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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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