After initially failing to do this on the part of bumping into Mr Security (a very friendly Mr Security I must add), we returned a few weeks later and had a very successful explore. This is actually the first big modern hospital explore I've done, and it was an enjoyable mooch for sure.
History
Sutton Hospital was a large facility, but from a lot of the site has now fallen into derelict following successive closures of the different wings and branches. The main Sutton Hospital site has been completely demolished, but many other parts of the hospital still remain with an uncertain future.
The current site management (Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust) are slowing moving facilities over to St Helier Hospital, which is on the north side of Sutton.
The wing we explored was the Chiltern Wing, a unit specialising in Mental health treatment.
The chiltern wing was initially closed for 6 months in August 2009 due to the discovery of legionella bacteria in water systems. However it seems it was never re-opened.
The Explore
Brewtal and I rocked up to here in middle of the day and gingerly found our way in uninterrupted, apart from a few teenagers roaming about hoping to find a way in. We quickly found the way inside and started the mooch about.
It quickly became clear that the copper fairies have been busy and have ripped out the copper pipes from the insulation in the ceilings and just about everywhere they could find it. Its safe to say its been well and truly trashed.
The size of the site meant that some parts were in a dire state, where others parts are quite clean.
We must have spent around 3 hours here, and even then we missed a few bits.
The cherry on top was finding the large boiler house and water tank.
I felt that we only scratched the surface of the whole site and we will certainly be returning to see more.
Photos
Another photo heavy Fisheye frenzy, a big site this.
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9. There was a rat running around in the room and the smell was vile.
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11. Bit of Dutch angle?
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21. A soft cell, with no hard edges, plastic windows and a very strong door.
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26. The lift motor
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History
Sutton Hospital was a large facility, but from a lot of the site has now fallen into derelict following successive closures of the different wings and branches. The main Sutton Hospital site has been completely demolished, but many other parts of the hospital still remain with an uncertain future.
The current site management (Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust) are slowing moving facilities over to St Helier Hospital, which is on the north side of Sutton.
The wing we explored was the Chiltern Wing, a unit specialising in Mental health treatment.
The chiltern wing was initially closed for 6 months in August 2009 due to the discovery of legionella bacteria in water systems. However it seems it was never re-opened.
The Explore
Brewtal and I rocked up to here in middle of the day and gingerly found our way in uninterrupted, apart from a few teenagers roaming about hoping to find a way in. We quickly found the way inside and started the mooch about.
It quickly became clear that the copper fairies have been busy and have ripped out the copper pipes from the insulation in the ceilings and just about everywhere they could find it. Its safe to say its been well and truly trashed.
The size of the site meant that some parts were in a dire state, where others parts are quite clean.
We must have spent around 3 hours here, and even then we missed a few bits.
The cherry on top was finding the large boiler house and water tank.
I felt that we only scratched the surface of the whole site and we will certainly be returning to see more.
Photos
Another photo heavy Fisheye frenzy, a big site this.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9. There was a rat running around in the room and the smell was vile.
10.
11. Bit of Dutch angle?
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21. A soft cell, with no hard edges, plastic windows and a very strong door.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26. The lift motor
27.
28.
29.
30.