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- Mar 20, 2013
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Harperbury Hospital
History
The Middlesex Colony, begun in 1929, was opened on 20th May, 1936, by the Rt. Hon. Sir Kingsley Wood, M.P. Minister of Health. The Colony is intended for mental defectives who are socially inadaptable in the community, or who are neglected or without visible means of support. Male defectives who are capable of being employed are provided with suitable agricultural occupations on the land, or at various industrial occupations in the Colony's workshops.
Female defectives are suitably employed in the laundry, general kitchen or workrooms. Children who are capable of it are given various simple occupations. The patients live in separate "homes" of the villa or pavilion type. The Administrative Centre, consisting of the main administrative offices, dental and surgical clinics, dispensary, central kitchen, reception hall, workshops, laundries, &c. has been built on an axial line running north and south, the Colony buildings for male and female being placed east and west around and overlooking playing fields. An isolated site on the south side is allocated for the children's section.
The nurses' home is situated immediately to the west of the main administrative offices, adjacent to the main entrance from Harper Lane. Wild Farm, an 18th century house, is the residence of the medical superintendent: there are also residences for the Deputy Medical Superintendent and senior officers, and a staff village situated east on the road frontage forms part of the scheme. The Recreation Hall is equipped for talking pictures and has a stage; it will seat 700. There are tennis courts and sports grounds. The buildings are surrounded by farm lands.
Female defectives are suitably employed in the laundry, general kitchen or workrooms. Children who are capable of it are given various simple occupations. The patients live in separate "homes" of the villa or pavilion type. The Administrative Centre, consisting of the main administrative offices, dental and surgical clinics, dispensary, central kitchen, reception hall, workshops, laundries, &c. has been built on an axial line running north and south, the Colony buildings for male and female being placed east and west around and overlooking playing fields. An isolated site on the south side is allocated for the children's section.
The nurses' home is situated immediately to the west of the main administrative offices, adjacent to the main entrance from Harper Lane. Wild Farm, an 18th century house, is the residence of the medical superintendent: there are also residences for the Deputy Medical Superintendent and senior officers, and a staff village situated east on the road frontage forms part of the scheme. The Recreation Hall is equipped for talking pictures and has a stage; it will seat 700. There are tennis courts and sports grounds. The buildings are surrounded by farm lands.
My Visit
Now I know what you are thinking oh no not another Harperbury report, but this place is right on my doorstep basically, and I just had to see the place for myself, yes the padded cells and swimming pool and good stuff had all gone, people kept telling me how bad it was, but it got me out the house, the sun was shining so why not!!
People were right though, the place is absolute trashed, never seen anything like it, glad I visted though, shame I didn't visit sooner, would have loved to have seen the padded cell.
The best thing about the place was the two bits of graffiti lol.
The place really is a shit tip, a lot has been demolished over the last few years, I can see the whole lot going in the not too distant future.
Thanks for looking.
