The explore...
A very early start again, a liquid monster breakfast, and a couple of hour drive down to collect S9, then onwards to begin the longest explore to date. High spirits and expectations were quickly dashed on arrival as we spotted a hi-viz from a distance near our planned entry point and the next hour and a half was spent trying to outwit him. After a textbook flanking manoeuvre we made our entry and blood was drawn in the process. The next 8 ½ hours was asylum heaven. Pretty much everything here for the derp-addict. Met up with the Hi-viz secca man at the end, as we couldn’t be arsed climbing out again, so waited for him to find us. He was a very pleasant chap and was quite bemused that it was us, still here since the morning encounter. He scribbled down our made-up names and addresses and let us out through another gate (about 600 miles from my car). Another can of Redbull was consumed for the looong drive back to Lincoln. Some history and pictures below, hope you like!
Severalls Hospital history (stolen from S9 thanks mate)
The 300-acre (1.2 km2) site housed some 2000 patients and was based on the "Echelon plan" - a specific arrangement of wards, offices and services within easy reach of each other by a network of interconnecting corridors. This meant that staff were able to operate around the site without the need to go outside in bad weather. Unlike modern British hospitals, patients in Severalls were separated according to their gender. Villas were constructed around the main hospital building as accommodation blocks between 1910 and 1935. Most of the buildings are in the Queen Anne style, with few architectural embellishments, typical of the Edwardian period. The most ornate buildings are the Administration Building, Larch House and Severalls House (originally the Medical Superintendent's residence).
The hospital closed as a psychiatric hospital in the early 1990's following the closure of other psychiatric institutions. However, a small section remained open until 20 March 1997 for the treatment of elderly patients suffering from the effects of serious stroke, as a temporary building for the nearby Colchester General Hospital which was in the process of building an entire new building for these patients. Since 1997 the remaining structures have changed little. Architecturally the site remains an excellent example of a specific asylum plan. However, the buildings have suffered greatly from vandalism. In 2005 the main hall was subjected to an arson attack and in 2007 the charred building was demolished for safety reasons. The five boilers were removed from the central boiler house in 2007. In 2008, the sale of the hospital site, including its extensive grounds, collapsed due to the slow-down in the building industry. Planning permission was however granted in 2011 to redevelop the site.
Today
Building work is now up to the perimeter of the main site on the eastern side. This includes the construction of a new road that will link the A12 with the junction of the Northern Approach Road and Mill Road. As a consequence the dog walker's path is closed whilst the new road(s) intersect it. It seems unclear when work will start on the main site. Much was made of the announcement late last year that work would start this year, but rumour has it, that this has fallen through, yet again.
In my theory the new road will provide a good way to carry poor old Severalls away once demolition starts, as it avoids the majority of residential areas with a useful direct link to the A12. If the redevelopment has fallen through, it can only mean this Essex beauty spot can be enjoyed for sometime yet.
Thanks again to Session9 for a cracking day!
1. Exterior
2.
3. Once A 2000 bed asylum, where did all the other beds go?
4.
5. Found this little dude, half cocooned, in a basement and spent quite a while witnessing his birth, not a dry eye in the place haha
6. Day Room
7. Wall Mural
8. Turd Area. Why didn't I open those two first doors for a better shot?!
9. The most photogenic corridor in my opinion, really liked the pastel colours in this one.
10. Medium-level bombing
11. Astro-turf, derpy radiators, and a tree.
12. Anyone know what the yellow bars are?
13.
14. X-Ray Dept.
15. Hard to get away from the corridor porn in this place
16. The dangers of Vindaloo
17. Yes, I checked, and no
18. Mmmmm, corridors
19.
20. Kitchen Area
21. My toilet obsession, eh S9?
22. Selfie to end with. Picture credit to Session9
Thanks for looking everyone. Feedback appreciated as always
A very early start again, a liquid monster breakfast, and a couple of hour drive down to collect S9, then onwards to begin the longest explore to date. High spirits and expectations were quickly dashed on arrival as we spotted a hi-viz from a distance near our planned entry point and the next hour and a half was spent trying to outwit him. After a textbook flanking manoeuvre we made our entry and blood was drawn in the process. The next 8 ½ hours was asylum heaven. Pretty much everything here for the derp-addict. Met up with the Hi-viz secca man at the end, as we couldn’t be arsed climbing out again, so waited for him to find us. He was a very pleasant chap and was quite bemused that it was us, still here since the morning encounter. He scribbled down our made-up names and addresses and let us out through another gate (about 600 miles from my car). Another can of Redbull was consumed for the looong drive back to Lincoln. Some history and pictures below, hope you like!
Severalls Hospital history (stolen from S9 thanks mate)
The 300-acre (1.2 km2) site housed some 2000 patients and was based on the "Echelon plan" - a specific arrangement of wards, offices and services within easy reach of each other by a network of interconnecting corridors. This meant that staff were able to operate around the site without the need to go outside in bad weather. Unlike modern British hospitals, patients in Severalls were separated according to their gender. Villas were constructed around the main hospital building as accommodation blocks between 1910 and 1935. Most of the buildings are in the Queen Anne style, with few architectural embellishments, typical of the Edwardian period. The most ornate buildings are the Administration Building, Larch House and Severalls House (originally the Medical Superintendent's residence).
The hospital closed as a psychiatric hospital in the early 1990's following the closure of other psychiatric institutions. However, a small section remained open until 20 March 1997 for the treatment of elderly patients suffering from the effects of serious stroke, as a temporary building for the nearby Colchester General Hospital which was in the process of building an entire new building for these patients. Since 1997 the remaining structures have changed little. Architecturally the site remains an excellent example of a specific asylum plan. However, the buildings have suffered greatly from vandalism. In 2005 the main hall was subjected to an arson attack and in 2007 the charred building was demolished for safety reasons. The five boilers were removed from the central boiler house in 2007. In 2008, the sale of the hospital site, including its extensive grounds, collapsed due to the slow-down in the building industry. Planning permission was however granted in 2011 to redevelop the site.
Today
Building work is now up to the perimeter of the main site on the eastern side. This includes the construction of a new road that will link the A12 with the junction of the Northern Approach Road and Mill Road. As a consequence the dog walker's path is closed whilst the new road(s) intersect it. It seems unclear when work will start on the main site. Much was made of the announcement late last year that work would start this year, but rumour has it, that this has fallen through, yet again.
In my theory the new road will provide a good way to carry poor old Severalls away once demolition starts, as it avoids the majority of residential areas with a useful direct link to the A12. If the redevelopment has fallen through, it can only mean this Essex beauty spot can be enjoyed for sometime yet.
Thanks again to Session9 for a cracking day!
1. Exterior
2.
3. Once A 2000 bed asylum, where did all the other beds go?
4.
5. Found this little dude, half cocooned, in a basement and spent quite a while witnessing his birth, not a dry eye in the place haha
6. Day Room
7. Wall Mural
8. Turd Area. Why didn't I open those two first doors for a better shot?!
9. The most photogenic corridor in my opinion, really liked the pastel colours in this one.
10. Medium-level bombing
11. Astro-turf, derpy radiators, and a tree.
12. Anyone know what the yellow bars are?
13.
14. X-Ray Dept.
15. Hard to get away from the corridor porn in this place
16. The dangers of Vindaloo
17. Yes, I checked, and no
18. Mmmmm, corridors
19.
20. Kitchen Area
21. My toilet obsession, eh S9?
22. Selfie to end with. Picture credit to Session9
Thanks for looking everyone. Feedback appreciated as always
