1.The History
Kirklees College originally started life as Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, Huddersfield’s first hospital. Designed by Joseph Kay (famous for designing Pelham Crescent with the Church of St Mary-in-the-Castle in the centre, in Hasting, Sussex) and opened in 1831, later additions included the south wing in 1861, the north wing in 1874 and finally the Carlisle Wing in 1898, financed by a gift from English businessman and Conservative Party politician Sir Hildred Carlisle. Special features available at the infirmary in 1929 included Turkish, Russian, and medicated baths and a new electro-medical department. The foundation stone for a further extension was laid by the Duke of York in 1932 and opened by Lord Moynihan in 1934.
Old O/S map detail of the hospital:
Front view of Huddersfield Royal Infirmary:
One of the hospital’s wards during World War II:
In 1965 the infirmary moved nearby to new facilities at Lindley which were formally opened by Prime Minister Harold Wilson in January 1967. In the late 60’s the former Ramsden Technical College purchased the site for £105,000 with teaching beginning in September 1968. Additional blocks were added in the early 70’s, including the main block in 1971. By 1978, in excess of 8,000 students were studying at the college which at this point was known as ‘Huddersfield Technical College’ and now consisted of 10 inter-linked blocks over the 6.1-acre site, including the original Grade II-listed Hospital buildings, with their imposing sandstone columns and the statue of Edward the VII that looks over the car park.
In 2008, Huddersfield Technical College merged with Dewsbury College to become Kirklees College. Kirklees College would relocate to a new purpose-built £70 million site in 2013 known as the ‘Waterfront Campus’ which was built to house a staggering 20,000 students. Their former site was purchased by Oldham-based construction company Wiggett’s for an undisclosed sum. Initial plans for the site were for it to be developed to create a mixed-use site featuring residential, retail and leisure uses but these plans stalled amid planning issues surrounding the re-use of the architecturally-important former infirmary.
In the meantime, the site found an interim use as a filming location. BBC drama “Remember Me” starring Michael Palin, Mark Addy and Julia Sawahla was partly filmed at the former college in the first half of 2014, with one of the buildings being transformed into a hospital, care-home, and police station. Later that year, “Black Work”, a three-part British detective fiction thriller, starring Sheridan Smith as police officer Jo Gillespie, was also partly filmed in the hospital in the Autumn of 2014. Finally, the former hospital building was also used for the 2017 psychological thriller “In Extremis”, starring David O’Hara (Braveheart, The Departed, Luther), Isabelle Allen (Les Miserables), Neil Pearson (Drop the Dead Donkey) and 1980s new-wave singer Toyah Wilcox.
In February 2021 it was reported that the site would be largely demolished and be replaced with a large apartment-block, along with a supermarket and offices. The 19th century Grade II-listed Huddersfield Infirmary will be retained, along with its wings. In total 229 apartments will be created. However, as of November 2021, work on the site is yet to start and it remains decaying and a bit of an eyesore.
2. The Explore
Had seen the odd report come up on here circa 2019 but what with COVID and all that never got over here. Anyhow, my non-forum mate went here a month or so back and told me it was well worth a look, so we arranged to meet up there. We arrived early on a beautiful November morning and already the traffic was really busy. Entry looked difficult but we were luck that a relatively easy way in was currently available, albeit a bit exposed. But myself and my two exploring buddies were soon in an trying to find our way around the site.
Three things immediately hit you. Firstly, the site is absolutely massive. Secondary, the place is completely trashed and finally part of the site is pretty new and the other part really old. To be honest, you could spend hours in here, especially give it take time to find your way around the labyrinthine corridors. Although, we probably only spend just over two hours there, we did see a good chunk of this place. The scale of trashing is incredible. And equally, quite depressing. Hopefully the older ex-hospital part will get saved as it really does have some character.
3. The Pictures
What a façade to be greeted by:
Not forgetting the imposing statue of King Edward VII:
Round to the former main entrance:
And down the side:
And we’re in:
The first block is completely trashed:
More classroom carnage:
Loads of stairs:
Looking across to the older parts:
On to the next block:
The corridors start to get a little repetitive:
Good pass rate:
Old Lab classroom:
On to the burnt-out bit:
More trashed corridors:
On to the library:
Kirklees College originally started life as Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, Huddersfield’s first hospital. Designed by Joseph Kay (famous for designing Pelham Crescent with the Church of St Mary-in-the-Castle in the centre, in Hasting, Sussex) and opened in 1831, later additions included the south wing in 1861, the north wing in 1874 and finally the Carlisle Wing in 1898, financed by a gift from English businessman and Conservative Party politician Sir Hildred Carlisle. Special features available at the infirmary in 1929 included Turkish, Russian, and medicated baths and a new electro-medical department. The foundation stone for a further extension was laid by the Duke of York in 1932 and opened by Lord Moynihan in 1934.
Old O/S map detail of the hospital:
Front view of Huddersfield Royal Infirmary:
One of the hospital’s wards during World War II:
In 1965 the infirmary moved nearby to new facilities at Lindley which were formally opened by Prime Minister Harold Wilson in January 1967. In the late 60’s the former Ramsden Technical College purchased the site for £105,000 with teaching beginning in September 1968. Additional blocks were added in the early 70’s, including the main block in 1971. By 1978, in excess of 8,000 students were studying at the college which at this point was known as ‘Huddersfield Technical College’ and now consisted of 10 inter-linked blocks over the 6.1-acre site, including the original Grade II-listed Hospital buildings, with their imposing sandstone columns and the statue of Edward the VII that looks over the car park.
In 2008, Huddersfield Technical College merged with Dewsbury College to become Kirklees College. Kirklees College would relocate to a new purpose-built £70 million site in 2013 known as the ‘Waterfront Campus’ which was built to house a staggering 20,000 students. Their former site was purchased by Oldham-based construction company Wiggett’s for an undisclosed sum. Initial plans for the site were for it to be developed to create a mixed-use site featuring residential, retail and leisure uses but these plans stalled amid planning issues surrounding the re-use of the architecturally-important former infirmary.
In the meantime, the site found an interim use as a filming location. BBC drama “Remember Me” starring Michael Palin, Mark Addy and Julia Sawahla was partly filmed at the former college in the first half of 2014, with one of the buildings being transformed into a hospital, care-home, and police station. Later that year, “Black Work”, a three-part British detective fiction thriller, starring Sheridan Smith as police officer Jo Gillespie, was also partly filmed in the hospital in the Autumn of 2014. Finally, the former hospital building was also used for the 2017 psychological thriller “In Extremis”, starring David O’Hara (Braveheart, The Departed, Luther), Isabelle Allen (Les Miserables), Neil Pearson (Drop the Dead Donkey) and 1980s new-wave singer Toyah Wilcox.
In February 2021 it was reported that the site would be largely demolished and be replaced with a large apartment-block, along with a supermarket and offices. The 19th century Grade II-listed Huddersfield Infirmary will be retained, along with its wings. In total 229 apartments will be created. However, as of November 2021, work on the site is yet to start and it remains decaying and a bit of an eyesore.
2. The Explore
Had seen the odd report come up on here circa 2019 but what with COVID and all that never got over here. Anyhow, my non-forum mate went here a month or so back and told me it was well worth a look, so we arranged to meet up there. We arrived early on a beautiful November morning and already the traffic was really busy. Entry looked difficult but we were luck that a relatively easy way in was currently available, albeit a bit exposed. But myself and my two exploring buddies were soon in an trying to find our way around the site.
Three things immediately hit you. Firstly, the site is absolutely massive. Secondary, the place is completely trashed and finally part of the site is pretty new and the other part really old. To be honest, you could spend hours in here, especially give it take time to find your way around the labyrinthine corridors. Although, we probably only spend just over two hours there, we did see a good chunk of this place. The scale of trashing is incredible. And equally, quite depressing. Hopefully the older ex-hospital part will get saved as it really does have some character.
3. The Pictures
What a façade to be greeted by:
Not forgetting the imposing statue of King Edward VII:
Round to the former main entrance:
And down the side:
And we’re in:
The first block is completely trashed:
More classroom carnage:
Loads of stairs:
Looking across to the older parts:
On to the next block:
The corridors start to get a little repetitive:
Good pass rate:
Old Lab classroom:
On to the burnt-out bit:
More trashed corridors:
On to the library:
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