Barnes Hospital, Cheadle. Feb 2010

[judderman62]

Visited with WIMR yesterday.

Well I made a brief visit to barnes back in November and been wanting to go back ever since... so plans were made to visit it on my Birthday. In the end two of the folk who were going to join me couldn't make it so it was just WIMR and myself.

Yes I know it's been done to death but I am going to inflict my images on you anyway.

Getting in was no problem and soon we were having a leisurely mooch around for three hours. So on with the pics:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2795/4385632468_0f7769d7e8.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2698/4385635094_608f99d1f1.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2751/4384877233_993b842efe.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4040/4385641012_2bfc876fb0.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4038/4385642444_3d873344b6.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2731/4384883871_7356546b3b.jpg


*** Bad pun alert, bad pun alert ***


I did wonder if this was a safe place


http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4001/4385653380_a18777fd1a.jpg

I did warn you :(

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4006/4384892003_b3caf1d88b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4068/4384893281_a224d8a444.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2680/4385657894_5449db1cd4.jpg

Yes I know everyone has done this shot but you can't go to barnes and not do the "money shot"

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4007/4384901061_c1c886ce69.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4056/4384906433_c45be93af9.jpg


view of the security hut


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2713/4384910633_c7b7d17a45.jpg

So there you have it - I do love this building - esp the clock tower and clock face.

as we were taking the externals at the end of our explore I was constantly checking to see if security could be bothered getting off their arse and telling us off but saw nowt.

Then all of a sudden ...

"Oi, Oi"

"what are you doing" I'd have thought that with WMIR having his camera on his tripod it would have been fairly clear that we were neither windsurfing nor paragliding but still I furnished him with the obvious reply that we were taking photos.

He enlightened us that we should not be there and that we knew we should not be there. By this time were already leaving when he decided to take photos of us with his mobile - I'm guessing he was attracted to one of us .... must be WMIR as I am significantly unattractive. Not quite sure what he intended to do with said pictures ...maybe show them his mate.

So nice mornings explore that and we were lucky with some nice light some of the time.

Good to meet you WIMR and good to have had you along :thumb

[judderman62]

I have done a little research and found some information on this place - not sure how much of it, if any, is new to anyone but thought I'd share it anyway:

Barnes Convalescent Home (as it was mostly known) was an auxiliary operation to the Manchester Royal Infirmary. It originated due to the generous philanthropy of Robert Barnes, manchester Born he studied for the bar, but decided against following that career path and instead , with his brother, went into spinning and manufacturing.

The foundation stone of Barnes was laid on 29th July 1871 and the building was opened in October 1875. Three times daily convalescent patients would arrive from manchester Royal Infirmary by bus. The total cost of the land and buildings was £ 52, 800 toward which Robert Barnes contributed £26,000. A bust of Mr. Barnes took pride of place in the dinning room.

The building was designed by Messrs Blackwell & Booth , architects of Manchester and was built by Messrs Thomas clay & Sons of Audenshaw.

Barnes was forced to close it's doors in September of 1999 as part of a £2 million spending cuts exercise by the Manchester healthcare trust.

since then it has mainly been empty except for a period when it temporarily housed a large group of refugees.