A bit of Birkwood

Birkwood Hospital was opened in 1923 as a hospital for children with learning disabiities. It incorporated the mansion house built in the 18th century and extended in the 19th. The hospital closed in 2004. On my two visits I was unable to gain access to the mansion house, so the spiral staircase eludes me for now
On my second visit, there was development work underway and all the other buildings apart from the main house are gone. Due to different trespass laws in this part of the world you are able to wander freely around the site but entry to the buildings themselves isn't allowed. On my first visit I was asked to leave the kitchen block after being approached by security (I hadn't heard him walk up behind me and the first I knew was a voice literally in my ear!) After a good natured chat, I went on my way. Hope you like what I did manage to get.
The rest https://www.flickr.com/photos/107793356@N06/sets/72157647203975084/

Driveway in winter


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Day unit building


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(almost) The same view today


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Maintenance block


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Kitchen block


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Finally some of the main house (Externals)


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Thanks for looking, hope you liked what I managed to get .

Very nice well done thanks

I love the decay inside here, havent seen much decay in terms of the above this year yet, good work Tumble

I think you got the last ever shots of most of these out buildings. They have all been flattened with the exception of the boiler house and the main house! You must have taken these a few weeks ago though?

darn- said:

I think you got the last ever shots of most of these out buildings. They have all been flattened with the exception of the boiler house and the main house! You must have taken these a few weeks ago though?

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Yes, most were taken in November. I had also wanted to have a look at the 70s ward building but when I went back it was just a pile of rubble!

Great timing! Looks like it was about to fall down itself anyway!
Brilliant stuff, thanks for sharing!

...now, that main house....

Sounds like you got these great shots just in time.Thanks for sharing.

Very nice. One place id like to see

I'm amazed they insisted on turning the place into anything, it's a right mess. Thought that idea had been scrapped. Full marks for enthusiasm.

scattergun said:

I'm amazed they insisted on turning the place into anything, it's a right mess. Thought that idea had been scrapped. Full marks for enthusiasm.

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Only the big house is left, on my second visit there was a lot of activity so it seems something is planned. Not sure if the holiday resort idea will come to anything.

tumble1 said:

Only the big house is left, on my second visit there was a lot of activity so it seems something is planned. Not sure if the holiday resort idea will come to anything.

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Ah I thought it had been left to rot, I guess at least the mansion will be renovated, on the outside at least. It's been a few years since I was there and the owner was faffing about with grand plans for a big hotel then. Has all this work kicked off recently or has it been ongoing for a while?

scattergun said:

Ah I thought it had been left to rot, I guess at least the mansion will be renovated, on the outside at least. It's been a few years since I was there and the owner was faffing about with grand plans for a big hotel then. Has all this work kicked off recently or has it been ongoing for a while?

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It finally started last month, the mansion will take a bit of work though.

tumble1 said:

It finally started last month, the mansion will take a bit of work though.

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I suspect it'll be largely stripped to shell, barring any interior fittings that are included in the listing. Which is probably zero as it's rotten.

Some really stunning images, Most Enjoyable,Thanks