Boldovan / Strathmartine Asylum – Dundee
History
"The Baldovan Institution was founded in 1852, mainly through the benevolence of Sir John and Lady Jane Ogilvy and from voluntary contributions and fees. It was established on the North bank of the Dighty as an orphanage, hospital and place of education and training for ‘imbecile’ children, accomodating 30 children. As such it was the first hospital of its kind in Scotland and the second in Britain. The Orphanage opened on 30th November 1854 and the Asylum opened on 6th January 1855.
In 1856 its name was changed to Baldovan Asylum and it expanded its operations after it received its license under the Lunacy Act of 1858, which legalised its function as a home for children. It was found that contact with 'imbeciles' had a detrimental effect upon the orphans and so in 1867 the Orphanage moved to other premises and the Baldovan Asylum concentrated its efforts on the care and education of mentally handicapped children. By 1879 the number of children accommodated at the Asylum had increased to 70 and the site where the Administrative block now stands was acquired. By 1904 the Main Building wards were built and occupied by 160 children.
The Mental Deficiency (Scotland) Act was passed in 1913, providing state supervision of mental defectives, which led to an increased demand for accommodation at Institutions like Baldovan. Between 1904 and 1932 further developments included another ward, staff residency, school facilities, a large Recreation Hall as well as occupational therapy and training in domestic, farm and garden work.
In 1925 the Baldovan Institution Confirmation Act sanctioned the trustees to form an Incorporation with the counties of Aberdeen, Forfar (Angus), Kincardine and Perth to undertake the management of the hospital with provision for children of all four counties.
In 1948 the running of the Hospital was transferred to the National Health Service. Subsequent developments included a change of name in 1959 to Strathmartine Hospital and major building works in 1963-1965, which saw the demolition of the original premises and the creation of new and improved facilities, including three new single story wards and a swimming pool. Two new 25 bed wards were opened in 1980."
My Visit
As I was passing thought it would be worth a quick stroll, after all someone had said it was worth a visit and was a huge site.
The photos are in no particular order, just the way I wandered around the buildings starting at what housed the boiler house and possibly the estates department. This being one of the grand entrances.
It soon became apparent that this place is well and truly trashed, local youth and nature having run riot in here over the years. Which is a shame as it must have been impressive once upon a time.
Now all that’s left is peeling wall paper, rotting plaster and floors and empty spaces.
At least the stair cases were of some interest if you could avoid falling through the floors, things were worse upstairs.
Soon back to the peeling wall paper, rotting plaster and floors and empty spaces. I thought St Lukes nr Huddersfield was bad.
Trouble with many hospitals and Asylums I find is they do get a bit samey, more or less all the buildings here were identical in their layout, the only thing differing was the amount of decay, vandalism and fire damage.
Here’s one of the very few interesting features left.
Back to another set of stairs as these were about the most interesting thing in the many identical buildings.
Things were looking up as I found a corridor with a slightly different colour scheme.
Some more interesting stairs with a bit of graffiti thrown in, things were getting to be like a spot the difference game – 4 things different in here to the previous building!
A bit more graffiti, thankfully the artists decided to use different images in the identical corridors.
May as well finish on another empty space with peeling wall paper, rotting plaster and floors and empty spaces.
Well that was Strathmartine Hospital / Asylum, if I’m honest it’s probably one of the least inspiring places I have visited, probably about 10 years too late. Having said that it was worth a visit if only to keep me out of the hotel bar for a few hours.
Cheers,
TLR
History
"The Baldovan Institution was founded in 1852, mainly through the benevolence of Sir John and Lady Jane Ogilvy and from voluntary contributions and fees. It was established on the North bank of the Dighty as an orphanage, hospital and place of education and training for ‘imbecile’ children, accomodating 30 children. As such it was the first hospital of its kind in Scotland and the second in Britain. The Orphanage opened on 30th November 1854 and the Asylum opened on 6th January 1855.
In 1856 its name was changed to Baldovan Asylum and it expanded its operations after it received its license under the Lunacy Act of 1858, which legalised its function as a home for children. It was found that contact with 'imbeciles' had a detrimental effect upon the orphans and so in 1867 the Orphanage moved to other premises and the Baldovan Asylum concentrated its efforts on the care and education of mentally handicapped children. By 1879 the number of children accommodated at the Asylum had increased to 70 and the site where the Administrative block now stands was acquired. By 1904 the Main Building wards were built and occupied by 160 children.
The Mental Deficiency (Scotland) Act was passed in 1913, providing state supervision of mental defectives, which led to an increased demand for accommodation at Institutions like Baldovan. Between 1904 and 1932 further developments included another ward, staff residency, school facilities, a large Recreation Hall as well as occupational therapy and training in domestic, farm and garden work.
In 1925 the Baldovan Institution Confirmation Act sanctioned the trustees to form an Incorporation with the counties of Aberdeen, Forfar (Angus), Kincardine and Perth to undertake the management of the hospital with provision for children of all four counties.
In 1948 the running of the Hospital was transferred to the National Health Service. Subsequent developments included a change of name in 1959 to Strathmartine Hospital and major building works in 1963-1965, which saw the demolition of the original premises and the creation of new and improved facilities, including three new single story wards and a swimming pool. Two new 25 bed wards were opened in 1980."
My Visit
As I was passing thought it would be worth a quick stroll, after all someone had said it was worth a visit and was a huge site.
The photos are in no particular order, just the way I wandered around the buildings starting at what housed the boiler house and possibly the estates department. This being one of the grand entrances.
It soon became apparent that this place is well and truly trashed, local youth and nature having run riot in here over the years. Which is a shame as it must have been impressive once upon a time.
Now all that’s left is peeling wall paper, rotting plaster and floors and empty spaces.
At least the stair cases were of some interest if you could avoid falling through the floors, things were worse upstairs.
Soon back to the peeling wall paper, rotting plaster and floors and empty spaces. I thought St Lukes nr Huddersfield was bad.
Trouble with many hospitals and Asylums I find is they do get a bit samey, more or less all the buildings here were identical in their layout, the only thing differing was the amount of decay, vandalism and fire damage.
Here’s one of the very few interesting features left.
Back to another set of stairs as these were about the most interesting thing in the many identical buildings.
Things were looking up as I found a corridor with a slightly different colour scheme.
Some more interesting stairs with a bit of graffiti thrown in, things were getting to be like a spot the difference game – 4 things different in here to the previous building!
A bit more graffiti, thankfully the artists decided to use different images in the identical corridors.
May as well finish on another empty space with peeling wall paper, rotting plaster and floors and empty spaces.
Well that was Strathmartine Hospital / Asylum, if I’m honest it’s probably one of the least inspiring places I have visited, probably about 10 years too late. Having said that it was worth a visit if only to keep me out of the hotel bar for a few hours.
Cheers,
TLR