View Full Version : Cheshire County Asylum, Chester


snappel
04-29-2007, 05:38 PM
Now closed, this was once Cheshire's County Asylum. Lots of the 'usual' features found in such places, such as seclusion cells (one of which is painted with hazard stripes), a water tower and ward rooms.

This one's a good one because it hasn't been smashed up by morons. Just look at the lampshades in the photos, intact radiators and a minority of broken windows. Being based on a major NHS site and with some parts alarmed, it seems to have survived pretty well despite the peeling paint.

Last photo shows a strange cast iron dentists chair tucked away in the basement. Quite why that was down there I don't know, but it was certainly eerie.

Big thanks to BenWRX and Spook for leading the way.

http://tk41.powweb.com/photos/deva/Dsc_0029.jpg

http://tk41.powweb.com/photos/deva/Dsc_0039.jpg

http://tk41.powweb.com/photos/deva/Dsc_0042.jpg

http://tk41.powweb.com/photos/deva/Dsc_0070.jpg

http://tk41.powweb.com/photos/deva/Dsc_0122.jpg

http://tk41.powweb.com/photos/deva/Dsc_0007.jpg

http://tk41.powweb.com/photos/deva/Dsc_0050.jpg

http://tk41.powweb.com/photos/deva/Dsc_0044.jpg

http://tk41.powweb.com/photos/deva/Dsc_0056.jpg

http://tk41.powweb.com/photos/deva/Dsc_0067.jpg

http://tk41.powweb.com/photos/deva/Dsc_0119.jpg

http://tk41.powweb.com/photos/deva/Dsc_0089.jpg

http://tk41.powweb.com/photos/deva/Dsc_0102.jpg

AntiPathos
04-29-2007, 05:43 PM
Awesome mate. As ever...

Kev
04-29-2007, 06:56 PM
Absolutely love old asylum pics, thanks Snappel :PDT11

phredd
04-29-2007, 07:07 PM
Is this any part of the old Military Hospital that was in Chester?

Phredd

petecarr
04-29-2007, 09:36 PM
That hazard room is crazy.

PhilipG
04-29-2007, 09:49 PM
The asylum was also known as Deva Hospital, and I'm sure it's where the word 'Divvy' comes from.

snappel
05-01-2007, 10:58 AM
There's some more information here (http://www.roah.co.uk/chester.asp). The only reference to a military hospital is...

...the commandeering of nearby Winwick Asylum (Warrington) as a War Hospital, resulted in over 250 ‘Winwick ‘ patients being transferred to Chester, along with approx 80 from Middlesborough.

Lady
05-01-2007, 11:28 AM
I really enjoyed looking at them photo's Snappel :handclap:

The building must hold so much history !!

The dentist chair is so scary :shock: Is this why i am so scared of dentists :eek: ?? Lol

Jacky:PDT11

customhouse
06-05-2007, 10:46 AM
Jacky !
That Dentists ??? Chair as you call it, could have been used for Electric Shock Therapy. Patients used to be strapped down to a bed and elecrodes place on their heads and an electric shock applied. It was supposed to clear their brain and bring them to normality. It was a bloody awful thing to watch, as the patient would go into rigid spasms and try and thrash around. They used to use it at Walton Hospital when I worked there
NOT NICE. There again possibly it is as you say a Dentists Chair. I don't think many dentists on the outside would be keen try and pull the teeth of
a homicidal maniac though

snappel
06-05-2007, 11:13 AM
Yes, I've read about ECT, and it didn't sound nice. I think some hospitals had dedicated ECT 'suites' - I know Cane Hill in Coulsdon did as it's marked on a floor plan. Not sure about this place though. Just seemed strange that the chair was down in the basement. Can't seem them using it down there though, as I doubt there'd have been a ready source of power.

steveb
06-05-2007, 12:45 PM
Great photo,s as usual.. I see you didn't post the room with a certain
steel table in it..:snf (41):

snappel
06-05-2007, 01:27 PM
No, didn't visit the mortuary this time. Have done before though, about a year ago. It's pretty cool, if you like that sort of thing...

http://www.level-two.co.uk/reports/images/deva/Dscf0792.jpg

http://www.level-two.co.uk/reports/images/deva/Dscf0785.jpg

http://www.level-two.co.uk/reports/images/deva/Dscf0790.jpg

More of the hospital here (http://www.level-two.co.uk/gallery.php?locname=deva).

steveb
06-05-2007, 01:43 PM
Pretty cool :handclap: I like it they are supposed to be.
I too went there over a year ago, and very little seems to change, just a bit
of nature claiming it all back....Like Billinge nearly all gone now, never did
find it there, was by the nurses home I beleive.... Keep up the good work