History

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 :).

If you’ve made it this far… thanks for reading / checking out the pictures. Leave me a comment below or hit the like button to let me know you’ve enjoyed the shots and to encourage me to keep posting more 🙂

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

Limited Edition and Canvas prints, as well as regular prints, are available for all of the images above just ask me about prices.

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