Our sister paper the Dover Express visited the asylum in 1904 and published a descriptive account of the inside of the building. Oakwood Hospital in Barming Heath near Maidstone, England was a psychiatric hospital founded in 1833 as the Kent County Lunatic Asylum. Designed by John Whichcord Snr, built of local ragstone, it opened in 1833 and later became Oakwood Hospital. Plans for a new hospital for Maidstone were approved in the mid-1970s and the site chosen was just to the north of the Oakwood Hospital. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The building was. PDF MBC | Oakwood A:Layout 1 - Borough of Maidstone "We passed through when the patients were at their midday meal, and it was good to see not only how liberally they were served, but how carefully they were attended, each according to condition and necessity. There has been a very thorough job done this time but I think it's only amatter of time before it's opened up again. When the policy of keeping mentally-ill people in institutions for many years was ditched towards the end of the 1900s, and services were transferred to Maidstone Hospital, Oakwood was closed. [1] It was designed as one building, commonly referred to as St Andrew's House, using an early corridor design by the surveyor to the County of Kent, John Whichcord Snr (who also designed Maidstone County Gaol). Oakwood Hospital in Barming Heath near Maidstone, England was a psychiatric hospital founded in 1833 as the Kent County Lunatic Asylum. JavaScript is disabled. Hi. The only evidence I can speak of is the road having collapsed on Heath Road a couple of months back. In the decades that followed there was a move towards de-institutionalisation. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Romania: Castles, Ruins, and Medieval Villages, Iceland in Summer: Journey Through a Fabled Land, Monster of the Month w/ Colin Dickey: Mokele-Mbembe, Accidental Discoveries: A Celebration of Historical Mistakes, Antiques and Their Afterlives: Stories from the Collection of Ryan and Regina Cohn, Monster of the Month w/ Colin Dickey: Satanists, Once Upon a Time: Fairy Tale Writing With Anca Szilgyi, Gourds Gone Wild: Growing and Crafting Gourds With Gourdlandia, Playing Ancient Games: History & Mythology With John Bucher, Secrets of Tarot Reading: History & Practice With T. Susan Chang, Why 18th-Century Scots Performed Mock Human Sacrifices Over Cake. Kent areas with worst pollution amid controversial ULEZ expansion, Current plans would see the Ultra Low Emissions Zone expanded this summer, Arrest after man has neck cut in 'serious assault', Police are now appealing for witnesses and those with information to come forward. The hospitals within the Oakwood Health System include: Beaumont Hospital - Dearborn Dearborn, Michigan. <3> Oxford Archaeological Unit, 1998, Queen's House, Oakwood Hospital, Maidstone DTS (Unpublished document). The need for an asylum in Canterbury came about due to a local government reshuffle in 1889, when the city became a County Borough, independent of the rest of Kent. In 1920, it was re-branded as Kent County Mental Hospital, becoming St Augustine's when it was taken on by the NHS in 1948. Winner will be selected at random on 06/01/2023. SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry. The Cross erected to the memory of all the persons buried here, and avenue of evergreen trees. Wow, that would be absolutely fascinating if it is all down there. Home page - Oakwood Initially, his complaints were rejected, so he and another nurse put together a list of 70 occasions when patients were abused, neglected and degraded. And I hear Persimmon (or whoever it was) lost a digger in a large hole while they were developing the new houses. In the late 1990s, work began on redeveloping the area as a housing estate, which is still known as St Augustine's. We have heavily documented the place's chequered history over the years. The notice board erected by Maidstone Council, wrongly describes this as a "War Memorial" , (See Inscription 1). A view of a ward at Kent County Mental Hospital - Historic England He explained: I deeply regret that a fire broke out in the tailor's shop at this hospital at 6.40am on Friday, November 29. Oakwood House Hotel: need a stop over before the tunnel or a place from which to visit Kent,? The only vaguely undergroundfeature I was aware of was what I always presumed was an ice house betweenMoat House and the lake. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. oakwood hospital maidstone tunnels Hmmm yer cheers, I've been to quite a few buildings in the area but want to get into tunnels. I've done lots of walks around town. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Kent History and Library Centre | The National Archives Maidstone - Five Oak Green. "On both the men's and the women's sides there are ample pleasure grounds in which to walk, and with the purpose of giving the idea of liberty there are no high walls, and the distant view is not obstructed. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Maidstone council is to pay the Department of Health a nominal 1 fee to take over responsibility for Oakwood cemetery in Barming. Perhaps the most notorious of Kent's asylums, it was opened in 1875 after it became apparent that the existing institution at Barming was not big enough. Located in Barming Heath, it opened its doors in 1833, admitting its first 168 patients. At its peak, the hospital held around. administrative records, financial records, staff records, patient and What's for dinner? Six pumps attended and the 350 patients in that wing were evacuated. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. There was also a fan powered by6 'D' cells (The fat chunky round ones, called something like U-3 inthe UK) which blwe air over the dry ice and inside the container. The asylum was intended to take in patients from across the entire county of Kent, which then stretched as far west as Greenwich. Following transfer of services to Maidstone Hospital, Oakwood closed in 1994 and was then developed as a residential estate known as St Andrew's Park. I was vaguely aware that there was an abandoned graveyard here but until today, had no idea that it was connected to the site. SKE7817. Aside from state-sponsored institutions, a number of privately-run establishments had already been in existence for some time. Hermitage Lane Maidstone . Oakwood Hospital Cemetery in Barming, Kent - Find a Grave Care for mental health patients continues to be provided there. "Index of Lunatic Asylums and Mental Hospitals", "St Andrew's House at Oakwood Hospital, Maidstone", "Queens House at Oakwood Hospital, Maidstone", "The Beeches at Oakwood Hospital, Maidstone", "Gate and Lodges of Oakwood Hospital, Maidstone", The Concise New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Oakwood_Hospital&oldid=1075674687, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 7 March 2022, at 02:34. This would lead to a reduction in patient numbers and a phasing out of functions to other hospitals. Among the more notable in Kent was one founded in the 1760s by William Perfect, a doctor who had a particular interest in treating people deemed to be insane. Im up that way for college And if there is tunnels around that way i would like to check them out. Oakwood Hospital, Maidstone, Kent. Oakwood Hospital - Asylum Projects The plot is 6292 if thats any help.Thanks very much>, http://www.aditnow.co.uk/uk-mining-regions/default.aspx?ref=51, Ormskirk Cottage Hospital & Dispensary / West Lancashire College Campus - Oct 2022. That's the beginning of one of the culverted parts of the River Len which runs under the Sainsburys, the Shopping Centre and a few other roads etc. The info me and my friends gathered led us to believe that the tunnels began up towards the old mental hospital (now a housing estate) just off of Tonbridge road, theres still a ton of old buildings in the area, possible access? It would be a great help if you had seen to take a picture as i live on the Isle Of Wight. This closed in 1994 and has been converted for residential use. Register today and take advantage of membership benefits. Something went wrong, please try again later. Oakwood Hospital was founded in Maidstone as the Kent County Lunatic Asylum. And we have a specialist Facebook group covering traffic and travel across the south east, where we provide the latest updates from any incidents on the roads or trains. Hi, I live in Maidstone and as a child i remember going through tunnels up by the old mental hospital. Do you have A loctaion where abouts of tonbridge road. At its peak, the asylum held around 2,000 psychiatric patients from around the county, and some of the London boroughs due to their close proximity. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. JavaScript is disabled. I would like to express my deepest sympathy with the relatives of those killed and injured in this tragic occurrence and my deep appreciation of the courage and devotion of all members of the hospital staff, the fire service, the Civil Defenceteams and others engaged in the work of rescue.. See also MED01/01/2855-2860 and MED01/01/2862-2865. All rights reserved. Kent's most notorious lunatic asylum is undoubtedly St Augustine's Hospital in Chartham. The Oakwood Hospital was founded as "Kent County Lunatic Asylum" - a single building constructed between 1829 and 1833 in Barming Heath, Maidstone. http://www.swanley1.freeserve.co.uk/miscellaneous/ramsgate_tunnels.htm. He died in 1809 but the asylum continued to be run by his son, George. Sorry this is just another urban myth. Following transfer of services to Maidstone Hospital, Oakwood closed in 1994 and was then developed as a residential estate known as St Andrew's Park. But he knew the family of theproprietor of the old scenic railway and hed been in the tunnels acouple of times after the SubBrit visit and it was during the lastvisit he had experienced breathing difficulties from the CO2. The development and expansion of the hospital continued in 1867, when a third building was added; the new asylum block was called Hermitage Block. They later added: "In the men's side of the establishment we found just a little less of the decorative drawing room element, but everywhere pleasant features and ample facilities for enjoyment. *This relative died in Oakwood aged 86 years. St Andrew's House, Oakwood Hospital, Maidstone, Kent. By the late 1860's further accommodation was required and another new wing, Hermitage House was built for 400 patients. This facility offers a cutting-edge, three-story medical . In the proceeding years it was, however, deemed fit enough for royal visitors, with both Princess Anne and Princess Diana welcomed there. They later added: "In the men's side of the establishment we found just a little less of the decorative drawing room element, but everywhere pleasant features and ample facilities for enjoyment. St Andrew's House was converted into apartments in 2001-2002 after some 60,000 was spent by a specialist firm to landscape the grounds which had become overgrown., Barming Asylum later became Oakwood Hospital. Hide this ad by donating or subscribing ! If you do not understand anything on this page please contact us. There is a tunnel from the river going to underground reservoir tanks at the old asylum. So i can not go to visit even though i go up once a year or so. Unfortunately, I don't have any evidence other than what my grandparents remember and what my mum remembers, as she worked there for a little while. The hospital was finally closed in 1994, with Maidstone Hospital taking up its remaining services. The Oakwood Hospital was originally founded as the "Kent County Lunatic Asylum". By 1850 just before a new asylum wing, Queen's House, was added, the hospital could hold 443 patients. Here's the link to our main Facebook page where we share our latest stories, including anything from breaking news to features, court coverage and much, much more. [2] The hospital closed completely in 1994. By 1948 there were 2,000 patients being treated at the site. heavily documented the place's chequered history, The secrets below Kent's sea: How the SS Montgomery could blow up any minute, The 8 things I missed the most about north Kent when I moved to Birmingham, The forgotten Kent shipwreck tragedy which killed 700 people in the River Thames, The gruesome story behind Westgate Towers in Canterbury - the UKs largest surviving medieval gate, A21 crash: Suzuki motorcyclist killed in May bank holiday tragedy, The crash towards Hastings also "seriously" injured his pillion passenger who has been taken to hospital, A21 reopens after motorcyclist dies in crash near Tunbridge Wells, The crash involved a motorbike and car on Hastings Road, southbound, and caused the road to close, A2 closed as multi-vehicle crash causes oil to spew across road - as it happened, National Highways says there are delays and congestion following the crash, Kent coastal areas people advised to avoid amid sewage warnings as more people head to the beach, Swimmers have been told to avoid these places, Tunbridge Wells, Canterbury and every other Kent area's May bank holiday bin collection dates, Some of the countys districts will see a slightly revised collection timetable due to the bank holiday, Kent criminals jailed in April include paedophiles, 'violent' brothers, and duo who swindled own employer, The faces and stories behind the worst Kent criminals jailed in April, Kents best pubs with a beer garden to make the most of this spring, Theres a reason our county is known as the Garden of England, Celebrate King's coronation with afternoon tea on steam train through Kent, Air ambulance lands after 'serious' crash near Tunbridge Wells, Coin found in pile of pennies in Kent home worth thousands, The owner thought the coin was fake but it turned olut to be 400-years-old and extremely valuable, Kent to be just as hot as Venice on May bank holiday, Its looking to be a very warm bank holiday here in the Garden of England, Celebrate coronation with afternoon tea on steam train through Kent, Major Kent road closed in one direction after crash, A20 Westbound closed, slow traffic due to accident, two cars and a lorry involved from A260 Canterbury Road to M20, New map shows latest Arcturus Covid cases in UK, A surge in cases of the Arcturus variant has been recorded in over 30 countries, A260 crash seriously injures cyclist with road forced to close all afternoon, Kent Police and paramedics from South East Coast Ambulance Service attended the scene with traffic heading into Folkestone heavily impacted, 'Inflation is making it harder to grocery shop on a budget - even at Aldi', Some items at Aldi - like many other stores - have increased in price over the past months, Stunning Spanish galleon ship heading to Kent, It is the only ship of its kind to sail in the present day, Father-of-six among those remembered by loved ones in Kent's death notices. Thanks to a couple of members that showed me a map picture it seems that there is at least one tunnel that runs straight under the city (which could even interlink into more?) Both of these buildings were designed by the architect John Whichcord Snr. Queens House, the chapel and St. Andrews House have been retained for housing, but the nursing home is still a nursing home.The hospital was served by a cemetery built between 1865 and 1896, which was extended at various times. <5> Oxford Archaeological Unit, 1998, Evaluation at Oakwood Hospital, Maidstone (Unpublished document). (Just hope they got all the people off the bus if it is down there! JavaScript is disabled. SKE7262. SKE7623. Some internet browsing identified it as a psychiatric hospital long de-commissioned. St Andrew's House was converted into apartments in 2001-2002 after some 60,000 was spent by a specialist firm to landscape the grounds which had become overgrown.. Construction on the Maidstone Hospital began in 1980 and was completed in 1982/1983. This would lead to a reduction in patient numbers and a phasing out of functions to other hospitals. <6> Oxford Archaeological Unit, 2000, St Andrew's House, Oakwood Hospital, Maidstone, Kent. Here we look at those set up in Kent and what has happened to them since. The buildings that remained, all Grade II-listed, have been converted into apartments. It couldn't be simpler and it takes seconds - simply press here, enter your email address and follow the instructions. Last Name(s) Special characters are not allowed. Oakwood Health System - Wikipedia A blue plaque acts as a reminder of the Grade II-listed high street building's former resident. Oakwood Hospital, Maidstone | The National Archives The Program acknowledged that this closure would accelerate the strategic objective of vacating the total site. Located in Barming Heath, it opened its doors in 1833, admitting its first 168 patients. The hospital shut in 1993 and most of its buildings, although not the chapel, were demolished. It would be great just to know what was down there. A tunnel from the local asylum to county hall? It was originally known as the East Kent County Asylum and had room for 1,205 patients. After the First World War, it became known as Canterbury City Mental Hospital, and was renamed St Martin's, after the church nearby, following the Second World War. On 29 November 1957, a fire broke out in the tailor's workshop on the first floor of one of the buildings. Trying to find the right nursery, school, college, university or training provider in Kent or Medway? (SOmeyears ago I was involved in airfreighting Asparagus. Kent County Lunatic Asylum (Oakwood Hospital) - Maidstone, England The photo (from what I can read on the sign) was taken at Igthham Mote. As demands grew, the capacity of the original accommodation building, St Andrews House, became increasingly insufficient. Attempting to access the www.kurg.org.uk tonight gives a variety of interestingerror messages not sure what's broken but something seems to be. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Our Education Directory has everything you could possibly need! Six pumps attended and the 350 patients in that wing were evacuated. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. cant go as far as you used to as parts hve been filled in to provide better foundations for new buildings. This place is literally five minutes from me- I live up the road from the old asylum site which is now houses. I travelled through Moat Park daily for five or six years andmy mother still lives within half a mile. You can still see the dips in the ground where the entrances used to be. Mar 10, 2020 - Discover Kent County Lunatic Asylum (Oakwood Hospital) in Maidstone, England: This former abandoned hospital, a complex of stunning 19th century buildings, once housed 2,000 psychiatric patients. <1> Newman, J., 1980, Buildings of England: West Kent and the Weald, newman W Kent and the Weald p403 (Monograph). There's something more worthwhile under Ramsgate, if that's within yourrange. I am researching a relative who died in Oakwood Hospital, near Maidstone, in 1969. - See 446 traveler reviews, 130 candid photos, and great deals for Oakwood House Hotel at Tripadvisor. A new housing development now occupies the site of the demolished Hermitage Block. Oneday I had to go inside a container which was loaded up and had the fangoing. With growing demand for places for adults, more buildings went up in the late 1880s, 10 in total, five for men and five for women. . It was erected between 1829 and 1833 on a site in Barming Heath, just to the west of Maidstone. The complex is known as St Andrew's Park, which was the name of the hospital's original main building. That article is a fair few years old. I've heard the opticians at the top of Gabriels hill (where the bus stops are) is above alot of tunnels, there is apparently a chapel inbetween that building and the Lush shop on the other side. "Near this entrance is the waiting room for visitors, and the approaches to all parts of the buildings. St Andrew's House, Oakwood Hospital, St Andrew's Road, Maidstone. It opened in 1878, initially for 560 youngsters aged five to 16. Blanche, Andrew, (20th cent), operator of a tunnel boring machine on the Channel Tunnel project; Blathwayt, William, (?1649-1717), statesman and civil servant; Bligh, John Stuart, (1827-1896), 6th Earl of Darnley ; Our dedicated team of physicians, nurses, therapists, aides and other healthcare professionals provide personalized and exceptional care that leads to shorter reco very times and more thorough . Hide this ad by donating or subscribing ! She was in the hospital for 21 years iam wondering if you had seen a grave stating Clara Gunningham. It was far removed from the original meaning of the word asylum, as a sanctuary. You must log in or register to reply here. Further to those videos, I found out some very interesting stuff about this hospital today which I think is worth posting, intriguing to say the least. Oakwood Hospi Mention the word asylum in connection with people who have a mental illness and it conjures up all sorts of images. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. Following its closure in 1988, it was demolished and the site was cleared. It comprised one building; commonly referred to as St Andrew's House,. SKE7299. The Maidstone Health Authority Operational Plan for 1984/85 (paragraph 4.2) states that the long term objective was to close the Oakwood Hospital. St Andrew's House and The Queen's House are both Grade II listed buildings and so were spared demolition. There have been many rumors of tunnels hidden beneath the city maidstone but no one can really find any proof of it. Historic psychiatric asylum and most-filmed location in the Great White North. Under the guidance of the principal attendant we made an extended tour of the rooms and corridors, where the patients are in the day time, as well as the dormitories, where they spend the night, first taking the wing occupied by the women. By 08:00 the fire was out, and the clearing-up process began. Therefore, it is no surprise that such outdated medical practices and the hospitals that used to house the patients no longer exist. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The Oakwood Hospital was originally founded as the "Kent County Lunatic Asylum". Oakwood Hospital - Asylum Projects During the 1970s and 1980s there was a change in focus on the best way to treat the mentally ill and housing patients long-term in large institutions was falling out of favour. Exploring Kent's Past - Kent County Council Maidstone, United Kingdom. Ashford - Maidstone. "Of course there are some bad cases, but the system of classification is so judiciously adopted that they are specially looked after, while patients who can be trusted are allowed all the liberty and enjoyment possible.". You have successfully removed Oakwood Hospital Cemetery from your Photo Volunteer cemetery list. Oakwood Hospital was founded in Maidstone as the Kent County Lunatic Asylum. Plans for a new hospital for Maidstone were approved in the mid-1970s and the site chosen was just to the north of the Oakwood Hospital. Horsemen once used this tilting post during jousting practice. (410) 687-1383 . now doesn't that just makepurfect sense? The fire brigade was called at 06:40 and arrived four minutes later. The injured, none of whom were patients, are progressing satisfactorily. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. I've spoken to a few shop owners in town and they have confirmed smugglers cave entrances in the basement of their and the neighbouring shops. The Darenth Asylum and Schools was built for "imbecile children" at the instruction of the Metropolitan Asylums Board. Now known as a residential estate, the history of the site dates back almost two centuries. County Code Hospital Name/Address City Zip Table 2: 1960 - 2017 Historic Hospital List by COUNTY ALAMEDA 1 013 ACMC-HIGHLAND CAMPUS 1411 E. 31ST ST OAKLAND 94602 1 001 ALAMEDA HOSPITAL 2070 CLINTON AVE ALAMEDA 94501 1 002 ALTA BATES HOSPITAL AT ALBANY 1247 MARIN AVENUE ALBANY 94706 The locations of said tunnels are rumoured to be linked and leading to: Preston Hall Hospital, Oakwood Hospital, and Mote House. By the time that the hospital passed into the care of the South East Metropolitan Hospital Board in 1948 it was authorised to accommodate 2055 patients, although the figure is likely to have been higher than this. The Oakwood Hospital then became known as the Maidstone Hospital (Psychiatric Wing) and some of its functions began to be transferred across to the new hospital.". NATO Coldblow Ace High Relay Station, Maidstone, 2015, Crown and Horseshoes Pub, Maidstone, 2015. Their actions forced an inquiry and most of the complaints were upheld. A new nurses' home was built in 1927, and in late 1930s an admission hospital and convalescent villas - for patients being discharged from the admission hospital - were constructed. See. Queen's House, Oakwood Hospital, Maidstone. Overcrowding soon became a problem and new sections were added to the building. You are using an out of date browser. When the hospital was finally closed in the 1990s, its functions had already transferred to the new Maidstone hospital, located a short distance away. However, the gardens are open, having been extensively landscaped, and allow a view of the imposing historic buildings. For What's On content such as the latest openings, events, and shopping news see here. Although the fire was promptly put under control, a 115 foot ventilation tower suddenly collapsed during the clean-up operation and claimed six lives. Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. There have been many rumors of tunnels hidden beneath the city maidstone but no one can really find any proof of it. It isimmediately the other side of that roof fall, this is now only accessiblethrough a manhole cover elsewhere in the town. The fire brigade arrived promptly and by 7.31am the fire was under control. In 2000 the hospital's function was taken over by the psychiatric wing of the new Maidstone Hospital and the original buildings were vacated. Now known as a residential estate, the history of the site dates back almost two centuries. No purchase necessary. Sadly all the entrances i know of have been filled in. The asylum was intended to take in patients from across the entire county of Kent, which then stretched as far west as Greenwich. Hospital Name: Oakwood hospital Previous Names: Kent County Asylum, Barming Heath Asylum, Barming Mental Hospital, Maidstone General Hospital (psychiatric wing) Location: St. Andrew Road, Maidstone, Kent Principal Architect: John Whichcord Sr. A 10million extension was officially opened in 2012. Evaluation at Oakwood Hospital, Maidstone. From a few leaps of faith would theorise that townhall / high street maybe linked to old police station through to Mote park / Mote House. History of Maidstone, Allington Quarry Waste Management Facility, Maidstone (borough), Penenden Heath, Oakwood Hospital, Maidstone Hospital, Maidstone and The Weald (UK Parliament. Two years after it opened, the school was expanded and a building that could accommodate 1,000 patients was added. The Oakwood Hospital was founded as the Kent County Lunatic Asylum, a single building constructed between 1829 and 1833 in Maidstone, Kent. 2002. Kent areas with worst pollution amid controversial ULEZ expansion, Current plans would see the Ultra Low Emissions Zone expanded this summer, Arrest after man has neck cut in 'serious assault', Police are now appealing for witnesses and those with information to come forward.