Leybourne Grange Hospital
Photos - 62.
Where - Maidstone, Kent.
Visited - 11 November 2006.
Posted - 11 November 2006.
Categories -
urbex, asylum, hospital.
Leybourne Grange is located right beside the M20 near Maidstone. That said, you wouldn't know it's there - it covers around 270 acres and is very tree-based. The trees (and fresh air etc) were meant to be good for the patients. 1200 patients.
It opened in 1936, was used for sixty years, and finally closed in 1996. There is a private school on the site which is still in use. The colony was built in the grounds of a huge manor house which still remains. The manor house also has an impressive clock tower.
A lot of the buildings are very well boarded up, but we managed to look in a few 
Hall
First stop was the main hall. This was used to entertain the patients (discos, etc) and also for religious worship as there is no chapel on site.
Inside is a fantastic little buggy, some junk, and a projection booth..
Boiler Room / Engineering
From the outside...
.. and inside is an impressive selection of boilers. There are eight huge ones, and you can climb on top of some of them.
There's also loads of little rooms with various tools and things. There is also an office complete with postcards.
Kitchen / Laundry
Considering the hospital closed 10 years ago, I can't beleive how many machines are left in the kitchen and laundry areas...
Nurses' Home
This is a behemoth of a building. It's four storeys high and it housed a million nurses (to confirm?). Every single window is smashed. Apart from the ground floor ones which are ALL boarded up.
Manor House
The manor house was used as an admin block. It is very secure with alarms and boarding. The clock tower is quite fancy too.
Other buildings
And that's it. I missed the mortuary. I seem to always miss the mortuary at hospitals (not due to spookiness factor)...
Your Comments
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Posted 16 November 2006, 11:30 From jimmy
good pictures, i like that old till. nice lighting
Posted 7 December 2006, 17:50 From alec hamilton
The architect - around 1850 - of the manor house, was Samuel Whitfield Daukes (1811-1888). He also designed Colney Hatch Asylum (now rather grand flats in Friern Barnet), Witley Court, Warwickshire, now in the care of English Heritage, and a number of fine buildings in Cheltenham, including the Railway Station and St Peter's Church. His most beautiful buildings are St Saviour's, Tetbury, and the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester.
Posted 4 January 2007, 16:10 From Old Moon
Rip the board off the door and take pictures of inside
my bad.
Posted 26 January 2007, 11:40 From Helen Hopper
I was a police cadet in 1975-76 and spent a month at Leybourne Grange helping care for the residents many of whom were institutionalised, but otherwise no more mentally ill than their carers. Some of the women had merely had illigitimate children!I remember it being hard work, one of my favorite attachments, the staff were great fun, residents well cared for and we had lots of disco's for residents in the room you showed. I went up to the site yesterday, as I have just moved nearby and it brought back lots of memories. I would love to go into the nursing home, it had lovely big rooms with wooden floors, and if my memory serves me right a fabulous stairway. I have a couple of photo's somewhere, if anyone wishes to see them. My claim to fame is spending my 18th birthday in a mental hospital!!!!and was pushed in a wheel chair into the pond (which I sadly couldn't locate yesterday) Happy days.....
Posted 20 April 2007, 11:30 From Martyn Fryer
I was also a Police Cadet there. Great place, great fun. What happened to all the patients??????
Posted 14 May 2007, 17:20 From Andy Mercer
I worked & trained at Leybourne Grange Hospital between June 1973 and June 1979. I made some good friends there and it remains one of the most enjoyable parts of my nursing career.
Previous to working at Leybourne I had worked in an iron foundry, when I went to Leybourne it was a revelation set in the countryside near West Malling with it's welcoming pubs, greenfields, trees & hayfever but nontheless it was a good time and I still remember fondly the hours spent with the good friends in the very social club.
Posted 27 May 2007, 13:10 From Liza Lambert
Takes me back to my 10 yrs of working at Leybourne... never forget my first day.... exactly how you imagined a mental institute.... Was there when Leybourne closed... very very sad.... A truely amazing place for the mentally ill, Also a very sad place. A terrific website - a place that should be remembered. Thank you for taking me back to a very memorable time in my life.
Posted 3 July 2007, 02:10 From lee simpson
is this place haunted??????
Posted 3 July 2007, 08:10 From sam burke
yes because ghosts ACTUALLY EXIST. ffs.
Posted 27 July 2007, 11:20 From lisa
a lot of the patients where sent into the world without really know how to live on there own and most ended up homlesss i would to to go and see this place but dose any one know how to get into it now it is beening patroled
Posted 30 September 2007, 01:50 From rob
i would like to see old picture of leybourne grange to see what it use 2 be like and what it looks like now
Posted 7 November 2007, 05:30 From D Drury
Its now going to be built on by Taylor/wimpey. They are going to claim land from Leybourne Grange Riding Centre for disabled. To grow bio crops to heat the houses. So they are selling themselves as environmently friendly, yet causing a facility for the severly disabled to close because they are taking their fields away.
Posted 22 November 2007, 13:50 From Kim Dot
Why was this place abandoned in the first place?
Posted 24 November 2007, 10:40 From David Bellchambers
Hi All, I worked in the admin section in the Mansion House in the 60's to 70's. Sad to see it in disrepair.David
Posted 24 November 2007, 10:40 From David Bellchambers
Me again with correct e-mail address this time, anyone else work at LGH?
Posted 4 December 2007, 20:10 From michelle stimpson
I worked there as a volunteer, NA, student nurse and staff nurse and lived in the nurses home. It used to have many more people living there than 1,200! It wasn't a 'mental' hospital, it was for people with learning impairments. Most of the ex residents did NOT become homeless, most moved to community houses/homes.
Plenty of abuse and disrespect went on but also some good stuff too.
I am interested to have anyone who lived or worked there contact me, as I am researching the history of the people and place, the story needs to be told good and bad
email mikbridgeproject@yahoo.co.uk
Posted 16 January 2008, 19:40 From Lee
I am currently working at Leybourne grange as part of the demolition crew,
[quote]Posted 3 July 2007, 02:10 From lee simpson
is this place haunted??????
[/quote]
A few of my collegues believe it is haunted and even gone as far as to name the ghost "CASPER"..
.
There may not be ghost`s but i`m sure them wall`s could tell a tale or two.....
Posted 4 February 2008, 22:10 From Gill
I had two aunties that were at Leybourne Grange possibly in the 1930's/40's l just wish l knew why!!
Posted 18 February 2008, 15:00 From lenard
ive visited the grange about 3 times and it is amazeing it was realy good fun this was after it has shut down still more to see yet do
Posted 26 February 2008, 01:10 From Grace
Lee..demolition crew? they're tearing the place down? =[
Posted 27 February 2008, 21:40 From BECKY
I WORKED AT LEYBOURNE IN THE EARLY 80,S AS A NURSERY NURSE ON CC4 AND LOVED IT.I ALSO PLAYED FOR THE HOSPITAL TABLE TENNIS TEAM AND WE WERE QUITE SUCCESSFUL IF I REMEMBER RIGHT.WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM OLD COLLEAGUES.
Posted 17 March 2008, 21:00 From angie
Hiya all !! I go to GP twice aday and have done on and off 4 the last 19yrs, its always fasinated me and we're all told that its not just the main house thats listed but the dorm's 2, so Lee is it right that thier being converted like the house is itself ?? Brilliant pic's but the grounds are so beautiful its heart-breaking seeing the place torn apart and Lisa you can sneak in with me lol !!!
Posted 20 March 2008, 12:40 From hauntedLindsay Stead
To Lisa {july o7)
There are a network of public footpaths that run through the grounds,though they are not widely used.One starts from the A20 near MuddyPaws garden centre,the other at the corner of the guards house near the opening of the Grange.
Posted 20 March 2008, 12:50 From Lindsay Stead
I kept my pony at Leybourne Riding Centre for 13yrs,and spent almost everyday riding round the grounds,and scrumping the apple trees! The Grange intrigued me and scared me all at once.It was like a time warp,coats hung up,toys in the class room,rusting car in the parking lot.It was like they had left in a hurry.I spent many happy hours exploring.They even had a swimming pool and a Salon.To think that it is all going to be torn down is heart breaking,the main house is absolutley stunning.It is also rumoured that a nurse spotted a 'Big Cat' in the grounds around 1995.As for it being haunted,possibly,there was certainly some unexplained stuff! It is so sad they are building houses,it would make the most wonderful country park.It would mean the disabled clients of Leybourne Grange could enjoy the experiance of riding out in safety,without fear of traffic.
Posted 25 March 2008, 22:00 From BECKY
I WORKED AT LEYBOURNE IN THE EARLY 80,S AND LIVED IN THE NURSES HOME, NOW THERES A STORY ! LOVED THE CHILDREN I WORKED WITH ON CC4 AND WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM PAST COLLEAGUES INCLUDING THOSE ON THE TABLE TENNIS TEAM U KNOW WHO YOU ARE !!
Posted 14 April 2008, 19:50 From Robert Christie
I was at that site today 14/04/2008 and was impressed by it as I'd never heard of it untill then, I was wondering what it used to be, could you enlighten me ?
Posted 18 April 2008, 11:30 From jayne Espinoza Heras
My Grandmothers' brother John Eric Gabriel was living at Leybourne Grange until his death. He was born with Downs Syndrome and died in 1964 and probably spent most of his life there.
Posted 18 April 2008, 16:10 From carole vincent
my aunt was in leybourne grange until she was transferred to oakwood in 1951until 1955 when she died age 30. i know nothing about why she was in there or for how long, i have no family left who i ca ask only copies of her birth, death and transfer certificates. can anybody help me as to where i ca find records for this period please
Posted 22 April 2008, 09:50 From Linda Gray
Hi, i believe my birth brother was a patient at Leybourne Grange between 1970ish until his death in 1976? aged about 14, i believe he had polio, he wore callipers. I was adopted the year he died (i was 11) so don't have much info, would love to hear from anyone who knew him. His name Andrew Harris. If you remember him please contact me:
wildone6169@hotmail.com
Posted 24 April 2008, 21:10 From charleigh best
I've visited Leybourne Hosiptal roughly around 3 times, being there was so interesting and me and my friends had so much fun imagining everything that went on there! The photo of the blue bed amazed me as i actually remember seeing it there! A few of my friends are planning on taking a trip back down there next month for a photography project - however i heard there is heavy security there now, does anybody know if we'll be able to go there without being escorted from the premises, or what is the best way to get there from south east london, greenwich area? my email is x_iheartcharleigh_x@hotmail.co.uk please feel free to mail me or add me to msn if you have it if you have any information, or a copy of a map we could use for navigation? Thanks a lot - this website is the best i've seen! xoxox
p.s here's my e-mail again - x_iheartcharleigh_x@hotmail.com
Posted 26 April 2008, 13:00 From Alex
Does anyone know exactly why this place was shut down? I find it very stange as to why all the X-Rays (confidential information) of the patients were all left at The Grange. From visiting the place yesterday i believe there would have been far more than 1200 patients as it took about an hour to walk round not even a quarter of the site! Also noticed a desktop diary from 1988 which hadn't decayed in any way, yet the walls etc had...
Posted 30 April 2008, 10:20 From Lindsay Stead
Charleigh,there is a public footpath that runs from either the Roughettes Road off the A20,next to Ryarsh Church,or also near the Muddy Paws Pet Shop/Wheatsheaf pub.These foot paths lead you up to the school,and into the grounds.It takes you to the top part,a good mile from the guards house.Just duck and dive!!!!
Posted 7 May 2008, 23:50 From BECKY CHUBB
I WORKED AT LEYBOURNE IN THE EARLY 80'S AND LIVED IN THE NURSES HOME.I LOVED THE CHILDREN I WORKED WITH ON CC4 AND WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM PAST COLLEAGUES INCLUDING THOSE ON THE TABLE TENNIS TEAM.
Posted 15 May 2008, 16:40 From Liz
It used to be the home of the Whitworth family. For details, see the entry for the Earl of Whitworth, who was born there, on wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Whitworth%2C_1st_Earl_Whitworth
Posted 21 May 2008, 16:10 From peter carr
I lived and trianed as a nurse, the villas I worked on was cc1&cc2, I was the first male charge nurse to be on a female villa.i really enjoyed my time at the hospital. If anyone would like to contact to chat about the Grange,that would good.I also worked behind the bar at staff social club
Posted 21 May 2008, 21:30 From lisa
i worked here when i was 18 i loved it the clients were great hard work at times but great. i helped move people out in to the community and i still see them now. what a better life they have now. but i must say us staff had a laugh. it was also very creepy at night when finishing a late shift. very scary indeed
Posted 27 May 2008, 14:30 From becky
hi peter not sure when you worked at the grange but i remember the social club well and used to play on the hospital table tennis team with peter diprose and a chap called steve ledner. i left to travel abroad approx 1986 ish having worked as a nursery nurse on cc4 with charge nurse bill goldsborough.
Posted 1 June 2008, 13:20 From Katie
Hi all,
I am a journalist who lives just down the road from Leybourne Grange and having visited it several times, I find it fascinating.
I am researching the history and tales for a feature and would love to talk to people who have fond memories of the grange.
It would also be lovely to talk to anyone who had family member/friends at the hospital and how they remember it.
Anyone who feels they would like to chat about it, please drop me a line on
wordsbykatie@googlemail.com
It would be great to include anicdotes of staff and produce a researched and fact filled article that does the hospital, its patients and staff justice.
Thanks,
Warmest wishes, Katie
Posted 1 June 2008, 13:30 From Katie
Hi all,
I am a journalist who lives just down the road from Leybourne Grange and having visited it several times, I find it fascinating.
I am researching the history and tales for a feature and would love to talk to people who have fond memories of the grange.
It would also be lovely to talk to anyone who had family member/friends at the hospital and how they remember it.
Anyone who feels they would like to chat about it, please drop me a line on
wordsbykatie@googlemail.com
It would be great to include anicdotes of staff and produce a researched and fact filled article that does the hospital, its patients and staff justice.
Thanks,
Warmest wishes, Katie
Posted 2 June 2008, 08:30 From lisa
ah the social club wot a laff! wheelin the doctors back in a wheel chair at xmas dos. The discos were g8 we all had such a laff. Also who remembers the borstal boys who use to come and work. We had a laff with them too. I worked on many villas F10 M10 wellington ward ect. Yesterday i met 2 old clients in town they were really happy to see me. They remembered many people (staff included) I did love it there.
Posted 21 June 2008, 11:50 From David Bellchambers
Glad there is some interest in the old hospital and its staff. I worked in the Admin section in the 60's/70's. Names I recall are Bill Shepard, Farm Manager, Terry Frankland Senior on the nursing side, Girls in the typing pool--Wendy, Geraldine, Rosemarie, Janet Wilson, Bill Fellows Head of Buidling, Bill Edwards Treasurer, Dave Mackay Finance Bill Southgate Finance,Walter Hague Group Secretary, his deputy Steve Mullins, Gordon Mills, Ian Tuppen, Paul Bridger and so on. Don't know where you all are, some have passed on but Happy Days to you all. David Bellchambers bells5@xtra.co.nz
Posted 3 July 2008, 17:20 From Michael Coleman
Wow what memories the 'photos brought back for me. I had the good fortune to work as Assisitant Catering Manager around 1985/86 and have some wonderful memories, not least falling in love (where are you now Jacqueline Anne Keaton?). Some of the rsidents were amazing characters and the staff knew how to enjoy themselves. The catering staff were great making me welcome when i first started. Had some lovely drives in the country when going to a satellite unit at Hildenborough (Princess Farm I seemed to remember). I don't remember the table tennis team but do remember the tennis team and the courts, we must have been dreadful as I came 2nd one year and I remain awful at tennis, but lots of fun. michael@kentcounsellor.co.uk
Posted 20 July 2008, 13:30 From beaver
iv visited the grange many many times and iv seen some really freaky stuff in the epecially in the church me and a few friends were walking around and we came across the church so we walked in and went to the top and as we came out we saw some blood on the wall that was still wet but it said the word "help" it looked like it had been written by somebodys finger we all thought it was somebody joking about until my friend touched it and tasted it then we knew it was real.
if any body wants to chat about the grange email me at beaverno1_1986@hotmail.com i know i shouldnt have but iv taken a few things from the grange that i found cartoon comics, nurses reports..... etc they are really interesting to read and if any1 wants to know a easy way to go into the grange ask me and i shall tell hehe and easy ways to avoid security anyways see u laters
Posted 11 August 2008, 18:40 From Aisling Vickers
i was just wandering, whos knocking it down?
and how much they bought it for?
can anyone answer this for me.
thank you
Posted 27 August 2008, 12:10 From Lindsay Stead
Beaver,the Grange is an AMAZING place,but i really would not reccomend tasting any thing on the walls,sadly the place has been a popular place for druggies and squatters for many years!!
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