Defense Medical Rehabilitation Center, Headley, July 2019

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KPUrban_

Veteran Member
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Joined
Mar 17, 2018
Messages
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Location
Cambridgeshire.
The Building
Dating back to 1899 this now decommissioned hospital started off as a rather imposing mansion and owned by the chairman of the bank of England, at the time.
During the Second world war the building became the HQ of the VII corps then later the Canadian corps.
Following the war it the became used as a rehabilitation facility mainly for the RoyalAirForce and joint services after being purchased using the RAF Pilots and Crews funding. The site lost its social club focus and moved to rehabilitate personnel who were even severely injured back to full health.

In 2014 the defense secretary announced all serviced would be moved to a new center opening in June 2018 and this one fully closing in September 2018.

The hospital had roughly 200 members of rehabilitation staff who had been drawn in from all 3 armed forces, Offering a range of therapists, engineers and so on.
Facilites in the hospital provided Hydrotherapy pools, gymnasiums, physiotherapy and prosthetics.

Sources: Wikipedia, rewritten in a series of grammatical errors.

The Explore
This explore was the last on our list for the day giving us only a few hours, which was then shortened after taking the wrong train. Eventually, we pulled up in a woodland with a rather confused taxi driver.

With limited time and knowing that it was likely to be guarded by ex-armed forces, like most places of this nature, we eventually found an area without CCTV and hoped we could get in.

We found ourselves inside one of the older wards and were unsure if we were alone.
Eventually we met with another two explorers inside and moved our way into the former officers mess.

Unusually for me, when it comes to hospitals, i came home with a distinct lack of photos on this one.

The Photos

Common Room
48513235647_d98eb5f804_b.jpg
Communal Room Disused Military Hospital

Bed Bay
48514406272_d90b9e83a8_b.jpg


Sports Hall/Gym
48514224801_75bc95174e_b.jpg


Ward room, these were incredibly dull.
48514222666_396401cdfa_b.jpg


Inspirational Quote Hall
48561172902_fbb545d598_b.jpg
Inspirational Hall Rehab Hospital

The Officers Mess

Big ol' pool table
48514220061_9375c3da5e_b.jpg


The Staircase
48514404272_204375cd2b_b.jpg


Anyway, we had ran out of time.

KP
,
 
The last shot of the staircase is an excellent photo!
However, it would be criminal to demolish it.
Thanks for sharing this.
 
The Building
Dating back to 1899 this now decommissioned hospital started off as a rather imposing mansion and owned by the chairman of the bank of England, at the time.
During the Second world war the building became the HQ of the VII corps then later the Canadian corps.
Following the war it the became used as a rehabilitation facility mainly for the RoyalAirForce and joint services after being purchased using the RAF Pilots and Crews funding. The site lost its social club focus and moved to rehabilitate personnel who were even severely injured back to full health.

In 2014 the defense secretary announced all serviced would be moved to a new center opening in June 2018 and this one fully closing in September 2018.

The hospital had roughly 200 members of rehabilitation staff who had been drawn in from all 3 armed forces, Offering a range of therapists, engineers and so on.
Facilites in the hospital provided Hydrotherapy pools, gymnasiums, physiotherapy and prosthetics.

Sources: Wikipedia, rewritten in a series of grammatical errors.

The Explore
This explore was the last on our list for the day giving us only a few hours, which was then shortened after taking the wrong train. Eventually, we pulled up in a woodland with a rather confused taxi driver.

With limited time and knowing that it was likely to be guarded by ex-armed forces, like most places of this nature, we eventually found an area without CCTV and hoped we could get in.

We found ourselves inside one of the older wards and were unsure if we were alone.
Eventually we met with another two explorers inside and moved our way into the former officers mess.

Unusually for me, when it comes to hospitals, i came home with a distinct lack of photos on this one.

The Photos

Common Room
View attachment 254422Communal Room Disused Military Hospital

Bed Bay
View attachment 254423

Sports Hall/Gym
View attachment 254424

Ward room, these were incredibly dull.
View attachment 254425

Inspirational Quote Hall
View attachment 254426Inspirational Hall Rehab Hospital

The Officers Mess

Big ol' pool table
View attachment 254427

The Staircase
View attachment 254428

Anyway, we had ran out of time.

KP
,
I assume this will keep it safe for a bit

https://www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk/n...-court-hospital-surrey-ready-for-covid19-2980
 
The Building
Dating back to 1899 this now decommissioned hospital started off as a rather imposing mansion and owned by the chairman of the bank of England, at the time.
During the Second world war the building became the HQ of the VII corps then later the Canadian corps.
Following the war it the became used as a rehabilitation facility mainly for the RoyalAirForce and joint services after being purchased using the RAF Pilots and Crews funding. The site lost its social club focus and moved to rehabilitate personnel who were even severely injured back to full health.

In 2014 the defense secretary announced all serviced would be moved to a new center opening in June 2018 and this one fully closing in September 2018.

The hospital had roughly 200 members of rehabilitation staff who had been drawn in from all 3 armed forces, Offering a range of therapists, engineers and so on.
Facilites in the hospital provided Hydrotherapy pools, gymnasiums, physiotherapy and prosthetics.

Sources: Wikipedia, rewritten in a series of grammatical errors.

The Explore
This explore was the last on our list for the day giving us only a few hours, which was then shortened after taking the wrong train. Eventually, we pulled up in a woodland with a rather confused taxi driver.

With limited time and knowing that it was likely to be guarded by ex-armed forces, like most places of this nature, we eventually found an area without CCTV and hoped we could get in.

We found ourselves inside one of the older wards and were unsure if we were alone.
Eventually we met with another two explorers inside and moved our way into the former officers mess.

Unusually for me, when it comes to hospitals, i came home with a distinct lack of photos on this one.

The Photos

Common Room
View attachment 254422Communal Room Disused Military Hospital

Bed Bay
View attachment 254423

Sports Hall/Gym
View attachment 254424

Ward room, these were incredibly dull.
View attachment 254425

Inspirational Quote Hall
View attachment 254426Inspirational Hall Rehab Hospital

The Officers Mess

Big ol' pool table
View attachment 254427

The Staircase
View attachment 254428

Anyway, we had ran out of time.

KP
,
That's a great photo of the staircase, which I think is really appealing. It's a shame it will probably degenerate over the years to come. Will this building be left to rot? It would be interesting to return in about five years time to be able to compare photographs. Given the short time you had the glimpses of the place are
The Building
Dating back to 1899 this now decommissioned hospital started off as a rather imposing mansion and owned by the chairman of the bank of England, at the time.
During the Second world war the building became the HQ of the VII corps then later the Canadian corps.
Following the war it the became used as a rehabilitation facility mainly for the RoyalAirForce and joint services after being purchased using the RAF Pilots and Crews funding. The site lost its social club focus and moved to rehabilitate personnel who were even severely injured back to full health.

In 2014 the defense secretary announced all serviced would be moved to a new center opening in June 2018 and this one fully closing in September 2018.

The hospital had roughly 200 members of rehabilitation staff who had been drawn in from all 3 armed forces, Offering a range of therapists, engineers and so on.
Facilites in the hospital provided Hydrotherapy pools, gymnasiums, physiotherapy and prosthetics.

Sources: Wikipedia, rewritten in a series of grammatical errors.

The Explore
This explore was the last on our list for the day giving us only a few hours, which was then shortened after taking the wrong train. Eventually, we pulled up in a woodland with a rather confused taxi driver.

With limited time and knowing that it was likely to be guarded by ex-armed forces, like most places of this nature, we eventually found an area without CCTV and hoped we could get in.

We found ourselves inside one of the older wards and were unsure if we were alone.
Eventually we met with another two explorers inside and moved our way into the former officers mess.

Unusually for me, when it comes to hospitals, i came home with a distinct lack of photos on this one.

The Photos

Common Room
View attachment 254422Communal Room Disused Military Hospital

Bed Bay
View attachment 254423

Sports Hall/Gym
View attachment 254424

Ward room, these were incredibly dull.
View attachment 254425

Inspirational Quote Hall
View attachment 254426Inspirational Hall Rehab Hospital

The Officers Mess

Big ol' pool table
View attachment 254427

The Staircase
View attachment 254428

Anyway, we had ran out of time.

KP
,
The Building
Dating back to 1899 this now decommissioned hospital started off as a rather imposing mansion and owned by the chairman of the bank of England, at the time.
During the Second world war the building became the HQ of the VII corps then later the Canadian corps.
Following the war it the became used as a rehabilitation facility mainly for the RoyalAirForce and joint services after being purchased using the RAF Pilots and Crews funding. The site lost its social club focus and moved to rehabilitate personnel who were even severely injured back to full health.

In 2014 the defense secretary announced all serviced would be moved to a new center opening in June 2018 and this one fully closing in September 2018.

The hospital had roughly 200 members of rehabilitation staff who had been drawn in from all 3 armed forces, Offering a range of therapists, engineers and so on.
Facilites in the hospital provided Hydrotherapy pools, gymnasiums, physiotherapy and prosthetics.

Sources: Wikipedia, rewritten in a series of grammatical errors.

The Explore
This explore was the last on our list for the day giving us only a few hours, which was then shortened after taking the wrong train. Eventually, we pulled up in a woodland with a rather confused taxi driver.

With limited time and knowing that it was likely to be guarded by ex-armed forces, like most places of this nature, we eventually found an area without CCTV and hoped we could get in.

We found ourselves inside one of the older wards and were unsure if we were alone.
Eventually we met with another two explorers inside and moved our way into the former officers mess.

Unusually for me, when it comes to hospitals, i came home with a distinct lack of photos on this one.

The Photos

Common Room
View attachment 254422Communal Room Disused Military Hospital

Bed Bay
View attachment 254423

Sports Hall/Gym
View attachment 254424

Ward room, these were incredibly dull.
View attachment 254425

Inspirational Quote Hall
View attachment 254426Inspirational Hall Rehab Hospital

The Officers Mess

Big ol' pool table
View attachment 254427

The Staircase
View attachment 254428

Anyway, we had ran out of time.

KP
,
 
The Building
Dating back to 1899 this now decommissioned hospital started off as a rather imposing mansion and owned by the chairman of the bank of England, at the time.
During the Second world war the building became the HQ of the VII corps then later the Canadian corps.
Following the war it the became used as a rehabilitation facility mainly for the RoyalAirForce and joint services after being purchased using the RAF Pilots and Crews funding. The site lost its social club focus and moved to rehabilitate personnel who were even severely injured back to full health.

In 2014 the defense secretary announced all serviced would be moved to a new center opening in June 2018 and this one fully closing in September 2018.

The hospital had roughly 200 members of rehabilitation staff who had been drawn in from all 3 armed forces, Offering a range of therapists, engineers and so on.
Facilites in the hospital provided Hydrotherapy pools, gymnasiums, physiotherapy and prosthetics.

Sources: Wikipedia, rewritten in a series of grammatical errors.

The Explore
This explore was the last on our list for the day giving us only a few hours, which was then shortened after taking the wrong train. Eventually, we pulled up in a woodland with a rather confused taxi driver.

With limited time and knowing that it was likely to be guarded by ex-armed forces, like most places of this nature, we eventually found an area without CCTV and hoped we could get in.

We found ourselves inside one of the older wards and were unsure if we were alone.
Eventually we met with another two explorers inside and moved our way into the former officers mess.

Unusually for me, when it comes to hospitals, i came home with a distinct lack of photos on this one.

The Photos

Common Room
View attachment 254422Communal Room Disused Military Hospital

Bed Bay
View attachment 254423

Sports Hall/Gym
View attachment 254424

Ward room, these were incredibly dull.
View attachment 254425

Inspirational Quote Hall
View attachment 254426Inspirational Hall Rehab Hospital

The Officers Mess

Big ol' pool table
View attachment 254427

The Staircase
View attachment 254428

Anyway, we had ran out of time.

KP
,
The staircase is lovely, what a shame to think it will be left to rot. Are there any plans for demolition or will it be left standing and be a great attraction for more photos in about five years time? Given the lack of time you had I think the photos are very likely to be good for comparisons later. Nice work :)
 
The Building
Dating back to 1899 this now decommissioned hospital started off as a rather imposing mansion and owned by the chairman of the bank of England, at the time.
During the Second world war the building became the HQ of the VII corps then later the Canadian corps.
Following the war it the became used as a rehabilitation facility mainly for the RoyalAirForce and joint services after being purchased using the RAF Pilots and Crews funding. The site lost its social club focus and moved to rehabilitate personnel who were even severely injured back to full health.

In 2014 the defense secretary announced all serviced would be moved to a new center opening in June 2018 and this one fully closing in September 2018.

The hospital had roughly 200 members of rehabilitation staff who had been drawn in from all 3 armed forces, Offering a range of therapists, engineers and so on.
Facilites in the hospital provided Hydrotherapy pools, gymnasiums, physiotherapy and prosthetics.

Sources: Wikipedia, rewritten in a series of grammatical errors.

The Explore
This explore was the last on our list for the day giving us only a few hours, which was then shortened after taking the wrong train. Eventually, we pulled up in a woodland with a rather confused taxi driver.

With limited time and knowing that it was likely to be guarded by ex-armed forces, like most places of this nature, we eventually found an area without CCTV and hoped we could get in.

We found ourselves inside one of the older wards and were unsure if we were alone.
Eventually we met with another two explorers inside and moved our way into the former officers mess.

Unusually for me, when it comes to hospitals, i came home with a distinct lack of photos on this one.

The Photos

Common Room
View attachment 254422Communal Room Disused Military Hospital

Bed Bay
View attachment 254423

Sports Hall/Gym
View attachment 254424

Ward room, these were incredibly dull.
View attachment 254425

Inspirational Quote Hall
View attachment 254426Inspirational Hall Rehab Hospital

The Officers Mess

Big ol' pool table
View attachment 254427

The Staircase
View attachment 254428

Anyway, we had ran out of time.

KP
,
Smart and clean. could be used for community social club!
 
I spent a total of 6 weeks there (2 lots of three week stints). Amazing place - Olympic full size swimming pool with height adjustment and 'jets' at the end also a hot pool treatment area (can't remember it's official name). All of this was paid for by help for heroes and was really, really new. I was amazed when they announced it was closing.
 
The Building
Dating back to 1899 this now decommissioned hospital started off as a rather imposing mansion and owned by the chairman of the bank of England, at the time.
During the Second world war the building became the HQ of the VII corps then later the Canadian corps.
Following the war it the became used as a rehabilitation facility mainly for the RoyalAirForce and joint services after being purchased using the RAF Pilots and Crews funding. The site lost its social club focus and moved to rehabilitate personnel who were even severely injured back to full health.

In 2014 the defense secretary announced all serviced would be moved to a new center opening in June 2018 and this one fully closing in September 2018.

The hospital had roughly 200 members of rehabilitation staff who had been drawn in from all 3 armed forces, Offering a range of therapists, engineers and so on.
Facilites in the hospital provided Hydrotherapy pools, gymnasiums, physiotherapy and prosthetics.

Sources: Wikipedia, rewritten in a series of grammatical errors.

The Explore
This explore was the last on our list for the day giving us only a few hours, which was then shortened after taking the wrong train. Eventually, we pulled up in a woodland with a rather confused taxi driver.

With limited time and knowing that it was likely to be guarded by ex-armed forces, like most places of this nature, we eventually found an area without CCTV and hoped we could get in.

We found ourselves inside one of the older wards and were unsure if we were alone.
Eventually we met with another two explorers inside and moved our way into the former officers mess.

Unusually for me, when it comes to hospitals, i came home with a distinct lack of photos on this one.

The Photos

Common Room
View attachment 254422Communal Room Disused Military Hospital

Bed Bay
View attachment 254423

Sports Hall/Gym
View attachment 254424

Ward room, these were incredibly dull.
View attachment 254425

Inspirational Quote Hall
View attachment 254426Inspirational Hall Rehab Hospital

The Officers Mess

Big ol' pool table
View attachment 254427

The Staircase
View attachment 254428

Anyway, we had ran out of time.

KP
,
Hi , I served there , RAF it is indeed a beautiful building . I’m informed by a friend that they may be turning it into a hotel spa type place . Is there any photos of the junior ranks mess and accommodation? The rooms were very small so that we all had a single room each and no sharing .
 
Please change the title to

DefenCe Medical Rehabilitation CentRE Headley, July 2019​


Headley is in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, NOT in the United States of America. And it is time Wikipedia acknowledged the origin of the most commonly used language in the USA, by using British spellings in articles on British topics. To me the whole wording "Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre" sounds extremely American.
 
Many years ago, I worked for the RAF and Headley Court was one of our units so I got the chance to visit it, along with a few other RAF stations that no longer exist.
It was such an amazing place and it just seems such a shame for such a facility to no longer exist.
 

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