Report - Whitchurch Hospital - Cardiff - June 2024

[Lenston]

Being as this is my local hospital I've not actually posted a report in probably 20+ visits over the years. Anyway below is a bit of a update on the state of the place.

Didn't see a few bits avoiding the man and his dog but a good couple of hours spent wandering around, the place is looking amazing.

Some pics

Cheers
​

 

[Ryhs]

nice pictures, from what i’ve heard security are power hungry in this place so good job on avoiding them

 

[Explore With Alex]

Love the picture in the end with the wheelchair great report

 

[Seffy]

The old girl

 

[dansgas1000]

Never tire of seeing this one pop up.. great shots and I agree it is looking great, it's in a perfect state of decay in my opinion.

 

[Fuzzball]

Wow.... so back in 2016 I decided to make my own miniature asylum complex in miniature because I didn't think there were any large-scale county asylums properly abandoned where were left, of which could match the mythical ones of the early 2010s and noughties - Severalls, Hellingly, Deva etc - but Whitchurch has been an intriguing surprise. It's looking like a legit, if blander, throwback these days, all romantic ivy invading endless corridors and silent day rooms. I think it's perhaps clear at this point that the complex isn't going to turned into luxury housing any time soon. This would be both a sad realization that these buildings might inevitably tumble into destruction, while also providing a welcome opportunity to enjoy the kind of explore which isn't really a common occurrence in the 2020s. Excellent pictures. This is history in the making here. Sure - Goodmayes, St Cadocs are still in use, but this is just about the last full, mothballed/abandoned asylum standing of which no further use is forthcoming. The final mix of Victorian asylum and 20th century mental hospital discarded in the early-to-mid 21st century (just about). I'd be surprised if Goodmayes is ever abandoned entirely, given its location. I keep missing Whitchurch history days, I hope to learn more about this hospital.

 

[Bugsuperstar]

Looking good these days! Great report mate.

 

[Wastelandr]

Good to see an update on it. Shame the Pathology lab has been stripped out, was probs my favourite bit. But overall aging like a fine wine

 

[Wastelandr]

Wow.... so back in 2016 I decided to make my own miniature asylum complex in miniature because I didn't think there were any large-scale county asylums properly abandoned where were left, of which could match the mythical ones of the early 2010s and noughties - Severalls, Hellingly, Deva etc - but Whitchurch has been an intriguing surprise. It's looking like a legit, if blander, throwback these days, all romantic ivy invading endless corridors and silent day rooms. I think it's perhaps clear at this point that the complex isn't going to turned into luxury housing any time soon. This would be both a sad realization that these buildings might inevitably tumble into destruction, while also providing a welcome opportunity to enjoy the kind of explore which isn't really a common occurrence in the 2020s. Excellent pictures. This is history in the making here. Sure - Goodmayes, St Cadocs are still in use, but this is just about the last full, mothballed/abandoned asylum standing of which no further use is forthcoming. The final mix of Victorian asylum and 20th century mental hospital discarded in the early-to-mid 21st century (just about). I'd be surprised if Goodmayes is ever abandoned entirely, given its location. I keep missing Whitchurch history days, I hope to learn more about this hospital.

Did you ever make the model? I've been wanting to do the same. Whitchurch is mega, and of course a shame there's not much left like it. There are a few more still open but whether they'll ever become fully abandoned and doable, I really don't know and it could be a while still. Cadocs is probably my favourite explore, it's just an incredibly authentic and frankly bizarre place. Goodmayes will be cracked again if it kills me! When I don't know. I'm actually going to Ireland soon to check out what they have over there. Seems like so many more yet to reach the demo/conversion stage, a few years behind.

 

[HughieD]

Very nice take on this old classic!

 

[tumbles]

Wow.... so back in 2016 I decided to make my own miniature asylum complex in miniature because I didn't think there were any large-scale county asylums properly abandoned where were left, of which could match the mythical ones of the early 2010s and noughties - Severalls, Hellingly, Deva etc - but Whitchurch has been an intriguing surprise. It's looking like a legit, if blander, throwback these days, all romantic ivy invading endless corridors and silent day rooms. I think it's perhaps clear at this point that the complex isn't going to turned into luxury housing any time soon. This would be both a sad realization that these buildings might inevitably tumble into destruction, while also providing a welcome opportunity to enjoy the kind of explore which isn't really a common occurrence in the 2020s. Excellent pictures. This is history in the making here. Sure - Goodmayes, St Cadocs are still in use, but this is just about the last full, mothballed/abandoned asylum standing of which no further use is forthcoming. The final mix of Victorian asylum and 20th century mental hospital discarded in the early-to-mid 21st century (just about). I'd be surprised if Goodmayes is ever abandoned entirely, given its location. I keep missing Whitchurch history days, I hope to learn more about this hospital.

Whitchurch is infinitely better than Severalls even cleared out. It’s probably top five full stop from its initial everything left and power on stage through to its now gloriously decayed state

 

[Calamity Jane]

Love this classic. Great update. The peel is so photogenic and the nature climbing in makes beautiful snaps.

 

[JaffaTB]

Really need to get myself down here and try this myself before its too late, some awesome pics!

 

[Egret]

Great pictures, especially that first one and the ivy clad corridor!

 

[Fuzzball]

Did you ever make the model? I've been wanting to do the same. Whitchurch is mega, and of course a shame there's not much left like it. There are a few more still open but whether they'll ever become fully abandoned and doable, I really don't know and it could be a while still. Cadocs is probably my favourite explore, it's just an incredibly authentic and frankly bizarre place. Goodmayes will be cracked again if it kills me! When I don't know. I'm actually going to Ireland soon to check out what they have over there. Seems like so many more yet to reach the demo/conversion stage, a few years behind.

I'd be gutted if I never saw Whitchurch, or Goodmayes. St Cadocs seemed pretty well secured when I was last there to capture general footage.
There's an in-operation mental health unit right next door to the old buildings and the residents seem very observant, along with any staff. I felt like I was intruding into the area even when keeping to the public footpaths. Strange feeling.

I've noticed that St Cadocs has recently appeared in a Netflix show too. I saw the trailer and instantly recognised the place as a county asylum, then realised it was St Cadocs. Can't remember the name of the show now, though. Darn it. St Cadocs stands-in for an orphanage and is a flashback to the 1950s it seems. The production used the exteriors and interiors. Anyway, what was particularly odd about St Cadocs, general feel or what's left?

Yes thanks, I made quite a lot of the model, although I moved house and have had to put most of it in storage so it's completely unfinished. It's gathering genuine dust and decay on top of the artificial destruction, which is very intriguing! Life imitating art imitating life. There is a great hall (reminiscent of Hellingly's), admin block (inspired by Cane Hill and Long Grove), two main buildings (Talgarth flavoured ward gallery) and loose recreations of Severalls' water tower and the exterior to Myland Court. And some Old Manor inspired cable tunnels. That's as far as I got though before moving. I've also been working on a Cane Hill documentary and that's required some miniatures building to tell part of the story.
Damn I love model making sessions! Its like crack cocaine benders for introverts.