Visited with Stoozie, Mookie and Zotez.
Heyford Hospital, opened in 1980 at the peak of the Cold War, last used in 1993 and closed in 1994. Since then it was offered for sale several times for as low as £1, including to the NHS considering how new it was, but given the site location it simply wasn't to be so it's down to be demolished. So the 4 of us, knowing that the airbase's communal side will be all but gone in a few months time (this time, it's for real), we thought we'd pay a final visit to the buildings there. This place was where my journey in urbex really hit its stride; this was my first hospital, first doing it in October 2009 with Mookie. After we did it, however, the place was well and truly sealed tight as hell. Without going into details here, none of us could believe our luck when we found the place open again (that said they're on this like a hawk here so it will no doubt be sealed back up within days)!
So basically this time, we'd planned to find the remaining operating theatres we missed (there are at least 5, if not a 6th somewhere) and of course, the mortuary (of all the hospitals I've done, I've either found the mortuaries sealed or elusive!).
Starting on the top floor, we looked at the incubator ward with all its cute murals.
Now that it's due to be demolished, there were clear signs of contractors going in. The Heritage Team managed to remove the hospital radio (see my 09 report) and some other stuff, but THANKFULLY the operating theatres remained intact!
As you can see, it's been badly attacked by chavs over the years, and even since my 2009 visit the water damage has got even worse! The basement is even flooded above waist height, I kid you not! It's near enough a total shell as well, even more so now that the Heritage Group have been in! On the contrary, with the level of natural decay in places, and with 5 operating theatres complete with lights, it'd be difficult to argue that this hospital is completely rubbish.
Stripped out kitchens
I was tipped off about where the mortuary was by a contractor, who was an ex-maintenance worker for the hospital but couldn't find it. In the end, we came to the sad conclusion that it was this bit, stripped out long, long ago . Question is though, how did it have a door at the back leading into the maintenance rooms? Beats me.
Going down the stairs after finding the roof nailed shut, we found the switchboard. Got a real fright when we found a little ginger cat hiding behind the panel from us!
Labs
Inside one of the soundproof booths
The Children's ward, completely stripped out
Drug dispensary
Reception
And the closing shot, the A&E operating theatre!
On a final note, I think it's fair to say that the communal side has decayed to a point where it's looking pretty desolate so it's got to go. The hospital in particular might be an eyesore, but for me I'll be sad to see it go considering how much history it holds for me personally. Oh well, at least I got some better photos of it and got to pay one last visit.
Enjoy,
Love TBM x