The West Ham Borough Asylum was built in 1901 to accommodate 800 mentally ill patients. Built on a Compact Arrow layout, with a south-facing aspect, the central administrative block was flanked on either side with four ward pavilions, one designated for the sick and infirm, another for acute cases, one for epileptic patients and the last for chronic cases. The west side contained 350 beds in 8 wards for male patients, and the east side 450 beds in 9 wards for female patients. There was also an isolation block which has now been demolished. The site also contained a kitchen, a mortuary, workshops, staff quarters, a water tower, a laundry and farm buildings.
Although much of the site has been derelict for years there are still many buildings being used as offices so there is a fair bit of activity. We got around what we could but a lot of the derelict stuff was off limits unfortunately, most annoyingly the main hall. The bits we did get into were largely empty apart from one block that had hundreds of patient files. I returned to have another pop at it during the week but found ten times as much activity, and a new security man with a dog sat within throwing distance of my access point. I may have another look one weekend but for now this is as far as I could get.
1. The admin building
2.
3.
4. The Martha Ward
5.
6.
7.
8.
9. Staff Kitchen
10.
11.
12. Ello treacle....
(not as useful as they looked unfortunately)
13. There were hundreds of dead flies in every sink on this ward, very bizarre.
14. Random surveillance room that didn't look as though anyone had been in it for a while but everything was still on.
15. Stairs in the admin block, just a few metres away from security staring at his phone.
16. Some colourful walls
17. Good luck exploring this place at night, all these lights are triggered automatically by motion sensors as you move.
18.
19. Hospital radio station was actually playing in here, couldn't tell if Les from Creme Brûlée was on shift or not though.
20. A useful map
21.
22. The Lavender ward
23.
24.
25.
26. One of many rooms of patient records....
27.
Although much of the site has been derelict for years there are still many buildings being used as offices so there is a fair bit of activity. We got around what we could but a lot of the derelict stuff was off limits unfortunately, most annoyingly the main hall. The bits we did get into were largely empty apart from one block that had hundreds of patient files. I returned to have another pop at it during the week but found ten times as much activity, and a new security man with a dog sat within throwing distance of my access point. I may have another look one weekend but for now this is as far as I could get.
1. The admin building
2.
3.
4. The Martha Ward
5.
7.
8.
9. Staff Kitchen
10.
11.
12. Ello treacle....
13. There were hundreds of dead flies in every sink on this ward, very bizarre.
14. Random surveillance room that didn't look as though anyone had been in it for a while but everything was still on.
15. Stairs in the admin block, just a few metres away from security staring at his phone.
16. Some colourful walls
17. Good luck exploring this place at night, all these lights are triggered automatically by motion sensors as you move.
18.
19. Hospital radio station was actually playing in here, couldn't tell if Les from Creme Brûlée was on shift or not though.
20. A useful map
21.
22. The Lavender ward
23.
24.
25.
26. One of many rooms of patient records....
27.
28. This room sucked....
29. So tempting to go for a spin in this, but that would be silly.
continued.....
29. So tempting to go for a spin in this, but that would be silly.
continued.....
