visited before this current lockdown with @Chloe Explores and my daughter.
we weren’t sure if it would be accessible but after getting there it was a walk on. we decided to start on the top floor, lost count how many times i had to stop to catch my breath, it was a lot of stairs. every room has been vandalised and there’s some ok graffiti there too.
we found the stairs to the roof, a new experience for me as i’m usually a chicken as i’m not a fan of heights but surprisingly i was fine up there. the view is amazing and we spent quite a bit of time up there grabbing shots.
working our way down through the floors we found most rooms pretty much the same as on the other floors so not the most exciting rooms to look at after a while, but down in the basement is pretty cool with what used to be the kitchen and electric and heating rooms.
History -
I copied the history from here (thank you) as google wasn’t really giving me much else....
The building known as ‘M Block’ has not been in use since 2006 and the NHS has declared the site surplus to operational healthcare requirements. It is being put forward for development as a residential led scheme.
Gravesend hospital first opened in 1854. The site was donated by Lord Darnley, Darnley road in Gravesend town still exists. By 1863 the small infirmary had 15 beds. The Infirmary was known as Gravesend hospital. In 1880 Duchess Darnley opened a childrens` ward alongside the 15 bed adult infirmary. By 1888 the hospital started to extend and two more circular wards added. These were called Russell wards and being circular with 4 beds each side, this allowed a nurse to sit in the middle and watch other patients. Russell ward was named after the benefactor Mr Russells wife, he was the local brewery master. This now took the total to 32 beds.
In 1895 and again in 1905 the hospital extended to have 75 beds. The cost of this was around £7000
During WW1 the hospital was affiliated with Chatham hospital and had many French wounded patients. Between 1926 & 1928 council meeting were held and it was decide that the hospital was now in need to mass extension, costing a massive £60,000 . So in 1930 it was extended again to house 107 beds and 9 cots.
By 1945 the hospital found its beds in constant use and in need of massive expansion again, the hospital had become dilapidated and concrete could be seen more than the flooring. From 1946 to 1965 the hospital was extended and refurbished. New operating theatres opened in 1966. But still it was not big enough.
A new wing opened in 1971. It had cost £734,000 and contained a a general medical unit and a Maternity Department with 50 beds and 6 cots in the Special Baby Care Unit. But by 1986 its future had become insecure and was due to close. Edwina Currey attended the hospital as a protest was launched and 40, 000 signatures handed to her.
In 1997 a minor injuries unit opened the opposite side of the road to the main hospital. But with the looming of the Darenth Valley Hospital being built is was only a matter of time before most services were moved to the New hospital at Dartford.
The main hospital closed in 2004 with some treatments moving to M unit. Until that too finally closed in 2006. Not widely known that for 2 years from 2004 to 2006 M block was used as an asylum.
we weren’t sure if it would be accessible but after getting there it was a walk on. we decided to start on the top floor, lost count how many times i had to stop to catch my breath, it was a lot of stairs. every room has been vandalised and there’s some ok graffiti there too.
we found the stairs to the roof, a new experience for me as i’m usually a chicken as i’m not a fan of heights but surprisingly i was fine up there. the view is amazing and we spent quite a bit of time up there grabbing shots.
working our way down through the floors we found most rooms pretty much the same as on the other floors so not the most exciting rooms to look at after a while, but down in the basement is pretty cool with what used to be the kitchen and electric and heating rooms.
History -
I copied the history from here (thank you) as google wasn’t really giving me much else....
The building known as ‘M Block’ has not been in use since 2006 and the NHS has declared the site surplus to operational healthcare requirements. It is being put forward for development as a residential led scheme.
Gravesend hospital first opened in 1854. The site was donated by Lord Darnley, Darnley road in Gravesend town still exists. By 1863 the small infirmary had 15 beds. The Infirmary was known as Gravesend hospital. In 1880 Duchess Darnley opened a childrens` ward alongside the 15 bed adult infirmary. By 1888 the hospital started to extend and two more circular wards added. These were called Russell wards and being circular with 4 beds each side, this allowed a nurse to sit in the middle and watch other patients. Russell ward was named after the benefactor Mr Russells wife, he was the local brewery master. This now took the total to 32 beds.
In 1895 and again in 1905 the hospital extended to have 75 beds. The cost of this was around £7000
During WW1 the hospital was affiliated with Chatham hospital and had many French wounded patients. Between 1926 & 1928 council meeting were held and it was decide that the hospital was now in need to mass extension, costing a massive £60,000 . So in 1930 it was extended again to house 107 beds and 9 cots.
By 1945 the hospital found its beds in constant use and in need of massive expansion again, the hospital had become dilapidated and concrete could be seen more than the flooring. From 1946 to 1965 the hospital was extended and refurbished. New operating theatres opened in 1966. But still it was not big enough.
A new wing opened in 1971. It had cost £734,000 and contained a a general medical unit and a Maternity Department with 50 beds and 6 cots in the Special Baby Care Unit. But by 1986 its future had become insecure and was due to close. Edwina Currey attended the hospital as a protest was launched and 40, 000 signatures handed to her.
In 1997 a minor injuries unit opened the opposite side of the road to the main hospital. But with the looming of the Darenth Valley Hospital being built is was only a matter of time before most services were moved to the New hospital at Dartford.
The main hospital closed in 2004 with some treatments moving to M unit. Until that too finally closed in 2006. Not widely known that for 2 years from 2004 to 2006 M block was used as an asylum.
