Known as Harperbury Hospital since 1950, this site has been a fixture of the local areas mental health scene since 1928. It is situated on a 420 acre site along with its sister institution Shenley Hospital. The land it sits on was bought in 1924 from a local man who apparently sold the land to the council to annoy local villagers because he wasn’t granted membership to the golf club.
By 1936 the site had undergone various expansions and was able to house about 1,355 patients. It was expected to be self-sufficient and the patients that were able would work at various tasks. Male patients provided the labour for farming. Fruits and vegetables were grown and cattle, pigs, and chickens were raised with milk being sold to Shenley Hospital. Men also worked in workshops to provide goods for the hospital such as clothes, shoes, brushes, and upholstery as well as performing carpentry. Female patients worked in the laundry and kitchens and helped keep the wards clean.
In 1964 the hospital was suffering severe overcrowding, yet the hospital continued to expand up until 1973 when the scaling down process began. During this time the patients were integrated back into society. They would take part in day trips to St. Albans and were taught skills that would help them cope once they had become a part of the outside society.
By late 2001 Harperbury had only around 200 patients and was officially considered closed.
There's a few other buildings on site that look a bit more modern compared to the rest presumably because they were operational for longer.
Thanks for looking,
Rubex
By 1936 the site had undergone various expansions and was able to house about 1,355 patients. It was expected to be self-sufficient and the patients that were able would work at various tasks. Male patients provided the labour for farming. Fruits and vegetables were grown and cattle, pigs, and chickens were raised with milk being sold to Shenley Hospital. Men also worked in workshops to provide goods for the hospital such as clothes, shoes, brushes, and upholstery as well as performing carpentry. Female patients worked in the laundry and kitchens and helped keep the wards clean.
In 1964 the hospital was suffering severe overcrowding, yet the hospital continued to expand up until 1973 when the scaling down process began. During this time the patients were integrated back into society. They would take part in day trips to St. Albans and were taught skills that would help them cope once they had become a part of the outside society.
By late 2001 Harperbury had only around 200 patients and was officially considered closed.
There's a few other buildings on site that look a bit more modern compared to the rest presumably because they were operational for longer.
Thanks for looking,
Rubex
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