free hit counter
Whitchurch Hospital - Cardiff - April 2016 | Oblivion State Urban Exploration

Post a thread

Post a thread in one of the forums

Browse the forums

Browse threads and contribute to reports

Contact Staff

Contact the team

Whitchurch Hospital - Cardiff - April 2016

Urbexbandoned

Full Member
OS Full member
Joined
Aug 25, 2014
Messages
2,218
Reaction score
855
Points
113
Location
Lincoln
History​

 ​

Costing £350,000 and ten years to build, the Cardiff City Asylum opened on 15 April 1908. The main hospital building covered 5 acres (2.0 ha), designed to accommodate 750 patients across 10 wards, 5 each for men and women. Like many Victorian institutes, it was designed as a self-contained institute, with its own 150 feet (46 m) water tower atop a power house containing two Belliss and Morcom steam engine powered electric generator sets, which were only removed from standby in the mid-1980s. The site also contained a farm, which provided both food supplies and therapeutic work for the patients.​

The first medical superintendent was Dr Edwin Goodhall, whose then advanced approaches and therapies resulted in the hospital acquiring a reputation at the forefront of mental health care. Patients were also encouraged to take work and supervised tours outside the institute.​

During World War I, the facility was called the Welsh Metropolitan War Hospital.​

During World War II, part of the hospital was turned over to the military, becoming the largest emergency service hospital in South Wales, treating British, US Army and German personnel. 200 beds were retained for civilian use, which enabled early treatment of post traumatic stress disorder of military patients.​

On 5 July 1948, the hospital was taken over by the Ministry of Health as the National Health Service came into existence. It continued to be used through to the mid-1980s, when care in the community began to reduce the number of resident patients.​

The decision was made to close the hospital as it was no longer deemed suitable for patients. Closure of the hospital is today, 29th April 2016.​

 ​

The Explore​

 ​

As always, explored with my better half @hamtagger . This place had become a little bit of a fixation to us. Knowing as most of you probably did that closure was imminent we decided to pay it a visit. The hospital recently had an exhibition showing the history of Whitchurch and it had finished a week before our visit, only downfall is we would have got to see the hall but where is the fun in being allowed in somwhere! This place had 10 wards, they are huge wards, built on 2 floors. When we visited only 2 of those wards were in use on the East side and they were the secure unit which were moved to the new Llandough Hospital earlier this week. 90% of the site is disused. On site there is a funeral home and a hospice both of which are still and will still remain active now that the hospital has closed.​

The whole site is pretty vast, the corridors are long and echoey, we never saw a single person while walking around the main sections. The wards were all closed and padlocked off inside but this didn't really bother us too much. We just enjoyed sneaking round capturing it like it is now. HT said to me wouldnt it be nice to look back on these pics in years to come and see what it did look like. A severalls in the making if nothing happens with it. As you can see not a lot was accessible but it wil give you an idea of what it is like. Parts of it reminded me of Goodmayes Asylum in Essex, it had that feel to it. Especially with working lights and the colour of red on the windows and doors. The place hadn't been looked after which was a shame really. Decay had allready started. Some corridors were closed off due to colapsing ceilings. The water tower was locked off because of Aspestos. Reading a story online, millions had been spent renovating one of the concrete rings on one side of the tower only a few years ago. The building is beautiful. Red brick with a single line of yellow brick right through the middle. The grounds are just as nice, old flowerbeds now overgrown but still spring flowers coming through.​

On our way out we were met by Security at the main desk, we explained to him that we were just looking at the buildings. Luckily we were on our way out and he told us that he didn't mind us taking externals so there was our chance to walk around the whole site externally.  I got chatting to him and asked him about his job. He explained that he had started working for the gardens when he was 17 as a stopgap before he found something else to do, 44 years later he is still there. I could see the bond he had with this building with the closure ahead. He was emotionally attached to it, you could see the sadness in his eyes when he talked about it. He talked to us about the cannabis factory that was found a few years back in one of the derelict wards. He laughed when he said that staff thought he was behind it. All in all really nice to speak to him, someone with knowledge.​

So really a maze of corridors to see and a lot locked down, this place has a mortuary but I am led to believe that it's 50/50 as to wether there is a slab inside it still. I am told that it is stored for gas bottles. The main hall is amazing but I only got to see it through cracks in the doors. Currently being used for storage of medical records and equiptment it was heavily locked. Whitchurch has a lot more to offer but for us its a waiting game until it becomes more accessible inside.​

In particular I loved the Matron's door. This place had a lot of original features left and this was one of them.​

Anyway enough of my waffle, I am sure that many of you will vsit this place in time. On with the pics​

 ​

Externals​

 ​

An aerial view of the whole site, arrow plan.​

26106801643_01d356fcf8_z.jpg

 ​

1 : The Main entrance​

26644054851_10f70cfa0c_b.jpg

 ​

2 : The Pavillions had seen better days​

26437733540_a7084c0132_b.jpg

 ​

3 : Westside, Innit bruv!​

26437726990_946d937997_b.jpg

 ​

4 : One of the smaller villa's on site, more recently being used for admin​

26644043691_b65a3d356a_b.jpg

 ​

5 : One of the secure Units for the higher risk patients​

26683919526_b3f418ea3c_b.jpg

 ​

6 :​

26106386823_86cf0dced8_b.jpg

 ​

7 : East Side​

26617317512_d123e2d7f0_b.jpg

 ​

8 : Some more of the East side​

26617321532_344a19095f_b.jpg

 ​

9 : The external of the curved corridor​

26104257644_b954c3fb0a_b.jpg

 ​

10 :​

26710294255_237f468126_b.jpg

 ​

11 :​

26104280594_b2e3b273d4_b.jpg

 ​

The Internals​

 ​

12 :​

26644095981_411574a78f_b.jpg

 ​

13 :​

26710299345_8c1465c07e_b.jpg

 ​

14 :​

26437777450_c648c7b59a_b.jpg

 ​

15 :​

26683961996_eefdf0d14e_b.jpg

 ​

16 :​

26437768240_428e31eb5a_b.jpg

 ​

17 : The corridor Kink​

26644075781_cb0e2c442c_b.jpg

 ​

18 : A bit of artwork from a former patient​

26644069761_21496f0757_b.jpg

 ​

19 :​

26104261314_0b7a561580_b.jpg

 ​

20 : The corridor which led you to the Mortuary & Tower, sadly closed off​

26644063001_6952a91c63_b.jpg

 ​

21 : Sad times for Whitchurch​

26106407773_4d7a41f739_b.jpg

 ​

22 : The main entrance​

26710252955_f50b160bd2_b.jpg

 ​

23 : A little history from when it was a military hospital​

26710306425_a81536abdc_b.jpg

 ​

Thanks for looking!​

 ​

 ​

 ​

 ​

 ​
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Lenston

OS Full member
OS Full member
Joined
Jun 5, 2014
Messages
1,668
Reaction score
637
Points
113
Location
Wales
Should have given me a shout im fairly close by ;)  Nice shots of the place, theres much more too see here of course :)   

 
Last edited by a moderator:

AndyK!

OS Full member
OS Full member
Joined
Mar 17, 2013
Messages
1,404
Reaction score
1,237
Points
113
Location
Grimsby, UK
Coincidence, this place was brought to my attention only today! Nice to see around the place a bit, looks like a really nice place. Will be interesting to see what more it has to offer as further parts are closed down or become opened up.

 

Urbexbandoned

Full Member
OS Full member
Joined
Aug 25, 2014
Messages
2,218
Reaction score
855
Points
113
Location
Lincoln
Should have given me a shout im fairly close by ;)  Nice shots of the place, theres much more too see here of course :)   


Mate, we did actually think about dropping you a message but it would have been quite late notice. We will no doubt be back soon enough :) Deffo more to see here. Will be nice to see what comes from it :)  

Coincidence, this place was brought to my attention only today! Nice to see around the place a bit, looks like a really nice place. Will be interesting to see what more it has to offer as further parts are closed down or become opened up.


I am actually surprised you didn't know about this sooner than today mate. Definitely agree with what more it has to offer, I would love to see inside the wards for sure.

 

coolboyslim

Old school (m8ty)
OS Full member
Joined
Aug 17, 2015
Messages
617
Reaction score
397
Points
63
Location
Manchester
Seriously good stuff that. Look forward to future updates from here . What a right belter this is . And mystery to what other sections open up. Bloody good stuff report is appreciated.

 

jones-y-gog

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Apr 30, 2013
Messages
1,742
Reaction score
848
Points
113
Location
Leodis
Oh boy this has potential! Really like those corridor pics - even though there's no real decay there's an atmospheric feel to it

 

DirtyJigsaw

Full Member
OS Full member
Joined
Apr 9, 2014
Messages
676
Reaction score
409
Points
63
Location
London
Thats some fantastic photos there. Love the external of the more secure part of the hospital. Shame about no access to mortuary. Really enjoyed this report

 

mookster

Full Member
OS Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2012
Messages
934
Reaction score
360
Points
63
God looking at the outside gave me flashbacks to Hellingly, it's a real classic asylum and a seriously beautiful exterior. I would love to see the more decayed wards, just got to hope more gets opened up when it completely shuts down.

 

hamtagger

OS Full member
OS Full member
Joined
Jan 30, 2014
Messages
3,517
Reaction score
1,062
Points
113
Location
Lincoln
Pure corridor porn :)  Great set of pics there T, really enjoyed wandering around here and can't wait to see what else comes from the place :)  

when it completely shuts down


It pretty much has, only a few admin staff will remain for a short time  (y)  

 
Last edited by a moderator:

The_Raw

Administrator
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Dec 16, 2013
Messages
3,931
Reaction score
2,183
Points
113
Been looking forward to seeing something from here, good effort! Shame the wards are locked but hopefully the situation will change in the future (y)  

 

Urbexbandoned

Full Member
OS Full member
Joined
Aug 25, 2014
Messages
2,218
Reaction score
855
Points
113
Location
Lincoln
Thanks guys, loads more to come from here I reckon. A bit of decay and it'll be win win :)  

 

Gothicangel

Full Member
OS Full member
Joined
May 3, 2014
Messages
75
Reaction score
20
Points
8
Location
CHESTER
Nice explore .What annoys me is that there is nothing wrong with the building.It will be knocked down to make way for a new hospital or land to make room for lego land houses.

thanks for sharing .

 

Frink

OS Member
OS Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2016
Messages
4
Reaction score
2
Points
3
Location
London
Asylums like this are a pretty rare sight nowadays, what this place needs is abandonment and lax security. 

 
Top