Craig Dunain hospital, Inverness, various visits

[lost]

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b199/erroneous_/Photo27_27Small.jpg
Craig Dunain was one of the oldest established Victorian psychiatric hospitals in Scotland, with the main building completed in 1864. It closed in 2000.
Being my local asylum it's quite special to me, and though I don't think I made the most of it while it was explorable, I appear to have loads of photos (mostly not very good, soz)
Another problem I had with the place in the early days is that it was (to me) very difficult to get into and well secured. However, a sneaky entrance was found once I acquired my 'explorer mojo'.

http://entrezlecarnaval.f2s.com/photos/Hospitals%20&%20Asylums/Asylums/Craig_Dunain_Hospital/2006%20-%20towers%20and%20boiler%20house/DSCF8362.JPG
The chapel in the centre of the main building, splitting the male and female wings, was later converted into wards with a new chapel erected down the hill some way from the main building

http://entrezlecarnaval.f2s.com/photos/Hospitals%20&%20Asylums/Asylums/Craig_Dunain_Hospital/Superintendent%27s%20House%20&%20Chapel,%202005/DSCF2477.JPG

http://entrezlecarnaval.f2s.com/photos/Hospitals%20&%20Asylums/Asylums/Craig_Dunain_Hospital/Arson/P9220006.JPG

http://entrezlecarnaval.f2s.com/photos/Hospitals%20&%20Asylums/Asylums/Craig_Dunain_Hospital/Arson/P9220007.JPG
1963 chapel

http://entrezlecarnaval.f2s.com/photos/Hospitals%20&%20Asylums/Asylums/Craig_Dunain_Hospital/Early%20%2707%20visit/DSCF7983.JPG
Craig Dunain has some interesting towers (count 'em - 6), but most of them are purely decorative with hollow internals. Only the two main towers served a purpose, as water towers.

http://entrezlecarnaval.f2s.com/photos/Hospitals%20&%20Asylums/Asylums/Craig_Dunain_Hospital/Early%20%2707%20visit%202/P2170060.JPG

http://entrezlecarnaval.f2s.com/photos/Hospitals%20&%20Asylums/Asylums/Craig_Dunain_Hospital/2006%20-%20towers%20and%20boiler%20house/DSCF8353.JPG

http://entrezlecarnaval.f2s.com/photos/Hospitals%20&%20Asylums/Asylums/Craig_Dunain_Hospital/Arson/P9220020.JPG
The main towers had a great view before they became burned-out hulks in 2007, much thanks to the new security company who were pretty hapless compared to the original lot who did a good job of keeping the place secured.

http://entrezlecarnaval.f2s.com/photos/Hospitals%20&%20Asylums/Asylums/Craig_Dunain_Hospital/2006%20-%20towers%20and%20boiler%20house/DSCF8360.JPG

http://entrezlecarnaval.f2s.com/photos/Hospitals%20&%20Asylums/Asylums/Craig_Dunain_Hospital/Early%20%2707%20visit%202/P2170033.JPG

http://entrezlecarnaval.f2s.com/photos/Hospitals%20&%20Asylums/Asylums/Craig_Dunain_Hospital/June%202007/P6210015.JPG

http://entrezlecarnaval.f2s.com/photos/Hospitals%20&%20Asylums/Asylums/Craig_Dunain_Hospital/June%202007/P6210014.JPG

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b199/erroneous_/Photo20_20Small.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b199/erroneous_/Photo13_13Small.jpg

http://entrezlecarnaval.f2s.com/photos/Hospitals%20&%20Asylums/Asylums/Craig_Dunain_Hospital/June%202007/P6210022.JPG

It was dingy and dated inside, I can see why they needed to retire the place

http://entrezlecarnaval.f2s.com/photos/Hospitals%20&%20Asylums/Asylums/Craig_Dunain_Hospital/June%202007/P6210067.JPG
The cute little mortuary building was demolished in 2006 along with the main hall. I don't have photos of either, but RCAHMS does. (http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/241844/details/inverness+leachkin+road+northern+counties+district +lunatic+asylum+mortuary/)

http://entrezlecarnaval.f2s.com/photos/Hospitals%20&%20Asylums/Asylums/Craig_Dunain_Hospital/June%202007/P6210034.JPG

http://entrezlecarnaval.f2s.com/photos/Hospitals%20&%20Asylums/Asylums/Craig_Dunain_Hospital/Early%20%2707%20visit/DSCF7998.JPG

http://entrezlecarnaval.f2s.com/photos/Hospitals%20&%20Asylums/Asylums/Craig_Dunain_Hospital/June%202007/P6210039.JPG
Dentist

http://entrezlecarnaval.f2s.com/photos/Hospitals%20&%20Asylums/Asylums/Craig_Dunain_Hospital/June%202007/P6210042.JPG
With the hospital covering such a wide area they needed to cater for Gaelic speakers from the west coast and Western Isles. There were some Gaelic bibles in the new chapel.

http://entrezlecarnaval.f2s.com/photos/Hospitals%20&%20Asylums/Asylums/Craig_Dunain_Hospital/Superintendent%27s%20House%20&%20Chapel,%202005/DSCF2625.JPG
The old superintendent's house is quite isolated from the asylum building, and quite grand inside. It became a 'psychiatric research centre' judging from the paperwork I found inside.

http://entrezlecarnaval.f2s.com/photos/Hospitals%20&%20Asylums/Asylums/Craig_Dunain_Hospital/Superintendent%27s%20House%20&%20Chapel,%202005/DSCF2568.JPG
This is the only external shot I can find. :fail

http://entrezlecarnaval.f2s.com/photos/Hospitals%20&%20Asylums/Asylums/Craig_Dunain_Hospital/Arson/P9260044.JPG

http://entrezlecarnaval.f2s.com/photos/Hospitals%20&%20Asylums/Asylums/Craig_Dunain_Hospital/Arson/P9260057.JPG
Not too sure what's going on there.

http://entrezlecarnaval.f2s.com/photos/Hospitals%20&%20Asylums/Asylums/Craig_Dunain_Hospital/2006%20-%20towers%20and%20boiler%20house/DSCF8381.JPG

http://entrezlecarnaval.f2s.com/photos/Hospitals%20&%20Asylums/Asylums/Craig_Dunain_Hospital/2006%20-%20towers%20and%20boiler%20house/DSCF8392.JPG

http://entrezlecarnaval.f2s.com/photos/Hospitals%20&%20Asylums/Asylums/Craig_Dunain_Hospital/2006%20-%20towers%20and%20boiler%20house/DSCF8393.JPG

Inside the boiler house. It was packed full of hospital tat and maps, something which my photographs fail to show. 2/10

I'm sure I could have given the place much better justice in 2010, with less poorly thought out photos but I don't have that chance again.
Make the most of your local abandonations!

[S8]

^^I have exactly the same thought. And ones along the lines of 'i have an entire album that doesn't reallt show the building'

Pyestock comes to mind lol

[ZombieSazza]

Wow, amazing report. I never knew this place existed and I'm an Invernessian :fail
Some cracking photos you have there and a Gaelic Bibles? Those would be cool to see and maybe read.
Awesome report :thumb

[lost]

I'm surprised you haven't heard of it before, it was well known as the nuthouse in the Highlands.
There was an Elgin district asylum too, but I think it was absorbed into the Dr. Gray's Hospital site some time ago.

[ZombieSazza]

Lol, The Nuthouse.. I'll ask my Dad and Grandad I'm sure they can tell me about it (Wow, how did I miss this?)
There was? I've only lived here for 2 years though, I don't know anything about Elgin. :)

[Cuban Bloodhound]

Another one I'm gutted I missed. Like old shots of Cane Hill, I can always enjoy shots of this place.

[Rochester]

Great shots fella..

These may interest you.

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/asylums%20of%20the%20world%201891/asylumsoftheworld1891scotlandp1sm.jpg

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/asylums%20of%20the%20world%201891/asylumsoftheworld1891scotlandp2sm.jpg

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/album%20name/asylums%20of%20the%20world%201891/asylumsoftheworld1891scotlandp3sm.jpg

Asylums of the world 1891

[lost]

Thanks for posting those, very interesting.
It supports my idea that asylums were a dumping ground for troublesome kin of the privileged.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b199/erroneous_/af3e6c87.jpg
This was Craig Dunain in the early 20th century, decked out like a hunting lodge!

[boxfrenzy]

Some luvverly stuff their mate, very nice. I do like the hunting lodge shot too :thumb

[zimbob]

Lovely stuff Lost :thumb There's some cracking images there :)

I kinda missed the boat on this place, only got to see it after the fire :(

I used to deliver here regularly when it was open, got to see a good bit of it, but never the locked wards.

[--V70--]

Nice to look back on photos from old explores, expecially when it's no longer explorable. I have literally thousands of photos from various places that I've shot and forgot about!... really bad of me, I know.... and pointless... :fail

I still like looking at other peoples reports though and admire their organisation in actually uploading their work and creating reports :smclap

Now I have a little more free time (dare I say it), hopefully I'll be putting a few up in the near future. Hopefully.. :coffee

Cheers lost, always a pleasure to see reports from you :)

[Dazzababes]

Some very nice pictures there, Lost. I wish I had made the effort to see it back in t'day.

[TheSurveyor]

very much a Robertsons housing development now

[wolfism]

Interesting stuff Lost - I think the compilation of photos from various visits shows it off well. :)

Urghh, Robertsons - Scotland's worst-organised contractor. They can't even submit contractual claims on time, far less deliver buildings on programme. I daren't think the mess they'll make of Craig Dunain.

[TheSurveyor]

Urghh, Robertsons - Scotland's worst-organised contractor. They can't even submit contractual claims on time, far less deliver buildings on programme. I daren't think the mess they'll make of Craig Dunain.

had dealings with them in the past, never had a problem.

the architects are based in Forres and well experienced in working with historic buildings.

fire damaged area - only one external wall is still standing between the two towers - they should put the arsonist(s) to hard labour rebuilding it.

[minxy*]

Brilliant stuff lost :thumb

[Alir147]

had dealings with them in the past, never had a problem.

the architects are based in Forres and well experienced in working with historic buildings.

fire damaged area - only one external wall is still standing between the two towers - they should put the arsonist(s) to hard labour rebuilding it.

hi 'surveyor', last I heard there was still a small boarded up section of the hospital? If this is the case, then it'll be exactly the same as my visit a couple of years a go....

http://www.urbexforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2918

When we visited back in 2008, it seemed almost all was gone, but were pleasantly surprised.

[TheSurveyor]

hi 'surveyor', last I heard there was still a small boarded up section of the hospital? If this is the case, then it'll be exactly the same as my visit a couple of years a go....

http://www.urbexforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2918

When we visited back in 2008, it seemed almost all was gone, but were pleasantly surprised.

main building is just a shell - all windows removed - everything stripped. fire damage still visible at roof. lot of workmen on site, including 24/7 security.

looks like phased works with new houses built opposite sold to fund current phase (main building). suspect main building will be phased as it's a lot of flats (100+) to flood the market with in one go.

[lost]

Nothing much has changed there in the last while, I can't wait for their next phase of rabbit hutches.