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| Image copyright Google Earth 2012 |
Part of the hospital was hit by 3 German high explosive bombs in the early hours of August 11th 1942, killing 38 female patients and injuring a further 23. The bomb damaged ward was not demolished until 1962. This part of the building can clearly be seen on the map just to the right of the centre block of the hospital, where the break in the corridor is.
The hospital has a dark past as do most of the Asylums, with Psychiatrists being free to experiment on patients with treatments such as electro-convulsive therapy and frontal lobotomy being carried out there right up until the 1960's. Diana Gittins notes in her book Madness in Its Place: Narratives of Severalls Hospital, 1913-1997 women were often admitted by their own family for having illegitimate children or because they had been raped. This seems draconian by today's standards but at the time there were few, if any, assessments made of patients before they were admitted.
Since its closure the hospital has fallen into a state of severe disrepair, and a series of arson attacks have taken there toll. The bare section in the centre of the map is where the main hall used to stand, until in 2006 it was destroyed by fire. The structure was later deemed unsafe and pulled down. Sadly, various buildings around the site have been subject to fires causing significant damage to some.
In 2007 the site was put up for sale, and in 2008 a sale had been agreed but due to the impending recession it fell through leaving the future for Severalls uncertain.
More recently the land to the north of the hospital has been redeveloped and the main site looks set to follow. Two of the satellite villas have already been demolished. It is not yet known if the hospital will be converted into housing like Fairfields Asylum or if it will be flattened and new buildings put up in its place. It is certain however that at least the administration block will remain as this is a grade II listed building and many locals hope the water tower will be saved as this is considered a historic landmark.
The following pictures were taken over three visits to the site. Some people who have visited Severalls have been disappointed by the bareness of it, for me though this was part of its charm. I'm sure I will be making another visit as I feel there is still some unfinished business to take care of but that's another story...
