Salve Mater Sanatorium, Belgium, August '10

[Cuban Bloodhound]

The Sister's of Charity of Gent were given a lease to build a sanatorium for mentally deficient woman, and for the training of psychiatric doctors in 1915. Joseph Hachez was the chief architect in designing the asylum, and in 1927 the first parts were opened by Queen Elizabeth. The asylum is now run by the University Clinic St. Kamillus, with only one part open, the rest either lies derelict or has been converted.

This was the surprise of our trip as we'd heard it was trashed and not worth looking at. Since it was en route to another site we thought we'd take a look, and it turned out to be one of the best asylums I've visited. I'd imagine it's similar to what West Park would've looked like years gone by. Visited with Skin; I've added more pictures than I normally do:

St. Paulus


Stairs


Rows of cells


Hanging jacket


Chair


Empty ward


Ether


All the cells had marble/stone fireplaces


Our Lady


Records


Sinks


Canal


Loft


Baldy Bain


Telly


Dusty room


Bathroom


Wheelchair


Cell


Wooden chandeliers


Doll


Bed


Day room


Restraint


Books


Seclusion cell


Nurses uniform


Table


Music


Biohazard


Unfortunately there was no slab as the mortuary's been stripped.

[skin]

A few of mines from what was my fave place of the trip