Report - 29 Nov 2015 - Brunel Lodge

ipplepen · Nov 29, 2015

My first posting of a visit. This is an old psychiatric unit located in Devon. Looks as if it was vacated without much care at all. Very much open and easy to access. Be discrete though else security will no doubt remove you from site. I think the hospital has been closed for 3 or 4 years.

Signage clearly states keep out.

Ivy Croft

A day room

Nurses office

Bath time

Keeping you out

Last poster on the board

Nursing station

Ready for Xmas

Not the first!

ACID- REFLUX · Nov 29, 2015

Mmmm where to start ?

You need to add some History of the place in the report. As per all the other reports on the Forum.

Also we don"t do the over processed/surreal/eyes bleeding pics that some Forums accept .....but you wouldn"t know that bit yet

Apart from that well done & get yourself introduced in the "New Members" section

Urbexbandoned · Nov 29, 2015

My eyes do hurt a little. You have no reason to do that to your pics, they would be OK without the HDR.
Nice little find though

ipplepen · Nov 30, 2015

Cruel lot. Got the message.

The Queen · Nov 30, 2015

No Trolling here please.
Hi @ipplepen, Welcome to the forum- as has been said, HDR/ overly processed pics do not really go down well on this forum- we would much rather see your photos true to life. Good effort on getting out there though, I look forward to seeing what else you get up to

dweeb · Nov 30, 2015

Aaaaaaaaaaahh!

host · Nov 30, 2015

Great start and well done for getting out their, my fav shot is the graffiti, proper old school style pity it's not finished….get back out there and come back with more reports..drop the HDR too, most people here hate it.

ipplepen · Dec 1, 2015

Thanks for all the very helpful comments. For the sake of balance here is some more:

Situation: " HEALTH bosses have confirmed that an under-threat mental health unit in Newton Abbot will close. Devon Partnership NHS Trust has announced the 16-bed Brunel Lodge, in Old Totnes Road, will close on Tuesday, September 6, 2011 with patients and staff transferring to Torbay Hospital's Beech unit following a £1.5million refurbishment. The trust says Brunel Lodge is no longer fit for purpose and the state-of-the-art Beech unit will provide the highest standards of care for those with dementia and mental health problems. The future of the inpatient unit, built on the site of the old Wolborough Street hospital, has been under the microscope since 2004".

Background: Brunel Lodge was a small scale old style hospital that provided inpatient care for the elderly and people with a severe learning disability. It's closure came shortly after a damning report by the CQC into the design and layout or the property and the lack of reassurance that care could be delivered to male and female patients in separate area. At time of closure it was run by Devon Partnership NHS Trust.

Assessment: Entry to the site is easy with a simple hope required over a low stone to gain entry to the site. It is immediately apparent that others have visited before you. There is significant evidence of vandalism and removal and abandonment of equipment. The hospital is made of four separate units with one property appearing to be significantly older that the rest (circa 1920's?). Majority of windows are boarded and the interior is extremely dark.

Recommendations: Worth a visit if you enjoy decay, rubbish and vandalism. Some medical equipment left in place but most items of interest have been removed. Caution required as floors missing in places creating significant hazards.