Rochester
11-01-2010, 09:44 PM
Mid Wales Hospital, Talgarth, January 2010
Visited solo, day 1, with Tumbles and Sinnerman, day 2.
-------------
After the passing of the Lunacy Act, 1890, the “Commissioners in Lunacy”, later to become known as the “Commissioners of the Board of Control”, after long negotiations with the Councils for Brecon and Radnor and local landowners, chose the “Chancefield” site in preference to one nearer to Three Cocks, although the latter was closer to the railway line. They were probably influenced by the ample supplies of local stone and water – dressed stone for doorways and windows was obtained from outside the area.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/breconandradnorasylummarch18th1903s.jpg
To view the Opening Ceremony Souvenir Brochure, full of original images.
http://midwalescountylunaticasylum.fotopic.net/c1802991.html
The hospital, or Brecon and Radnor Asylum as it was first called, was officially opened on 22nd February 1903. This consisted of the main building (12 wards – 6 male and 6 female), Isolation Ward and Farm Ward; and cost £128,710.12.8d. The two female wards East 7 and 8 were added some years later.
Built originally to house 352 patients, the main building was erected to the familiar “butterfly plan” of the era. The estate consisted of some 261 acres.
In addition to the farm, the service departments included tailor, baker, shoe- maker and printing shops and later a photography dark room when a photograph of each patient was taken and affixed to their respective case notes. (This practise continued until after World War II). The market gardens consisted of about 8 acres and an additional asset was a steam powered lorry, one of the first ever to be used in the area. This was used mainly to haul coal and other goods from the local railway station.
------------------------------------
Coming out of Talgarth, you head up the appropriately named, Hospital Road, on route passing the waterall by the old Court House.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/jackfrosttalgarthsm.jpg
Sufficiently frozen, it made a great first stop.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/hospitalroadtalgarthmoorsm.jpg
Forward and onward, to the left of Hospital Road is open land.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/asylumrailingssm.jpg
Evidence of the Asylum origins can be seen all the way up the hill.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/blackmountainbusinessparktalgarthsm.jpg
Nearing the Hospital entrance, renamed the Black Mountain Business Park :rolleyes:
Above the entrance are the former married quarters for the staff.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/entrancelodgetalgarthsm.jpg
The lodge and main entrance.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/goingroundthebendsm.jpg
Upon entering the driveway you are met by the for sale sign.
A snip at four million pounds, especially when you realise the whole site was sold for less than a tenth of that, with the added bonus of the tiles still being in place.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/maleepilepticblocksm.jpg
The Male Epileptic block, the first ward you meet on your walk up the drive. The austere utilitarian building leaves you in no doubt at all to its original use as a place of confinement.
The snow hides a multitude of sins, This block like every other having been stripped of its weather protecting roof tiles.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/chapelandboilerhousesm.jpg
Moving up the drive a few yards we find the Chapel to the left, the Workshops and Boiler House to the right.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/chapel1sm.jpg
The Chapel up close.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/jlewisgravesnowjan2010sm.jpg
Behind the Chapel lay the remains of Private Lewis.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/mortuarybuildingbettersm.jpg
Above the Chapel, the Mortuary, desperately hoping the crisp white snow will
deflect from its previous role at the Hospital.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/starlightsm.jpg
a cheeky glint of the sun.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/adminentrancesm.jpg
Above the Boiler House and Engineering yard sits the quite pretty Entrance Block, this building is commonly regarded as the Administration building.
The Administration complex however consists of the East and West Corridors, hugging the Recreation Hall, as well as a further block known from the original build as the Official block.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/asylumsnowtalgarthsm.jpg
We now head down the side of the Entrance Block, evident is large amount of demolition that has taken place since closure.
Here we see the rear of the Female Wards, the Epileptic block to the left, Acute block centre, Infirmary Block right.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/entranceblockrearlookingtochapelsm.jpg
The rear of the Entrance block with the Chapel in the near distance.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/storeslookingtowardslibrarysm.jpg
Behind the Entrance block sits the General Stores, this view looks towards where the Library used to be.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/femaleepilepticblocksm.jpg
Here we see the front elevation of the Female Epileptic block.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/isolationhospitalsm.jpg
The Isolation Hospital sits above the Female blocks.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/femaleacuteblocksm.jpg
Female, Acute block.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/femaleacutestarblocksm.jpg
The same block.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/femaleinfirmaryleftacuteblockrights.jpg
Female Infirmary block to the left, Acute block, top.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/femaleinfirmaryblocksm.jpg
Female infirmary block.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/officialblockfromfemaleinfirmarysm.jpg
The Official block from the Female Infirmary block, Matrons sitting room was situated where the bay window is. The Male Infirmary block can be seen in the near distance.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/officialblocklandscapesm.jpg
The Official Block from the Male Infirmary Block, the bay window closest housed the 1st Assistant Medical Officers sitting room.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/maleinfirmaryblock1fromofficialbloc.jpg
The Male Infirmary block from the rear of the Official block.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/jackfrostofficialbuildingsm.jpg
View from the Official block.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/maleinfirmaryblocklookingtofemalein.jpg
Male Infirmary block looking towards the Official block.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/maleacuteblockleftinfirmaryrightsm.jpg
Male Acute block to the left, Infirmary to the right.
Visited solo, day 1, with Tumbles and Sinnerman, day 2.
-------------
After the passing of the Lunacy Act, 1890, the “Commissioners in Lunacy”, later to become known as the “Commissioners of the Board of Control”, after long negotiations with the Councils for Brecon and Radnor and local landowners, chose the “Chancefield” site in preference to one nearer to Three Cocks, although the latter was closer to the railway line. They were probably influenced by the ample supplies of local stone and water – dressed stone for doorways and windows was obtained from outside the area.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/breconandradnorasylummarch18th1903s.jpg
To view the Opening Ceremony Souvenir Brochure, full of original images.
http://midwalescountylunaticasylum.fotopic.net/c1802991.html
The hospital, or Brecon and Radnor Asylum as it was first called, was officially opened on 22nd February 1903. This consisted of the main building (12 wards – 6 male and 6 female), Isolation Ward and Farm Ward; and cost £128,710.12.8d. The two female wards East 7 and 8 were added some years later.
Built originally to house 352 patients, the main building was erected to the familiar “butterfly plan” of the era. The estate consisted of some 261 acres.
In addition to the farm, the service departments included tailor, baker, shoe- maker and printing shops and later a photography dark room when a photograph of each patient was taken and affixed to their respective case notes. (This practise continued until after World War II). The market gardens consisted of about 8 acres and an additional asset was a steam powered lorry, one of the first ever to be used in the area. This was used mainly to haul coal and other goods from the local railway station.
------------------------------------
Coming out of Talgarth, you head up the appropriately named, Hospital Road, on route passing the waterall by the old Court House.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/jackfrosttalgarthsm.jpg
Sufficiently frozen, it made a great first stop.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/hospitalroadtalgarthmoorsm.jpg
Forward and onward, to the left of Hospital Road is open land.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/asylumrailingssm.jpg
Evidence of the Asylum origins can be seen all the way up the hill.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/blackmountainbusinessparktalgarthsm.jpg
Nearing the Hospital entrance, renamed the Black Mountain Business Park :rolleyes:
Above the entrance are the former married quarters for the staff.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/entrancelodgetalgarthsm.jpg
The lodge and main entrance.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/goingroundthebendsm.jpg
Upon entering the driveway you are met by the for sale sign.
A snip at four million pounds, especially when you realise the whole site was sold for less than a tenth of that, with the added bonus of the tiles still being in place.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/maleepilepticblocksm.jpg
The Male Epileptic block, the first ward you meet on your walk up the drive. The austere utilitarian building leaves you in no doubt at all to its original use as a place of confinement.
The snow hides a multitude of sins, This block like every other having been stripped of its weather protecting roof tiles.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/chapelandboilerhousesm.jpg
Moving up the drive a few yards we find the Chapel to the left, the Workshops and Boiler House to the right.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/chapel1sm.jpg
The Chapel up close.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/jlewisgravesnowjan2010sm.jpg
Behind the Chapel lay the remains of Private Lewis.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/mortuarybuildingbettersm.jpg
Above the Chapel, the Mortuary, desperately hoping the crisp white snow will
deflect from its previous role at the Hospital.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/starlightsm.jpg
a cheeky glint of the sun.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/adminentrancesm.jpg
Above the Boiler House and Engineering yard sits the quite pretty Entrance Block, this building is commonly regarded as the Administration building.
The Administration complex however consists of the East and West Corridors, hugging the Recreation Hall, as well as a further block known from the original build as the Official block.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/asylumsnowtalgarthsm.jpg
We now head down the side of the Entrance Block, evident is large amount of demolition that has taken place since closure.
Here we see the rear of the Female Wards, the Epileptic block to the left, Acute block centre, Infirmary Block right.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/entranceblockrearlookingtochapelsm.jpg
The rear of the Entrance block with the Chapel in the near distance.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/storeslookingtowardslibrarysm.jpg
Behind the Entrance block sits the General Stores, this view looks towards where the Library used to be.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/femaleepilepticblocksm.jpg
Here we see the front elevation of the Female Epileptic block.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/isolationhospitalsm.jpg
The Isolation Hospital sits above the Female blocks.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/femaleacuteblocksm.jpg
Female, Acute block.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/femaleacutestarblocksm.jpg
The same block.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/femaleinfirmaryleftacuteblockrights.jpg
Female Infirmary block to the left, Acute block, top.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/femaleinfirmaryblocksm.jpg
Female infirmary block.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/officialblockfromfemaleinfirmarysm.jpg
The Official block from the Female Infirmary block, Matrons sitting room was situated where the bay window is. The Male Infirmary block can be seen in the near distance.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/officialblocklandscapesm.jpg
The Official Block from the Male Infirmary Block, the bay window closest housed the 1st Assistant Medical Officers sitting room.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/maleinfirmaryblock1fromofficialbloc.jpg
The Male Infirmary block from the rear of the Official block.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/jackfrostofficialbuildingsm.jpg
View from the Official block.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/maleinfirmaryblocklookingtofemalein.jpg
Male Infirmary block looking towards the Official block.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/talgarth%20snow%20images/maleacuteblockleftinfirmaryrightsm.jpg
Male Acute block to the left, Infirmary to the right.