In July 2007 I made a journey up to Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire for an Urbex* Meet-Up (when I took photos of the Willow Man through the coach window - three posts ago). The next day we all met up and spent the day exploring various abandoned sites led by our host. This was the first one of the day.
*Urbexing, short for Urban Exploring, is the exploration of derelict and abandoned buildings - also some forbidden live sites, such as tower cranes, roof tops and live power or utilities sites. Many Urbexers take photos, research the history and submit articles to urbex forums and/or add them to their own websites or blogs. The unofficial dictum for urbexing is 'take nothing but photographs and leave nothing but footprints'.
Originally known as the Staffordshire General Lunatic Asylum, it was opened in 1818 to accommodate 120 patients, the asylum later expanded in 1849-50. It was renamed St George's Hospital in the 1950's and, along with many other asylums, was eventually closed in the mid 1990's. Although Grade II listed, and despite plans to convert the buildings for residential purposes, the site was left and allowed to become more and more derelict for twenty years before work started.
Designed by Joseph Potter in the Georgian style, it consists of a long symmetrical range with projecting wings in brick with ashlar dressings. Recessed end wings were added at a later date; the rear buildings comprising a variety of original and later wings, plus a chapel and water tower. The later additions also included workshops and bakeries. With the additional buildings the Asylum was able to hold about 870 patients.
I only took exterior photos as, due to a disability, I was unable to manage the entry inside along with my friends. However, I did enjoy a wander around the outside and, to be honest, I often prefer the exterior of a building to the inside.
The grounds immediately to the front of the building had turned into a delightful meadow full of wild flowers and some garden escapees, which I found quite magical. Another thing I really liked about it was the blue doors and boardings; something which I also liked about the eventual restoration was that they used the same blue for the new doors.
Some of the interesting features include this rather grand entrance (below) with sweeping steps either side.
The doors and front wall were rebuilt in the 20th century. Apart from those, the originally features include an architrave, frieze and cornice, with paired Doric columns on the porch and enriched iron balusters on the two curved flights of stairs.
And the pond in front, albeit a rather murky green. Sadly, that is something that was taken away during restoration, now a circular flower bed with a paved edge.
The rusty escape stairs (below) are quite a contrast, but just as interesting in their derelict and overgrown state.
At the end of the added west wing is this T-plan projecting covered stairway with front verandahs. There is one on the east wing too, but I didn't see that one for some odd reason. I think we may have come onto the site partway along - missing out that end - or it was inaccessible.
I had a meander around the grounds a bit, although much of it was overgrown so there wasn't a lot to see. A rather nice wall below with some wood logs, which was just right for a sit down with a ciggy whilst waiting for the others to come back out. ;)
The
building eventually - and beautifully - restored, was developed into
100 apartments in 2016 and completed in 2018. Not only was it
sympathetically done, the original fixtures were retained or replaced
with well-constructed copies where necessary.
For more information about the methods used during the conversion I've put the builder's website link below.
https://www.build-liteuk.co.uk/st-georges-mansions/
A great first explore of a really fab weekend. Next post is Stallington Hall, another lovely building and very much a favourite of mine.
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