clebby
14-08-2009, 02:54 PM
What can I say, this place is (or rather was) fantastic. The ballroom was stunning and, despite the horrendous decay, there were some brilliant features.
I'll get the history out the way first; Hellingly Hospital, or the East Sussex County Asylum, was commissioned in 1899. The hospital was designed by George Thomas Hine, a pioneer in Victorian asylum architecture, and constructed by Joseph Howe and Co before opening in July 1903.
Located in the beautiful Sussex countryside just north-east of Hailsham, the asylum was very secluded and is surrounded by dense woodland - however it was built in close proximity to Hellingly Village and it's railway station. The railway linked up to the north of the complex in a small branch line known as the Hellingly Hospital Railway, whose main purpose was to transport coal for the power generation and countless fireplaces. When the hospital converted to oil-generation the railway was stripped up and now some storage tanks sit in its place.
The main hospital follows the compact arrow plan with villas, and although the main hospital closed in 1994 many of the villas are still operational today - either as mental health facilities or private residences.
After nearly 15 years of dereliction the hospital severely derelict, and much of it has suffered arson, most notably the admin block. The majority of windows are broken and water infiltration has had a serious toll on the building - meaning spongey floors and flakey paint!
So, the photos. Where to begin? The incredible ballroom would be a good place to start.
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq40/good_shot101/ballroom.jpg
The mould, decay and water ingress gave the ceiling a velvety appearence, definitley enhancing it.
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq40/good_shot101/grandeur.jpg
The plasterwork on the ceiling was absolutely stunning, although most of the ceiling roses were not in as good a condition as this one.
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq40/good_shot101/decadence.jpg
What would a Hellingly report be without a corridor shot?
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq40/good_shot101/corridor.jpg
Next to the main hall was the beauty salon - very trashed, but still there, which is more than can be said for some asylums.
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq40/good_shot101/beautysalon.jpg
This is my favourite shot of the day; a hair dryer.
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq40/good_shot101/dryer.jpg
The main hall was clearly the leisure "hub" of the asylum, with other leisure facilities being located nearby, such as the salons, and the staff canteen; hideously modernised.
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq40/good_shot101/modernisation.jpg
Got to add the obligatory bath shot before heading to the less explored parts...
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq40/good_shot101/baths.jpg
The wards were actually in suprisingly good condition. There were large dayrooms with south facing bay windows designed to maximise the sunlight...
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq40/good_shot101/barewards.jpg
Fire's not the least of their problems.
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq40/good_shot101/fire.jpg
This room was painted a soothing shade of blue, and was very calming; almost an oasis within the chaos and destruction of the surrounding hospital.
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq40/good_shot101/triads.jpg
This just about summed it up...
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq40/good_shot101/neglect.jpg
The wards were interesting but stripped, so we headed back downstairs, down the cold, bleak stairwells.
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq40/good_shot101/stonecold.jpg
I wanted to climb the water tower, but the rest of my group refused. That's probably a good thing, it was a deathtrap. Here it is viewed from the rafters of the main hall...
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq40/good_shot101/tower.jpg
And directtly underneath the water tower were the service tunnels.
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq40/good_shot101/anarchy.jpg
A fantastic explore of a fantastic place. Get there soon though, as demo is beginning next month.
I'll get the history out the way first; Hellingly Hospital, or the East Sussex County Asylum, was commissioned in 1899. The hospital was designed by George Thomas Hine, a pioneer in Victorian asylum architecture, and constructed by Joseph Howe and Co before opening in July 1903.
Located in the beautiful Sussex countryside just north-east of Hailsham, the asylum was very secluded and is surrounded by dense woodland - however it was built in close proximity to Hellingly Village and it's railway station. The railway linked up to the north of the complex in a small branch line known as the Hellingly Hospital Railway, whose main purpose was to transport coal for the power generation and countless fireplaces. When the hospital converted to oil-generation the railway was stripped up and now some storage tanks sit in its place.
The main hospital follows the compact arrow plan with villas, and although the main hospital closed in 1994 many of the villas are still operational today - either as mental health facilities or private residences.
After nearly 15 years of dereliction the hospital severely derelict, and much of it has suffered arson, most notably the admin block. The majority of windows are broken and water infiltration has had a serious toll on the building - meaning spongey floors and flakey paint!
So, the photos. Where to begin? The incredible ballroom would be a good place to start.
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq40/good_shot101/ballroom.jpg
The mould, decay and water ingress gave the ceiling a velvety appearence, definitley enhancing it.
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq40/good_shot101/grandeur.jpg
The plasterwork on the ceiling was absolutely stunning, although most of the ceiling roses were not in as good a condition as this one.
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq40/good_shot101/decadence.jpg
What would a Hellingly report be without a corridor shot?
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq40/good_shot101/corridor.jpg
Next to the main hall was the beauty salon - very trashed, but still there, which is more than can be said for some asylums.
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq40/good_shot101/beautysalon.jpg
This is my favourite shot of the day; a hair dryer.
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq40/good_shot101/dryer.jpg
The main hall was clearly the leisure "hub" of the asylum, with other leisure facilities being located nearby, such as the salons, and the staff canteen; hideously modernised.
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq40/good_shot101/modernisation.jpg
Got to add the obligatory bath shot before heading to the less explored parts...
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq40/good_shot101/baths.jpg
The wards were actually in suprisingly good condition. There were large dayrooms with south facing bay windows designed to maximise the sunlight...
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq40/good_shot101/barewards.jpg
Fire's not the least of their problems.
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq40/good_shot101/fire.jpg
This room was painted a soothing shade of blue, and was very calming; almost an oasis within the chaos and destruction of the surrounding hospital.
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq40/good_shot101/triads.jpg
This just about summed it up...
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq40/good_shot101/neglect.jpg
The wards were interesting but stripped, so we headed back downstairs, down the cold, bleak stairwells.
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq40/good_shot101/stonecold.jpg
I wanted to climb the water tower, but the rest of my group refused. That's probably a good thing, it was a deathtrap. Here it is viewed from the rafters of the main hall...
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq40/good_shot101/tower.jpg
And directtly underneath the water tower were the service tunnels.
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq40/good_shot101/anarchy.jpg
A fantastic explore of a fantastic place. Get there soon though, as demo is beginning next month.