So today was the day that we accomplished a long planned report on Severalls Asylum in Colchester.
The hospital was officials closed down in 1997 and has since suffered a spate of arson attacks leading to the destruction of the main hall and the Superintendents house. The site is to be regenerated with the main administration building and a small section of the superb wards being restored and converted to residential housing as they are one of the few remaining original buildings.
The 300-acre (120 ha) site housed some 2000 patients and was based on the "Echelon plan" - a specific arrangement of wards, offices and services within easy reach of each other by a network of interconnecting corridors. This meant that staff were able to operate around the site without the need to go outside in bad weather.
Unlike modern British hospitals, patients in Severalls were separated according to their gender and Psychiatrists were free to experiment with new treatments on patients seemingly at will, using practices now considered unsuitable such as electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) and the use of frontal lobotomy. The use of these treatments peaked in the 1950s.
Gaining entrance to the site was extremely difficult, security patrol 24/7 in rings around the border of the site and 12 ft of spiked and occasionally razor wire fence stand between you and the site. Luckily a previous group had left a piece of removable fence on the floor near the main fence and we accessed the site by using it as a sort of ladder (be extremely careful).
Once in we headed straight towards the main admin building and entered through a small wooden door (already open) and explored the first section of the asylum. We then moved on toward the loading bay (near the large red doors) and had a short look around inside there.
However we then encountered a large issue, the very very good security team. We first heard our piece of fence rattling as if being climbed, and so began to walk over, and quickly regretted this decision as a very vigilant security guard rounded the corner.
The security man was among the friendliest I have ever met, and had no problems with allowing us to continue to record and take pictures whilst escorting us off the site ( he even took us out the long way to give us a better view of the asylum. He then took our names and details and recommended that we do not return (not only due to the fact it is not allowed but to the fact that there is a large amount of asbestos around. He escorted us off the sight and was very kind.
A few words of wisdom:
The hospital was officials closed down in 1997 and has since suffered a spate of arson attacks leading to the destruction of the main hall and the Superintendents house. The site is to be regenerated with the main administration building and a small section of the superb wards being restored and converted to residential housing as they are one of the few remaining original buildings.
The 300-acre (120 ha) site housed some 2000 patients and was based on the "Echelon plan" - a specific arrangement of wards, offices and services within easy reach of each other by a network of interconnecting corridors. This meant that staff were able to operate around the site without the need to go outside in bad weather.
Unlike modern British hospitals, patients in Severalls were separated according to their gender and Psychiatrists were free to experiment with new treatments on patients seemingly at will, using practices now considered unsuitable such as electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) and the use of frontal lobotomy. The use of these treatments peaked in the 1950s.
Gaining entrance to the site was extremely difficult, security patrol 24/7 in rings around the border of the site and 12 ft of spiked and occasionally razor wire fence stand between you and the site. Luckily a previous group had left a piece of removable fence on the floor near the main fence and we accessed the site by using it as a sort of ladder (be extremely careful).
Once in we headed straight towards the main admin building and entered through a small wooden door (already open) and explored the first section of the asylum. We then moved on toward the loading bay (near the large red doors) and had a short look around inside there.
However we then encountered a large issue, the very very good security team. We first heard our piece of fence rattling as if being climbed, and so began to walk over, and quickly regretted this decision as a very vigilant security guard rounded the corner.
The security man was among the friendliest I have ever met, and had no problems with allowing us to continue to record and take pictures whilst escorting us off the site ( he even took us out the long way to give us a better view of the asylum. He then took our names and details and recommended that we do not return (not only due to the fact it is not allowed but to the fact that there is a large amount of asbestos around. He escorted us off the sight and was very kind.
A few words of wisdom:
- He informed us specifically not to visit the tunnels should we come again (packed full of asbestos and very unsafe)
- Never try and run from security (he will call the police)
- Do not backchat, just accept the fact you have been caught!
- Do not return within 4-5 months at least or face prosecution.
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Also well done on not getting caught Secca are on it !
