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This was, to date, one of the most exciting explores undertaken and also the toughest in terms of access. The location is securely boarded up and it required scaling rooftops, walking gulleyways and climbing down sheer walls to get to the cornucopia that was waiting. This asylum had an incredible atmosphere that went beyond anything I had previously experienced, and the size of the building added to the moment as this is the largest property explored to date.
The following information was found on the Talk|Urbex website:
"Plans for the asylum were announced in 1876. The buildings were to be of ‘somewhat plain, simple and comparatively cheap construction’, later described as ‘a sort of go-between the Asylum and the Workhouse’.
Designed by the architects Cornish and Gaymer, they were modelled on Metropolitan Asylums Board institutions at Leavesden and Caterham. They comprised a two-storey ‘H’ shape with large and rather barn-like male and female wards linked, or rather separated, by an administrative cross-section, behind which lay a single storey complex of kitchens and staff rooms.
Costing £33,920, they accommodated 250 patients, two and a half times the original capacity. ‘Chronic lunatics, imbeciles and idiots’ were placed under the care of Hills’ assistant, who became resident medical officer, a head female attendant and a relatively modest staff of attendants and nurses"
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