Denbigh Asylum, North Wales - 5th Dec 09 / 7th Jan 10

[nickweb]

The North Wales Lunatic Asylum was the first psychiatric institution built in Wales; construction began in 1844 and completed in 1848 in the town of Denbigh. The U-shaped Tudorbethain style hospital was built due to the spreading word of mistreatment of Welsh people in English asylums; The North Wales Hospital would be a haven for welsh speaking residents to seek treatment without prejudice or a language barrier.

Renovations and extensions were made at the hospital from 1867 until 1956, when the hospital reached its maximum capacity at 1,500 patients living inside her walls and 1,000 staff at hand. Physical treatments such as Cardiazol, malarial treatment, insulin shock treatment, and sulphur based drugs were used and developed in the 1920s and 1930s, and 1941-1942 saw the advent of electro convulsive therapy (ECT) and prefrontal leucotomy (lobotomy) treatments.

Site closed in 1995
visited with Minxy and Sloth
I know tons of people have read the history of the place, so onto the pics:







Its one thing to read and see in pictures just how badly the building has decayed, but to see it first hand is really something else





A pic of the floor where I fell through, its an odd feeling when you realise you've gone through a floor and are falling in slow motion, whilst turning your camera away from the floor to try and save it. Afterwards, it was quite funny, although it put me on edges for the rest of the visit.



Luckily I didnt fall thought this one:










Time for some light painting:










More dodgy floors:





Where sloth nearly fell through





The lift looked like it was right out of Half-Life!





Misc pics

[nickweb]

Went back on 7th Jan 10 in the COLD SNOW (-13C when we left)









Also went to see the chapel