Hamilton Lodge Care Home
Only my second report so i'm still learning the ropes, first report when down well so I must be doing something right. The site was a care home for people with mental disabilities particularly focusing on those with autism.
History
In summary there is very little history that I could fine apart from planning documents. Seem to a similar affair for the other two people who have posted report on this location. For those that want to know more I’ve picked a part the planning documents below.
Past information on this location seems to be as common as hen’s teeth, after trawling the interwebs I managed to scrape a bit together regarding planning applications but not a whole lot more. The earliest record of the building existence is 1999 however I imagine it was built well before that. Ever since the first planning application it seems there has been a desire to develop new builds surrounding Selbourne Court that sits at the rear of the site. The very first application was for three new building split in to 5 units holding 8 people each. This was fully approved however it doesn’t appear they were actually built. They may have been built and then demolished however this is just speculation due to the lack of history records. the image on the right was a drawing of the site in 1999, the left image being the proposed development
The next planning application wasn’t made until 2005, following suit, the development focused around the back of the property. In this case it looked at extending Selbourne Court instead of building new. Again, the planning application as approved but no building to show. At this point in time is was owned by the Hamilton Lodge Trust Limited
Between 2005 and 2007, the site was acquired by The Disabilities Trust. The company then put in several planning application for the new builds which exist currently. Similar to previous applications, the application detailed four separate building housing a number of service users. The building in red are still yet to be built.
After running out of planning applications, the only source of history I could find was the closure announcement. In short, the lodge was too far away from any major town and with public transport being infrequent it wasn’t practical to travel. For people in this type of care Independence and social integration is essential as so living in the country side doesn’t provide much opportunity for either. Along with this, there is also a new drive to separate people in this type of care; living more like individuals rather than caring for one massive group where unique need cannot be met. This is illustrated with the consistent planning application to build multiple smaller housing quarters. Coupled with what was previously mentioned, funding also played a part in it closure, mind you, when doesn’t funding play a part?
References
https://idox.tendringdc.gov.uk/onli...o?activeTab=relatedCases&keyVal=LTQDBYQB03B00
(Planning Applications)
https://www.thedtgroup.org/autism-and-learning-disabilities/news/hamilton-lodge-to-close
(Closure notice)
Only my second report so i'm still learning the ropes, first report when down well so I must be doing something right. The site was a care home for people with mental disabilities particularly focusing on those with autism.
History
In summary there is very little history that I could fine apart from planning documents. Seem to a similar affair for the other two people who have posted report on this location. For those that want to know more I’ve picked a part the planning documents below.
Past information on this location seems to be as common as hen’s teeth, after trawling the interwebs I managed to scrape a bit together regarding planning applications but not a whole lot more. The earliest record of the building existence is 1999 however I imagine it was built well before that. Ever since the first planning application it seems there has been a desire to develop new builds surrounding Selbourne Court that sits at the rear of the site. The very first application was for three new building split in to 5 units holding 8 people each. This was fully approved however it doesn’t appear they were actually built. They may have been built and then demolished however this is just speculation due to the lack of history records. the image on the right was a drawing of the site in 1999, the left image being the proposed development
The next planning application wasn’t made until 2005, following suit, the development focused around the back of the property. In this case it looked at extending Selbourne Court instead of building new. Again, the planning application as approved but no building to show. At this point in time is was owned by the Hamilton Lodge Trust Limited
Between 2005 and 2007, the site was acquired by The Disabilities Trust. The company then put in several planning application for the new builds which exist currently. Similar to previous applications, the application detailed four separate building housing a number of service users. The building in red are still yet to be built.
After running out of planning applications, the only source of history I could find was the closure announcement. In short, the lodge was too far away from any major town and with public transport being infrequent it wasn’t practical to travel. For people in this type of care Independence and social integration is essential as so living in the country side doesn’t provide much opportunity for either. Along with this, there is also a new drive to separate people in this type of care; living more like individuals rather than caring for one massive group where unique need cannot be met. This is illustrated with the consistent planning application to build multiple smaller housing quarters. Coupled with what was previously mentioned, funding also played a part in it closure, mind you, when doesn’t funding play a part?
References
https://idox.tendringdc.gov.uk/onli...o?activeTab=relatedCases&keyVal=LTQDBYQB03B00
(Planning Applications)
https://www.thedtgroup.org/autism-and-learning-disabilities/news/hamilton-lodge-to-close
(Closure notice)
Future Development
Without actual documentation its only speculation, however, judging by the state of the lodge I should imagine it would be torn down. No evidence of it being a listed build which could stop such action. I would assume the new building at the rear would stay however I doubt more of the same would be built due to the rural location which caused the closure in the first place.
The Explore
Research Prior to the Explore
As with any place, researching beforehand can definitely help on the day. After looking through the reports and reading the comments, I found there seemed to be some confusion around whether the lodge had PIR’s and cameras. Well to clear up the confusion, there are no cameras or sensors of any sort on or in the lodge. This doesn’t include the new builds at the back, I didn’t venture over there but then it wouldn’t be surprising if they did have cameras and sensors all over the place.
This leads me on to the next point as to whether the site is still in use. This is pretty confusing as the building at the rear are pretty new and I also saw a car parked outside. However, with no obvious access point and no people in sight I am sceptical about whether it is still used.
Summary
The explore was about a 6/10, good but not quite Severals a day after it closed. The inside is pretty trashed but still some nice bits left, lots of personal items still inside. As for access, a blind man could spot it but you wouldn’t want to be a fat lad.
Complete Account
After about six month out of the game (due to constabulary related reasons), my craving was too much and I had to go and explore. Arrived at the place and found a very convenient place to park, however, it appeared all 17 of the residents that live in Great Bromley decided to have a meeting at the town hall, right across the street. Regardless I got on with it and no one seemed to care. After reading about the cameras, sensors and even guard dogs I was understandably cautious making sure I wasn’t about to be eaten by a pug.
After realising everyone including the police and security guard (and his dog) were at the village hall meeting, I knew I had the place to myself. Anyone with a pair of legs could get in to this place, it’s a cute effort from the security team but “it’s the through that counts” doesn’t really work in this instance. Either way it meant I was in pretty easily.
Being my fist explore for a while I had been too focused on getting in to realise my nerves. So to calm myself down I decided just to sit on my phone for a bit; before doing so I decided to poke my head round the door to make sure the coast was clear. All good so a sat scrolling Facebook for a while. Then the door I had opened to check closed it self… safe to say there was almost a very brown and very wet accident. Turns out it was the wind and I hadn’t shut it properly.
Now time to explore the place. It was a bit of a maze with several stair cases leading to different parts and rooms connecting to other rooms. The upper floors were quite well lit as the windows weren’t boarded up. The same cannot be said for the lower floors which posed a few difficulties with photos. Either way I manged to explore everything, well almost everything, I decided to leave the basement as it was flooded and looked too spooky for me by myself. Spend about an hour and a half mooching around and decided to leave just before the sun set. Security guard must have still been in the meeting as there was no drama of that calibre on my way out either.
Photos
Video Clips
As mentioned in my previous report, I stick a camera to myself to make sure I impress all the YouTube goons. Just kidding, it’s just nice to have a bit of video to show the place off, nothing fancy just raw clips chucked together. No audio.
Thanks for reading
Exxperious
Without actual documentation its only speculation, however, judging by the state of the lodge I should imagine it would be torn down. No evidence of it being a listed build which could stop such action. I would assume the new building at the rear would stay however I doubt more of the same would be built due to the rural location which caused the closure in the first place.
The Explore
Research Prior to the Explore
As with any place, researching beforehand can definitely help on the day. After looking through the reports and reading the comments, I found there seemed to be some confusion around whether the lodge had PIR’s and cameras. Well to clear up the confusion, there are no cameras or sensors of any sort on or in the lodge. This doesn’t include the new builds at the back, I didn’t venture over there but then it wouldn’t be surprising if they did have cameras and sensors all over the place.
This leads me on to the next point as to whether the site is still in use. This is pretty confusing as the building at the rear are pretty new and I also saw a car parked outside. However, with no obvious access point and no people in sight I am sceptical about whether it is still used.
Summary
The explore was about a 6/10, good but not quite Severals a day after it closed. The inside is pretty trashed but still some nice bits left, lots of personal items still inside. As for access, a blind man could spot it but you wouldn’t want to be a fat lad.
Complete Account
After about six month out of the game (due to constabulary related reasons), my craving was too much and I had to go and explore. Arrived at the place and found a very convenient place to park, however, it appeared all 17 of the residents that live in Great Bromley decided to have a meeting at the town hall, right across the street. Regardless I got on with it and no one seemed to care. After reading about the cameras, sensors and even guard dogs I was understandably cautious making sure I wasn’t about to be eaten by a pug.
After realising everyone including the police and security guard (and his dog) were at the village hall meeting, I knew I had the place to myself. Anyone with a pair of legs could get in to this place, it’s a cute effort from the security team but “it’s the through that counts” doesn’t really work in this instance. Either way it meant I was in pretty easily.
Being my fist explore for a while I had been too focused on getting in to realise my nerves. So to calm myself down I decided just to sit on my phone for a bit; before doing so I decided to poke my head round the door to make sure the coast was clear. All good so a sat scrolling Facebook for a while. Then the door I had opened to check closed it self… safe to say there was almost a very brown and very wet accident. Turns out it was the wind and I hadn’t shut it properly.
Now time to explore the place. It was a bit of a maze with several stair cases leading to different parts and rooms connecting to other rooms. The upper floors were quite well lit as the windows weren’t boarded up. The same cannot be said for the lower floors which posed a few difficulties with photos. Either way I manged to explore everything, well almost everything, I decided to leave the basement as it was flooded and looked too spooky for me by myself. Spend about an hour and a half mooching around and decided to leave just before the sun set. Security guard must have still been in the meeting as there was no drama of that calibre on my way out either.
Photos
Video Clips
As mentioned in my previous report, I stick a camera to myself to make sure I impress all the YouTube goons. Just kidding, it’s just nice to have a bit of video to show the place off, nothing fancy just raw clips chucked together. No audio.
Thanks for reading
Exxperious
. surprised you haven't got any shots of the staircase, that was the main attraction for me 
in which case that must have been awkward 
