So after more than 4 years of being a self proclaimed urban explorer and regularly using the website to fuel my addiction for decay i have decided its finally time to give something back to the 28 days later community in the form of my first report... (go easy)
The morning started like all explores, up early and in the car to reach the fairly local site at sunrise to limit the possibility of being spotted on entry by any one of the many flats surrounding the perimeter. At first glance the high wall seems an unlikely entry point however after a brief stroll an access point was granted and we were quickly inside the tranquil grounds. A short while later after photographing and exploring a few of the smaller out buildings we were inside the main annex, although bare in places there was still much of the site left to explore and some good photo opportunities with only one close call with security,
Copy and pasted history
St Clements Hospital
The buildings were originally built in 1848-49 as a workhouse, for the Board of Guardians of the City of London Union.
The palatial design was by architect Richard Tress and cost over £55,000 to construct, boasted central heating, a dining- hall measuring 100 feet by 50 feet, Siberian marble pillars, and a chapel with stained glass windows and a new organ. It became an infirmary for the CLU in 1874, and in 1912 the Bow Institution for the long-term sick. In 1936 it became a psychiatric unit, under the St Clement's name again. It became part of the London Hospital in 1968 and went through various organisational changes until closure in 2005. Services were transferred to a new Adult Mental Health Facility at Mile End Hospital in October 2005.
Following its closure the site was transferred from the NHS to English Partnerships, then to the Homes and Communities Agency, and eventually the Greater London Authority, who in 2011 took the site to market so that it could be sold and redeveloped. In June 2012 it was announced that St Clements would become the United Kingdom's first urban Community Land Trust, with the East London Community Land Trust[1] working in partnership with Linden Homes (Galliford Try) and Peabody Housing Trust to bring the scheme forward.
In August 2013 St Clement's was reopened to the public for the first time as the site of Shuffle Festival, a community festival showing films curated by Danny Boyle. There was also an art exhibition, music, live projections and a 'Day of the Mind' - an alternative fête day with installations by artists and scientists exploring ideas about mental health. The Day of the Mind was free to the public and supported by the Wellcome Trust. The Arts Council and Canary Wharf Group also provided support for the festival. In December 2013 Shuffle returned as the Winter Shuffle, with an extended programme of art, film, storytelling, theatre, music and science from 5–15 December.
Construction officially started in March 2014, with the Mayor of London Boris Johnson breaking ground on the site.
On to the pictures.......
View of clocktower from rooftop
View from Clocktower
Thanks for Looking
Addicted to decay.......
The morning started like all explores, up early and in the car to reach the fairly local site at sunrise to limit the possibility of being spotted on entry by any one of the many flats surrounding the perimeter. At first glance the high wall seems an unlikely entry point however after a brief stroll an access point was granted and we were quickly inside the tranquil grounds. A short while later after photographing and exploring a few of the smaller out buildings we were inside the main annex, although bare in places there was still much of the site left to explore and some good photo opportunities with only one close call with security,
Copy and pasted history
St Clements Hospital
The buildings were originally built in 1848-49 as a workhouse, for the Board of Guardians of the City of London Union.
The palatial design was by architect Richard Tress and cost over £55,000 to construct, boasted central heating, a dining- hall measuring 100 feet by 50 feet, Siberian marble pillars, and a chapel with stained glass windows and a new organ. It became an infirmary for the CLU in 1874, and in 1912 the Bow Institution for the long-term sick. In 1936 it became a psychiatric unit, under the St Clement's name again. It became part of the London Hospital in 1968 and went through various organisational changes until closure in 2005. Services were transferred to a new Adult Mental Health Facility at Mile End Hospital in October 2005.
Following its closure the site was transferred from the NHS to English Partnerships, then to the Homes and Communities Agency, and eventually the Greater London Authority, who in 2011 took the site to market so that it could be sold and redeveloped. In June 2012 it was announced that St Clements would become the United Kingdom's first urban Community Land Trust, with the East London Community Land Trust[1] working in partnership with Linden Homes (Galliford Try) and Peabody Housing Trust to bring the scheme forward.
In August 2013 St Clement's was reopened to the public for the first time as the site of Shuffle Festival, a community festival showing films curated by Danny Boyle. There was also an art exhibition, music, live projections and a 'Day of the Mind' - an alternative fête day with installations by artists and scientists exploring ideas about mental health. The Day of the Mind was free to the public and supported by the Wellcome Trust. The Arts Council and Canary Wharf Group also provided support for the festival. In December 2013 Shuffle returned as the Winter Shuffle, with an extended programme of art, film, storytelling, theatre, music and science from 5–15 December.
Construction officially started in March 2014, with the Mayor of London Boris Johnson breaking ground on the site.
On to the pictures.......
View of clocktower from rooftop
View from Clocktower
Thanks for Looking
Addicted to decay.......
