Denbigh asylum was built in mid-1840s. Over the years it expanded to house more and more patients, reaching a maximum capacity of 1500 in the 1950s.
This asylum lasted roughtly 150 years when it closed in 1995. It is situated on over 100 acres of beautiful Welsh land (sheep, cows, hills, trees etc).
And by cows, I do actually mean cows.
Chapel
The first building we came accross was the Chapel. It looks delightful from the outside but everything, including the floors have been removed from the inside.
Main buildings
We finished in the chapel and moved onto the main complex.
It looks just like something you’d see in a scary asylum-based film. Pointy rooves. Tall imposing buildings. Tall imposing towers. Etc. I’m informed that it’s of a “Tudorbethan” design, rather than the more de-facto “Gothic” designs of the period. To be honest, I can’t really tell the difference. I think Gothic is more pointy and elaborate.
Corridors & Rooms
Inside is dark. Very dark. Out come the torches.
Sadly the last 12 years have not been kind to the asylum. Machinery has been stripped. Rooms smashed up by kids. Trees and nettles growing in the damp patches on the fourth floor. That sort of thing. It’s quite hard to think that people once resided here.
Main Hall
There was a nice glitter ball on the ceiling, but the rest of the hall was rather un-inspiring.
A real gem was the projection booth. This would’ve been used to show films to the patients. Sadly some prick had graffiti’d it 
The Tower
Nearly everywhere we look, we can see the main imposing tower. It would be rude not to get into/onto it.
We made our way through the maze of corridors to roughly where it was. There was no obvious entrance. Lots of cupboards though. One of these cupboards wasn’t a cupboard though – it was a tiny secret staircase! Ascending it, we nearly got to the top. The wood was totally rotten so we ventured no further. Instead, we popped out of the window to sit on the roof for a bit of lunch.
More mooching around the corridors ensued.
Slabbed
On the way out we passed a small building. Inside we could see something. Something rather chilling…
Sadly it is smashed
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As far as I am aware the main listed buildings will not be knocked down but will be restored and the new housing will be built in the grounds around the hospital. The only buildings that will be knocked down are the nasty more modern structures that will not be missed.
Pisze po polsku,bo nie znam walijskiego ,ale wrocilam po mdwumiesiecznym pobycie w waszym miescie , jest przepiekne zakochalam sie na zaboj i juz tesknie .Pogodni zyczliwi ufni ludzie bede tesknic
Is it just me, or are these places beautiful ?
Utilitarian or industrial, faded, historic and creepy.. what a mix
For anyone who has not visited the asylum , it is a strange yet beautiful place , i have many pictures of it myself an also of the shallow tunnels underneath,which go smaller and smaller as you walk down them , i have been told that there is electric shock therphy rooms at the bottom if you have the bottle to carry on to the end!
i love all the creepy feelings you can get from this type of building you get a sence of serenity it must of been hard for the patients when they had shock treament not knowing if the wardens were going to shock you to death with their paddles on your temples in the morgue the marble operating table looked quite cool to bad it has been smashed the wells in the table as i believe were to let the blood drain away to the floor would of loved to go there sadly it’s being knocked down
GREAT PHOTOS, THE MAIN BUILDINGS ARE TO BE CONVERTED, HAD IT NOT BEEN LISTED THIS HOSPITAL WOULD BE LONG GONE, LIKE MANY FANTASTIC BUILDINGS HERE, ITS NOW FULL OF NASTY CHEAP OAP FLATS SO THE ENGLISH CAN COME AND DIE BY THE SEA, THERE IS VERY LITTLE LEFT NOW, SHAME
in reply to kim its a smashed autopsy table
this is where most haunted live is being held and its showing on living tv until 31st october
Realy want to see and stay at the asylam before they knock it down im so intreagd by its presans
in response to martin austin i hope the building is kept and reopened for various things and lets no be so idiotic by slagging the ENGLISH off as we are all in the uk get a life you racist git
i think it’s such a shame that this place has been allowed to be ruined like that. the story behind some of the things connected to the asylum are really interesting. i hope whoever restores it does a good job.
what a fantastic building with lots of history, can anybody tell me where I can find it as I would love to see it for myself.
This is such a stunning building that has a multitude of stories, it is criminal to consign it to the history books.
In a country where plasterboard tiny houses are spreading like a plague, this is one of many buildings around which show TRUE workmanship and devotion to detail and should be kept as an example if nothing else.
dose n e one no when demolition starts as i got this week off work and fancy visiting the estate also is there any seurity and is it safe to park there?
For Andy, 3 Nov @ 19.40. Tried to get in, big gates with guard dog warnings. It is quite easy to get to from the town centre, but I have rang the company today and am waiting (not too long I hope, I’m in my 40′s!!!) for the project officer to come back. APPARENTLY there are good security men about, but I walked down the road and around the fields for 40 mins, but saw no-one (they must be good? ;-P). Was told that demolition has started, but still didn’t get an answer. I don’t know how the inside photo’s were taken…but at least it has shown the failure by the company to maintain the site.
There was never any security when we’ve been, and we’ve been dozens of times but that was years ago now. All you have to watch out for are 2 crazed farmers. They are nuts.
Its such a shame that this marvellous institution has been left to rot, serving the community for several generations, however you may feel about the treatment received in asylums or the negetive attitude towards them – the designer of this building must be turning in his grave seeing the state that its in now…why was it left to rot? was it that bad a place to be a patient at or to work in?
I went there last weekend for a good look around. Very interesting place. However, did encounter some complete nutter with a guard dog, who I must say was totally rude even after explaining we were not up to any mischief and would leave immediately. He then proceeded to get this huge dog out of his van to ensure we understood. PRATT!!!!
There was a fire in the great hall weekend just gone. The ballroom is no more. Residents in and around Denbigh are furious as there was a protest to the local council the week previous to stop demoltion.
More details can be found on the website. A forum dedicated to the North Wales Hospital.
I adore this building so much, these pictures are amazing. Its a disgrace that the building has been allowed to fall into this state, instead on spending money on all these “luxury” apartments, we should be trying to preserve our history. Luckily even though the buildings are slowly going we at least have sites such as this one so that they will remain in some form. x
Its so sad to see it all smashed up. It was on most haunted live the architecture gave me the creeps surely if they wanted ppl to feel better they would of chosen a less impossing structure
I worked on the Most Haunted crew at Denbigh and can safely say that this place will remain with me forever! I spent a week there often at night and the building is amazing!
Ive got one or 2 other pictures if you require them.
If this place disappears it will be a tragedy, but on the other hand, can we let it just fall even further into dis-repair?
Words cannot describe this building! And I actually feel so priviledged to have been there.
Even talking about it conjours up memories!
i was a resident at the hospital and its so sad 2 C THE PLACE IN TOTAL DISREPAIR
i was a resident at the hospital and its so sad 2 C THE PLACE IN TOTAL DISREPAIR
hi does anybody no if there are still security guards that walk round this building at night or through the day i would love to go and visit this place its very interesting shame people have to vandelise things that are so beautiful thanks emma
Amazing to think that the Main Hall once looked like this (see URL). So sad to see it go, so suspicious the circumstances
i really luv this building i have been there a few times just 2 walk around this gourgous building i think that it should b cleaned up and kept were it is for people to go and visit
Some humble pie for steve who posted ‘Racist Git’ on 30 October 2008 @ 13:30:
The North Wales Lunatic Asylum was the first psychiatric institution built in Wales; construction began in 1844 and completed in 1848 in the town of Denbigh. The U-shaped Tudorbethain style hospital was built due to the spreading word of mistreatment of Welsh people in English asylums; The North Wales Hospital would be a haven for welsh speaking residents to seek treatment without prejudice or a language barrier.
im english an i would seriously suggest going you have the right to roam law i dont understand it but you should be able to go
iwould like to have a tour of the building befor they demolish it ,who would i need to ask?
its anamazing building and a waste to let it go to rack an ruin.im lucky enough to have been in there and i am gutted it has been left to rot.petty council chiefs lining there already fat pockets
Fascinating place. Very disappointed to read about the hall being destroyed by what can only be described as brainless wastes of oxygen.
has it been leveled yet? would love to take my paranormal investigation group there!!!
so very sad if this gorgeous building is demolished. It is criminal!!Surely it could be preserved and used for other reasons
i’d love to visit this place, I really hope it hasn’t been worked on yet for those apartments.
Also, just wanted to mention that after visited an asylum in talgarth with some friends, we’ve been looking for local derelict sites (worcestershire). Near where I live there are these 16 of so garages that were war hospital/baracks in ww2, it is a strange place surrounded by lots of fields
I just was wondering if the asylum has actually been demolished yet, because i am doing a project based on asylums and really want to visit this asylum as there aren’t many in this good condition.
Hope someone can get back to me asap as i hope to visit it on Tuesday!
Ive just been this weekend. I am to understand that is privatly owned now. Meet the bearded security man and his dog, I do have to say he was very nice to me, and I was allowed to have a little wander round and take photos. My husband chatted to him while I took a heap of photos, he is employed by the owner to keep an eye on the place, why else would he have a key to the gates. He used to work at Denbigh so i understand,not sure what he did though.
Was there yesterday 18th April 2010. Everything is as it was, except of course the main hall. Did not bump into anyone at all, but did hear the odd foot step (guess it was other explores). Will be going again for another visit as we only seen half the place as it’s so huge.
Incredible how buildings can fall apart so much in 15-19 years. It really is a death trap in places, just take care walking about especially on upper levels.
hi there just wanted to know if the asylum has actually been demolished yet. we were thinking of going do you think we ll get in to have a look round. a few people have told us if your caught they will prosecute. does anyone know if this is true
hey spooks r us – i was there at the weekend and it’s all been demolised – i also got arrested and put in prison for the night because the farmer phoned the police
My friends went last week (17th May)! It has not been demolised at all!? They went there for the evening and took pics etc
i went last night it was the most amazing building ever!! just walking throught the maze of corridoors and stairwells makes you think of how it would have been! looking into rooms and cells with the nurse call buttons in is crazy!! there is still at least 90% of it left and hopefully were going back to take more band pictures!
My Gran worked in this hospital when it was a loverly hospital helping mentally ill patients, not when it was a horrible place where people were socked and locked up. she has pictures and poems off the patients and they are just as facinatig as the building. she can tell great stories about the place and how amazing it was.
hi, i’m going here on saturday if someone see’s this soon please could you help me out in telling me they best way to get in etc. i’m so excited. got all my cameras, flashes, lens’ etc ready :]
would just like to make a comment to all those who seem to be fascinated by denbigh hospital.yes to many an amazing architectural building but please spare a thought while you explore this building for the many people who were resident there and for some not through choice. i unfortunately was one of those people put there against my will but i suppose luckily i was only there for 3 months for me not a nice experience. imagine waking up in the middle of the night with other patients leaning over your bed , seeing the effects the electric shock treatment had on people. it was known many years ago that young girls who got pregnant before marriage would be institutionalised there , and of course there were the the lock up wards where people would be drugged up to keep them quiet for the staff to have an easy time on duty all i can say is thank god times have changed for those who for whatever reason suffer from mental health problems