Kent County Lunatic Asylum (later the Oakwood Hospital) in Maidstone
The Kent County Lunatic Asylum was opened in 1833 at a site on Barming Heath just outside of Maidstone.
The photos in this collection show the original building (St Andrew’s House) as it was following the closure of the hospital and standing derelict for many years. In 2002 the building was converted into residential use.
With thanks to Oxford Archaeology.
And with thanks to David Bowie, who provides the music.
Duration : 0:3:29
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Thanks for the …
Thanks for the comment. The photos were taken by Oxford Archaeology as part of a survey carried out in 2000 prior to the building being converted. They kindly allowed me to reproduce their original photographs.
Your “prison” …
Your “prison” remark is pretty spot on…cos the man who designed/built this hospital also designed/built Maidstone prison. (I guess I should have said “architect”)
Brilliant …
Brilliant photographs. I’m so glad that someone took them (was it you, Moriarty?) I wrote a bit about the old hospital in a novel….back in 1990.
It gave me a lot of inspiration. Congrats on these photos, once again.
I’m also from …
I’m also from Maidstone, live about 5 minutes from this site, gutted that I wasn’t able to look around when it was still in this state.
Tell ya, if anyone from maidstone is up for any explores at any point, I’m on 28DL as well
Hellingly is definitely worth a look.
I worked in a few …
I worked in a few of these buildings a number of years ago,by then the place was empty.Very bleak and depressing,more like a prison,which in some ways it was.Igot the impression,that if you had’nt completely lost it when you went in,you had after a while.
Hope to speak soon …
Hope to speak soon on the 28DL forums! Once again, nice work!
Hello Moriarty, I’m …
Hello Moriarty, I’m a new user of the 28DL forums where you posted the link to these amazing photos. I would have posted on the 28DL forums but my account is awaiting activation by the mods. I, like you, am a Maidstonite. I’ve lived here all my life and for years thought about what was on the other side of those walls before the site was developed. I’ve only recently got into ‘intruding’ these derelicts, though I’ve always been into exploring the outside and countryside but mainly at night.
It’s funny how …
It’s funny how buildings are so much more picturesque when they’re mash up!
It’s sad to think how those poor people were treated in the days of the asylums: “You raise the blade, You make the change, You re-arange me ’till I’m sane, You lock the door, You throw away the key, There’s someone in my head and it’s not me”