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View Full Version : Archived: Rainhill, Lancashire County Asylum



Rochester
10-10-2008, 12:40 AM
The Lancashire County Lunatic Asylum was erected on Rainhill Road in Prescott and opened on the 1st January 1851.

In 1858 it had 400 patients.

It was a stone building, and was enlarged in 1860 and again in 1886 by the erection of an annexe available for 1,000 patients, at a cost of £200,000, from designs by Mr. G. E. Grayson, architect of Liverpool.
Built to the Corridor Plan.

By 1900 the total number of patients was 2,029.

By 1936 it was said to be the largest psychiatric hospital in Europe with a total of 3,000 patients.

It was named Rainhill Hospital under the National Health Service.

It closed in June 1992.

I have located a lengthy video taken in bits from the 1970's upto closure.

Having edited the video which is poor quality I have managed to save enough for 3 interesting clips.


YouTube - Rainhill Hospital Gala 1970 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGR98n2crIo)

Rainhill Hospital Gala Part 1

YouTube - Rainhill Hospital Gala 1970 - 1973 part 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--hbAa0Y43k)

Rainhill Hospital Gala part 2

YouTube - Rainhill hospital 1992 The Empty Wards (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eAzVo3vsME)

The Empty Wards Circa, 1992 the Closest You Will Ever Get To Exploring The Demolished Former County Asylum.

The quality is pretty lousy but I think the fact its so rare compensates.

I hope you enjoy the footage as much as I have.