The 19.5 acre site has planning approval for some 248 dwellings, comprising a mix of houses and apartments, some of which are to be within the original Grade II listed hospital buildings.
History
Cookridge Hospital opened in 1869 as a 'Hospital for the Convalescent Poor in Leeds'. It was built in a secluded area by clearing away part of Ireland Wood, with a new road, Hospital Lane from Otley Old Road. The main building and the lodge, designed by Norman Shaw in 1868, are Grade II listed buildings. A further wing was added in 1893, the Edward Jackson Memorial Ward. In 1888 a second set of buildings were opened, the Ida Hospital, named in memory of Ida North, by her father John North. A further similar set of buildings were opened in 1905 named after the benefactor as Robert Arthington Hospital.
The buildings mainly functioned as longer-term convalescent facilities for patients treated in other Leeds hospitals, and were used for the care of wounded servicemen during both World Wars. The whole complex was taken over by the Government in 1939 and part used as a maternity hospital until 1942. In 1952 it became part of the NHS. A 'High Energy Radiation Centre', providing treatment of tumours opened in 1956. From then on it developed into a major regional centre for radiotherapy, with the Ida and Robert Arthington Hospitals becoming home to the Yorkshire Regional Cancer Organization in 1994.
In 2007 it closed and all facilities were transferred to the St James' Oncology Unit (Bexley Wing) of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
Much of the site was used for housing from 2010, with the listed building being retained for future development. The Robert Arthington Hospital was refurbished and opened in 2015 as the Lighthouse School for pupils with autistic spectrum conditions.
Our Visit
This place was a must go on our day trip to Leeds because of how it is being developed to be converted into houses.
Although the main building that most people recognise it from is very stripped, there is still some amazing architecture inside, and many wards that offer some sick photos. The second of the three grade two listed buildings is sealed tight so there is a much more 'hospital' like feel to it as there is much more inside, cough cough *cheadle cough cough... Meanwhile the final structure has been converted into a nursery school, but it is very similar to the Ida Ward anyway.
All in all, the buildings are both amazing with their Victorian architecture, and if you haven't seen it yet I'd definitely recommend it, as it doesn't look like it will be vacant much longer.
Pictures
Somehow we managed to get a sunny November day in England and this came to our advantage a lot in the red brick building, but no so much in the second, as it is almost pitch black. There are a mad amount of skylights literally everywhere in the second building, which I absolutely adore. Please leave some feedback.
Old skyview of the hospital site before the modern sections were added on. The building on the right is now a nursery.
The front of the red brick building, after modern construction ew...
A very stripped but cool corridor.
One of the old wards.
From a weird bridge over a small courtyard.
Machinery above a lift.
The IDA Ward, impossible to get a good front picture as it's a top a hill and they've covered it with fences and bushes.
Some old pics, featuring the radiotherapy machines, sucks they are not still here.
My favourite skylight out there.
Video
Here it is, a documentary style video of the history and our exploration to Cookridge Hospital. Took a long time but hope anyone that watches 'these rubbish urbex videos' like it, leave some feedback if you have a look
Thanks for reading x
History
Cookridge Hospital opened in 1869 as a 'Hospital for the Convalescent Poor in Leeds'. It was built in a secluded area by clearing away part of Ireland Wood, with a new road, Hospital Lane from Otley Old Road. The main building and the lodge, designed by Norman Shaw in 1868, are Grade II listed buildings. A further wing was added in 1893, the Edward Jackson Memorial Ward. In 1888 a second set of buildings were opened, the Ida Hospital, named in memory of Ida North, by her father John North. A further similar set of buildings were opened in 1905 named after the benefactor as Robert Arthington Hospital.
The buildings mainly functioned as longer-term convalescent facilities for patients treated in other Leeds hospitals, and were used for the care of wounded servicemen during both World Wars. The whole complex was taken over by the Government in 1939 and part used as a maternity hospital until 1942. In 1952 it became part of the NHS. A 'High Energy Radiation Centre', providing treatment of tumours opened in 1956. From then on it developed into a major regional centre for radiotherapy, with the Ida and Robert Arthington Hospitals becoming home to the Yorkshire Regional Cancer Organization in 1994.
In 2007 it closed and all facilities were transferred to the St James' Oncology Unit (Bexley Wing) of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
Much of the site was used for housing from 2010, with the listed building being retained for future development. The Robert Arthington Hospital was refurbished and opened in 2015 as the Lighthouse School for pupils with autistic spectrum conditions.
Our Visit
This place was a must go on our day trip to Leeds because of how it is being developed to be converted into houses.
Although the main building that most people recognise it from is very stripped, there is still some amazing architecture inside, and many wards that offer some sick photos. The second of the three grade two listed buildings is sealed tight so there is a much more 'hospital' like feel to it as there is much more inside, cough cough *cheadle cough cough... Meanwhile the final structure has been converted into a nursery school, but it is very similar to the Ida Ward anyway.
All in all, the buildings are both amazing with their Victorian architecture, and if you haven't seen it yet I'd definitely recommend it, as it doesn't look like it will be vacant much longer.
Pictures
Somehow we managed to get a sunny November day in England and this came to our advantage a lot in the red brick building, but no so much in the second, as it is almost pitch black. There are a mad amount of skylights literally everywhere in the second building, which I absolutely adore. Please leave some feedback.
Old skyview of the hospital site before the modern sections were added on. The building on the right is now a nursery.
The front of the red brick building, after modern construction ew...
A very stripped but cool corridor.
One of the old wards.
From a weird bridge over a small courtyard.
Machinery above a lift.
The IDA Ward, impossible to get a good front picture as it's a top a hill and they've covered it with fences and bushes.
Some old pics, featuring the radiotherapy machines, sucks they are not still here.
My favourite skylight out there.
Video
Here it is, a documentary style video of the history and our exploration to Cookridge Hospital. Took a long time but hope anyone that watches 'these rubbish urbex videos' like it, leave some feedback if you have a look
Thanks for reading x
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