St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum aka Ivy Hospital - The Ivy Bathroom
St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum  aka Ivy Hospital - The Ivy Bathroom

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum aka Ivy Hospital – The Ivy Bathroom

History

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum aka Ivy Hospital

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum aka Ivy Hospital

The now abandoned St Georges Asylum near Morpeth also known as The Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum first opened on the 16th March 1859. The large Victorian building was built in an Italian red brick style with stone dressings. The Asylum was originally constructed to accommodate approximately 200 male and female patients. Designed by Henry Welsh the plans were ultimately drawn up by John Cresswell. St Georges, similar to many other asylums build around this time featured segregated wards with the males occupying the east wing and the females had the west.

For more than 100 years after the asylum first opened the hospital had its own working farm and a brewery which was staffed by patients who would get up as early as 4am to begin work. This type of therapy was common in the old asylums and based upon what I have read was generally well received by those who were fit enough to participate.

In 1890 the building was renamed the County Mental Hospital and then again in 1937 when the complex became known as St Georges Hospital, the name which was to remain until the sites closure.
In 2006 St Georges Park opened which is a new modern purpose-built mental health hospital and has since replaced the services formerly offered at the old county asylum.

Our Visit

Another adventure… this time the abandoned Ivy Hospital which was previously a Lunatic Asylum before being adopted by the NHS and becoming a standard general hospital. Visited with a whole bunch of people, Donna, Cowboy, Matt, Andy, Mr Costello, Mars Lander and Sssshhhh to be exact. Not much to say about this place, the pictures speak for themselves. Quite nicely preserved lots of natural decay and little graffiti it was right up my street. There was obvious evidence of damage associated with metal theft but that’s common these days sadly. I’ve seen some shots since our visit as well which showed that the stage area has had some attention from a graffiti artist :(. Highlight for me has to be the water tower views and the Ivy covered bathroom! Enjoy the photos :).

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum  aka Ivy Hospital

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum aka Ivy Hospital

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum  aka Ivy Hospital

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum aka Ivy Hospital

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum  aka Ivy Hospital

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum aka Ivy Hospital

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum  aka Ivy Hospital  - The Main Hall

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum aka Ivy Hospital – The Main Hall

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum  aka Ivy Hospital  - Corridors

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum aka Ivy Hospital – Corridors

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum  aka Ivy Hospital  - Corridors

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum aka Ivy Hospital – Corridors

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum  aka Ivy Hospital  - Corridors

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum aka Ivy Hospital – Corridors

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum  aka Ivy Hospital  - Corridors

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum aka Ivy Hospital – Corridors

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum  aka Ivy Hospital  - Up the water tower

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum aka Ivy Hospital – Up the water tower

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum  aka Ivy Hospital  - Up the water tower

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum aka Ivy Hospital – Up the water tower

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum  aka Ivy Hospital  - Up the water tower

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum aka Ivy Hospital – Up the water tower

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum  aka Ivy Hospital  - Patient artwork on the walls

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum aka Ivy Hospital – Patient artwork on the walls

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum  aka Ivy Hospital  - Corridors

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum aka Ivy Hospital – Corridors

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum  aka Ivy Hospital

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum aka Ivy Hospital

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum  aka Ivy Hospital

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum aka Ivy Hospital

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum  aka Ivy Hospital

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum aka Ivy Hospital

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum  aka Ivy Hospital

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum aka Ivy Hospital

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum  aka Ivy Hospital - The Ivy Bathroom

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum aka Ivy Hospital – The Ivy Bathroom

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum  aka Ivy Hospital - The Ivy Bathroom

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum aka Ivy Hospital – The Ivy Bathroom

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum  aka Ivy Hospital - The Ivy Bathroom

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum aka Ivy Hospital – The Ivy Bathroom

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum  aka Ivy Hospital  - Unsafe Floors

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum aka Ivy Hospital – Unsafe Floors

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum  aka Ivy Hospital

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum aka Ivy Hospital

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum  aka Ivy Hospital

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum aka Ivy Hospital

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum  aka Ivy Hospital - In Use

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum aka Ivy Hospital – In Use

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum  aka Ivy Hospital

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum aka Ivy Hospital

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum  aka Ivy Hospital

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum aka Ivy Hospital

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum  aka Ivy Hospital

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum aka Ivy Hospital

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum  aka Ivy Hospital - Twin Baths

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum aka Ivy Hospital – Twin Baths

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum  aka Ivy Hospital

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum aka Ivy Hospital

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum  aka Ivy Hospital

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum aka Ivy Hospital

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum  aka Ivy Hospital - Chequered ceiliing

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum aka Ivy Hospital – Chequered ceiliing

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum  aka Ivy Hospital - Chequered ceiliing

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum aka Ivy Hospital – Chequered ceiliing

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum  aka Ivy Hospital - Twin Baths

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum aka Ivy Hospital – Twin Baths

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum  aka Ivy Hospital

St Georges Asylum aka Northumberland County Pauper Lunatic Asylum aka Ivy Hospital

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Enjoyed this report? then check out more photos from here over at Behind Close Doors: Ivy Hospital

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johnsmith says:

niceone,really enjoyed these.

PROJ3CTM4YH3M says:

Thankyou very much John Smith, It must have to be one of my favourite of the well preserved old asylums 🙂

Regards

PM

Catt says:

Awesome pictures, always are!

PROJ3CTM4YH3M says:

Thank you very much Cat 🙂

Peter Bakker says:

Another great series, what a fantastic place, I wonder why these lunatic asylums always are situated in giant buildings. The first picture of the twin bathtubs divided by the curtain is stunning, as is the beautiful red colour of the red pilar on the next picture. Truly amazing pictures and I noticed dozens of more galeries to go (I am new here)!

PROJ3CTM4YH3M says:

Hi again Peter,

I very much appreciate the kind words again about the photos. The Asylums in the UK often tended to be very large complexes of seperate buildings with corridors joining them together of large single buildings like this one. They catered for large numbers of patients but the model of these large hospitals became unpopular in the 1980’s and 1990 and the governement moved more towards smaller medical facilities and home care for patients. A change of the times and all these lovely Asylum buildings were sadly left to rot.

PM