History
Stone House Hospital, formerly the City of London Lunatic Asylum, was a hospital and former mental illness treatment facility in Stone, near Dartford, Kent, in the United Kingdom. As of November, 2007 the hospital has been closed, and is now being redeveloped for housing.
Stone House was originally constructed between 1862 and 1866 at the behest of the London Commissioners in Lunacy to provide for pauper lunatics from the London area at a cost of £65,000. The buildings were designed in a Tudor Revival architecture style by James Bunstone Bunning, and the facility accommodated 220 patients. The asylum grounds, at first 33 acres (130,000 m2) and later expanded to 140 acres (0.57 km2), included a working farm. Additions to the original buildings were made in 1874, 1878, and 1885, including an expanded female wing and a separate hospital building for patients with infectious diseases.
The explore
This one was a long time comeing as Stone House was on my to do list exactly one year ago, but after heavy snow while mooching around the nearby AEI works at Northfleet i had to concede defeat. A few very close shaves with builders and security (including standing right outside their portakabin), but luck was on my side. Really enjoyed this place, the shear age and dirty brick colours adding an extra dimension. So what happens to a historic site that will soon be celebrating it's 150th year? It gets filled with the most crass new build imaginable! The High Royds development would have been a good example to use here...
On with the fots:
The classic roof line.
The 1960/70's style nursing accomadation makes a stark contrast with the tower behind.
Around the corner from the previous photo, some retro phone boxes.
The Plant Room under demolition.
Taken from this angle (connected with the main building behind) this toilet block makes for an interesting bit of architecture.
Thanks for looking
Stone House Hospital, formerly the City of London Lunatic Asylum, was a hospital and former mental illness treatment facility in Stone, near Dartford, Kent, in the United Kingdom. As of November, 2007 the hospital has been closed, and is now being redeveloped for housing.
Stone House was originally constructed between 1862 and 1866 at the behest of the London Commissioners in Lunacy to provide for pauper lunatics from the London area at a cost of £65,000. The buildings were designed in a Tudor Revival architecture style by James Bunstone Bunning, and the facility accommodated 220 patients. The asylum grounds, at first 33 acres (130,000 m2) and later expanded to 140 acres (0.57 km2), included a working farm. Additions to the original buildings were made in 1874, 1878, and 1885, including an expanded female wing and a separate hospital building for patients with infectious diseases.
The explore
This one was a long time comeing as Stone House was on my to do list exactly one year ago, but after heavy snow while mooching around the nearby AEI works at Northfleet i had to concede defeat. A few very close shaves with builders and security (including standing right outside their portakabin), but luck was on my side. Really enjoyed this place, the shear age and dirty brick colours adding an extra dimension. So what happens to a historic site that will soon be celebrating it's 150th year? It gets filled with the most crass new build imaginable! The High Royds development would have been a good example to use here...
On with the fots:
The classic roof line.
The 1960/70's style nursing accomadation makes a stark contrast with the tower behind.
Around the corner from the previous photo, some retro phone boxes.
The Plant Room under demolition.
Taken from this angle (connected with the main building behind) this toilet block makes for an interesting bit of architecture.
Thanks for looking
