shot in here that is new to someone out there), but I didn’t want to split up the post as there maybe others who don’t usually visit DP interested in today’s visit)
So here’s a brief history of the site....
In 1904 Essex County Council bought 300 acres of land from The Corporation For Colchester to build a second County Asylum for Essex-the first being Brentwood’s Warley Hospital. The first foundation stone was laid on the Administration block in 1910; three years later the asylum opened its doors for its first patients. Severalls Asylum later re-named Severalls Mental Hospital before finally simply Severalls Hospital, may have taken its name from the local area known as “The Severalls” or from the nearby Edwardian Arts and Craft Severalls Hall.
With a patient capacity of 1,800, it was built by W.King & Son, London, according to the “Echelon plan”. This represented a roughly symmetrical design of buildings connected together by “link corridors” to enable patients, staff and visitors to freely move around the hospital without stepping outside. The main hall, kitchens, laundry and workshops, everything required to run the hospital was located centrally. The wards were situated on two floors in wings that radiated out from the centre in a staggered format-both east and west to catch the early morning and late afternoon sun.
“Satellite” villas were dotted around the grounds along with a chapel. Severalls served the community for almost 90 years and survived two World Wars. The Mental Health Act and “Care in the Community” bought in during the 1980’s finally put an end to the hospital’s use. It finally closed its doors in March 1997.
To date there have been some new buildings constructed around the site and demolition has begun on some of the satellite blocks around the edges. The water tower and Admin block are said to be listed buildings. A new link road and a large housing estate is planned for the site when Severalls is finally demolished....I know many locals will be pleased when the land is redeveloped....but a lot of explorers will definitely miss her when she’s gone.
Just after 10am we took a few shots in front of the water tower
The shelters that are scattered around the grounds. It was great to have a look around the outside of the buildings as we don’t usually tend to spend much time outside, were too busy getting in and out of the way.
It just wouldn’t be Severalls without the mandatory corridor shots
The mural corridors
Autoclaves
Some of the rooms were very small
the mortuary in the back room
I’ve waited a long time to see the view from the top of the water tower...it made me realise how confusing the place is and the parts I’ve still not seen
inside the tower
Northern view with the chapel in the distance
To the west
West again....
South
Eastern aspect
Well thanks for looking at such a large post folks
Take care dudes, laters
This is a very large post with many pics, (I won’t do it again: I hope there maybe just one shot in here that is new to someone out there
), but I didn’t want to split up the post as there maybe others who don’t usually visit DP interested in today’s visit)So here’s a brief history of the site....
In 1904 Essex County Council bought 300 acres of land from The Corporation For Colchester to build a second County Asylum for Essex-the first being Brentwood’s Warley Hospital. The first foundation stone was laid on the Administration block in 1910; three years later the asylum opened its doors for its first patients. Severalls Asylum later re-named Severalls Mental Hospital before finally simply Severalls Hospital, may have taken its name from the local area known as “The Severalls” or from the nearby Edwardian Arts and Craft Severalls Hall.
With a patient capacity of 1,800, it was built by W.King & Son, London, according to the “Echelon plan”. This represented a roughly symmetrical design of buildings connected together by “link corridors” to enable patients, staff and visitors to freely move around the hospital without stepping outside. The main hall, kitchens, laundry and workshops, everything required to run the hospital was located centrally. The wards were situated on two floors in wings that radiated out from the centre in a staggered format-both east and west to catch the early morning and late afternoon sun.
“Satellite” villas were dotted around the grounds along with a chapel. Severalls served the community for almost 90 years and survived two World Wars. The Mental Health Act and “Care in the Community” bought in during the 1980’s finally put an end to the hospital’s use. It finally closed its doors in March 1997.
To date there have been some new buildings constructed around the site and demolition has begun on some of the satellite blocks around the edges. The water tower and Admin block are said to be listed buildings. A new link road and a large housing estate is planned for the site when Severalls is finally demolished....I know many locals will be pleased when the land is redeveloped....but a lot of explorers will definitely miss her when she’s gone.
Just after 10am we took a few shots in front of the water tower
The shelters that are scattered around the grounds. It was great to have a look around the outside of the buildings as we don’t usually tend to spend much time outside, were too busy getting in and out of the way.
It just wouldn’t be Severalls without the mandatory corridor shots
The mural corridors
Autoclaves
Some of the rooms were very small
the mortuary in the back room
I’ve waited a long time to see the view from the top of the water tower...it made me realise how confusing the place is and the parts I’ve still not seen
inside the tower
Northern view with the chapel in the distance
To the west
West again....
South
Eastern aspect
Well thanks for looking at such a large post folks
Take care dudes, laters
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