Stafford County Asylum opened in 1818 to accomodate 120 patients. Over the years it expanded and housed around 1000 patients. During the 1950s, it was renamed St George’s Hospital. Like so many other asylums, it closed in the mid-1990s. There are plans to convert the Grade II listed buildings into “100 distinctive dwellings”, and work should be starting in 2008.
Living in Stafford a few years ago, I would often get a tantalising glimpse of the asylum from the nearby ring-road. I sometimes wondered what it was like inside. I didn’t do anything about it, indeed almost forgetting about it when I moved away. Five years later I finally got the chance to look around. Stafford Asylum is, by far, one of the most derelict buildings I have visited. Time has not been kind to it, suffering at the hands of both vandals and nature. There are no windows and very few ceilings. Floors are squidgy and rotten, if they are there at all!
Outside
You can’t help but admire this behemoth of a building. At four storeys high and around 300m long, it would’ve made an impressive sight on the Stafford marshes in it’s heyday. Sadly it’s glory now hides behind a huge overgrown mess of trees.
Lower levels
The lower levels of the asylum are relatively interesting. Corridors, some isolation rooms (with the most colourful array of doors I have seen in an asylum), engineering rooms, a delightfully dingey pharmacy, and so on…
Chapels
There is a small double chapel in the asylum, strangely found on the second floor.
Main hall
The main hall is perculiar – it is full of scaffolding. Presumably an attempt to prevent it collapsing after previous arson attacks.
Stairs
The main staircase is rather impressive, a square-spiral affair complete with anti-suicide cages. Someone had tried to throw a door down, with no success.
Upper floors
There are huge holes in the roof, and they are slowly making their way down to ground-level. Needless to say, not much of the upper floors were explored…
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Hi Jon,my brother neil has been a pt in the old building many time’s on the old kelsall ward.Neil Leavy u may remember him? He’s still mad as a hatter if you do!
What an amazing site this is, so many memories and connections. I have a letter written to my grandfather, Nelson Hooper, who worked in St George’s. It is dated 29.12 1932 from an Edwin Talbot (Ted) Hart,No 2 ward, County Mental Hospital. It seems he was an engineer from the Wolverhampton area and married to Ethel May (Sissie) Doughty.Is there anyone archiving/gathering all these threads?
What a fantastic site. I worked for a very short time at St. George’s. It was such a happy place. After a shift, I remember going for a drink with many of the guys mention on this site. Peter Anthony, Geoff Dewsbury, David Johnson, Brian Simms, Gerry Moore, to name but a few. Dr (may I squeeze you) Leigh without doubt was the best doctor there. Good luck to everyone involved in such a brillant hospital.
Wonder what happened to Gerry Moore,I remember he was a very good golfer in the 60.s/
Anyone know the wherabouts of Don lockett, and his wife , they left st georges to work in a hospital in Norwich, many years ago
i drove past it when it was on fire it is such a shame to see it there now and it is just really eary inside now but the they wont be able to renovate it now
my hypothesosis is that one of the builders did it because it is a pain to renovate and easyer to knock it down and build new things they could not knock it down before cus it was a listed building
I can’t tell you how sad and shocking it is to see these photos. I only worked at the hospital for 2 years, 1989-1991, and although I knew the old building was scheduled for redevelopment I had no idea it had got into such a bad state.
I worked for the Occupational Therapy department, but I was based on Tixall Suite. This was in the main buildng, I think the ward next to us was Lapley. I don’t know if anyone remembers me – Jo (my surname then was Marsh but I am since divorced and remarried). Tixall was like a day unit for the long stay patients from the wards to come and do activities. Art, music, exercise, cookery, and occasionally trips out to places like Shugborough Hall.
When I was on Tixall the manager for most of my time was called Alex. I don’t remember her surname, but I had one of her cat’s kittens. There were lots of great staff there, who tried hard to make life as good as it could be for patients in the institutional setting. Others I remember from Tixall were Linda, Rose and Pat.
Every Christmas there was a contest for the best decorated ward. When I worked on Tixall we came second two years running.
You could wander round the huge grounds for ages. Lovely trees and lawns. There was a hall where there were dances one afternoon a week, also we did exercise sessions in there with one of those multi-coloured parachute things.
In 1990 there was an earth tremor while I was at work. The windows rattled, and vibrations shook the floor. It probably only lasted about 20 seconds, but it seemed to go on for ages. Wierd.
My memories of St George’s are mostly happy. It was quite a friendly place to work, always people going up and down those long corridors, and lots of students doing placements from the nursing school. Thinking of all the life that went on within the hospital, it’s hard to believe it’s the same place as is pictured here. I left St George’s because I was offered a job with more money, and also wards were already closing down so there was some uncertainty about what would happen to us all. But it was several years before I found another place of work that I liked as much as St George’s.
On the off chance anyone wants to contact me I have just added myself onto the Friends Reunited list for St George’s. It’s not a very long list – I think there are 5 of us! But maybe that’s because no-one knows about it. You have to search under workplaces for St Georges Psychiatric Hospital Stafford.
I just watched a news report on the Express and Star’s website of the fire at St George’s this March. It was awful to see it. Really awful. I do hope something can still be done to save the best parts of the old building.
This is such an interesting site, ‘Derelicte’, and I am going to have a look around some of your other reports now.
Sorry – me again. In case it rings any bells with anyone I just remembered also Nurse Lim, who was from Malaysia I think. Her husband worked at St George’s too, I think he was called Jimmy.
Hi Jo there is another group on friends reunited there are alot more people in that group its called st.geroges hospital, stafford you may recognise more people there
Cathy, thank you I will have another look as I could only find the one I mentioned above.
Hi Barry,
I have only found this site today.I remember your great aunt she was a patient on wheaton aston ward It was my first ward as a nursing student in 1980. She was a tall slim lady with very straight hair and called herself Luty.
Anyone know the whereabouts of David Male, Mrs Smith or Jack Bates. They worked at St Georges in the 1970′s.
Hello John. I can tell you sadly that Jack Bates passed away some years ago. I do not know the other two people.
Regards Ian
John,do you mean Mrs smith who was on the domestics? She was there when I started back in ’89,retired not long after. I’m sorry but I don’t know if she’s still alive or owt duck. Int that many faces from the old building now,most have retired
brian-simms@talktalk.net
john, ask Brian.we have been in touch lately. he gave me the updates on many old friends
Kath, n Alf Cox
Hi kath, tried sending you the Hosp.Cert. Photo via e-mail on 21/4 and 4/5, but still don’t know if you received it ok, hence this posting on here.
Did You Get It ??
Have you got some for me ? ?
Frustatedly, also awaiting Photo’s from Peter Anthony and Sue Astle.
Brian
Yes thanks lovely seeing all the old girls, and lads, had visitors last week ,so didnt have time to go through the albums, not on to this computer lark so will send them to you in post regards to all
Kath
Looked up this site because today I received a copy of the death certificate for a Merriman ancestor John Merryman from Newcastle u Lyme who died at Stafford asylum on 20th Dec 1900.
I was curious to know if the building still exists, must read more about it.
Thanks for great information, pity there are no Merriman’s still in Newcastle u Lyme.
interesting programme on bbc 4 last night called “mental: a history of the madhouse”…its on bbc iplayer.. st georges was not on it though
Tnx Bongus,ill have a look at that later tonight when i’ve finished work.
Have just watched the programme Bongus mentioned, very good,I’ve posted the link on Face Book so hopefully others will watch.
Shame on the yobs that put the place in that condition… It was a good old building. Iv worked there all my working life, seen changes both good and bad, but It was a good place to work, I was sad when it closed. the spirit that the staff had there, was not taken into the admission complex, or the old kingsmead. I have seen videos on u tube of folks going in to take a look and see how vandalised it is.
I wonder if there will be anything left to salvage, to enable its supposed new use, by the time the vandals and arsonists have finished. Pity someone doesn’t find pictures of it when it was still in use and make a website with them, instead of the pictures you show here
LJB,were you a nurse then? Might know you? I’ve been at St.Georges since August 1989,14years on the evening domestics and 7 in the kitchen.
worked there since 1990..as a domestic, then health care assistant and now nurse…loved the old building…would love to see some pics of the place in its glory…i remember it well
I know 1 of the girls in the kitchen had a few pictures of a christmas party,but I can’t remember if it shows much of the old dining room,or big hall as everyone seems call it. Bongus,come in and say hello. I probably know you anyroads!
any chance anyone can give me the address for this place???…wanna take some pics cheers…also looking for an old closed building simular if not the same to shoot a short film…any ideas??..email me..cheers
Ashley,it’s St.Georges Hospital,Corporation St.Stafford. But I should warm you now,the security has really been stepped up lately. I see them when I walk home in an afternoon,and there’s always a couple of cars parked up about 9ish in the evening. Good luck tho,it really is still a gorgeous building,I doubt any photos you take will be any different to those you can find on this site or any of the other ones available.
Glad to see that development of the site is now going to proceed, firstly by making the Main Building safe and watertight.
The best place to look for news of old staff is on “Friends Reunited” look in “Places” – (workplace) – under – st georges hospital.
Some Members are trying to sort out Photos to put on.
Why not Join, “It’s Free”, Catch up and Add your own Photos.
it looks like an amazing place and would love to be able to go inside might be nice have a look round
David,I think you’ll be lucky get anywhere near it at the mo me duck,there’s security cameras all round the place and some sort of alarm system in place. Shame I would love to go and look round 1 last time before the developers get their hands on it.
Is there any plans for a re-union?
just came across this site sad to see the place as it is now worked there 25yrs good times too alot of happy memories good to see so many names i know from the past leaving comments guess me and the old place are alike derelicte hope to hear from someof u lot
i was an inpatient in the 1960′s for 2 years. I know I was unwell due to depression and had many sessions of ECT. I distinctly remember the bunches of keys attached to each nurses waist, and how we all sat in chairs and rocked. Never remember going outside,and have wondered if there are any others..be it patients or nursing staff remember this time.
Hi can any 1 help with informatin on a david williams I belive he was in st georges around 1978 thankyou
Hi everyone, I visited the Asylum this afternoon and it has about 4 different sets of fences you have to scale in order to get into the building. Once in you can climb through a few windows that the boards have been pulled off. Inside is unbelievable. It is like something you see in a movie, you can stand on the ground floor and look all the way up to the sky through 3-4 floors of rotting/fire damaged/fallen down timber.
Ground floor is OK to walk round mainly, it does have a fai few sections with little or no floor boards. the other floors are not so good, the majority are really unstable as the damp and fire damage has taken its toll and a lot are very unsafe. Needless to say I was a trooper and braved them. Nothing of particular interest remains however on the very top floor there are still some remains of the old wallpaper (a floral print with flora skirting trim). There is a large section in the middle of the building which is incredibly damaged! there is NO floor/ceiling at all for the full 4 floors and there are just wires and pieces of wood hanging. This area is completely inaccessible. I have some pictures but only from my phone, i will post a link when they are uploaded.
Didn’t see a church/chapel like the one pictured however i did see the large hall way with the scaffolding supporting it, (i thought this was a chapel when i was inside). Lift shaft remains and so do the doors to the lift, and a few toilets and door signs. The kitchen is fairly interesting as the extractors and ventilation still remains.
Was there some sort of large shower area by the kitchen as i noticed the floor had swimming pool tiles across it and seemed to be a water area..?
A good trip out if you are willing to risk the security and fences! There are a number of cameras around the building but i don’t know as they are on or they are just to scare people off. Someone did come and block off the entrance we used with a large concrete block, but we just found another way out so security must be present somewhere..
I didn’t go in through the main entrance on the road side, i went through some fields to be more discrete. I appreciate it was trespassing but i was only going for curiosity and interest. Such a shame it has been left to get in such a state. I would suggest having a look before it collapses, which is highly likely given its current state!
Hi Anon,the tiled area you saw was the wash-up bit of the old kitchen. At the back of the kitchen there was also a tiled trolley bay,where they used wash all the food trolleys when they came back from the wards. The hall is the old dining room/staff restaurant. There were male/female showers just down the corridor.
I would love to have a look round one more time,started there 21years ago on 12th August 1989,the new wards aren’t a patch on the old ones,nice as they are,they don’t have the character of the old place. Walk past here every day to and from work and i’m sure the patients leisure centre has been knocked down? Along with ccsd,9V and a few other buildings surplus to requirements.
Yes security is all around the place now,has been since the last arson attack,but i’m sure “someone” will bypass them soon and manage burn the place to the ground,shame,I enjoyed many happy years of working in the old building,cried when I heard it were closing down.
ahhh that would make sense because we did see a few of the old trolleys lying around near there! It was interesting seeing the freezer doors with the thermometers above them which seemed to still work. So is the chapel on the second floor then? Maybe it has been burnt down as we had a pretty good explore and didn’t think we had missed much..?
Thanks Trouble
Yes,the chapel was on 2nd floor,one of the first things to be stolen after the hospital closed was the chapel bell. Spend 3 hours cleaning the place once just for a “special visitor”. They spent a total 5 minutes in there before rushing off elsewhere! Sorry,I don’t know if it’s burnt down. There is a couple of photos on this site of it tho.
My name’s Les,(Lesley) Trouble’s just something the lads in the mobile call me. Can’t think why……………………….
Walked past a load of blokes in hi-vis jackets and hard hats Thursday,they were up by the old car park nearest Michael Flanagans. Heard 1 say they could fit a small village on the field. So looks like it’s all starting. Quite why they were wearing hard hats etc,when the only thing likely to hit them would be bird poo I dunno! Just hope the new housing won’t be like the old Venables yard and Lotus,3 storeys with garage underneath.
Security seems to have been stepped up even more n all,tho i’m sure if you wanted get in or a look round you’ll find a way. Just don’t post on here where you get in,cos I bet you owt they all read these sites to find out info.
I have put a message on this site before but it was a while ago asking if anyone remembered my Gt Aunt Doris May Fieldhouse she was a long term patient at St Georges from the 1930s till 1991
Hi, My maternal grandmother Florence Clara Lees, worked as a nurse at Stafford Hospital. She was born in 1906 and worked there before having her children. My mother lives abroad now, but she has some old letters from one of the Heads of the hospital asking my Grandmother to consider returning to help run specific wards, she was thought of so highly. She may have known your Gt Aunt in the 30s although I am not yet sure of specific dates, and if she did, be safe in the knowlege that my Grandmother was the most loving and kind person, who knew how to look after sick people with kindness and great knowlege of food for convelesance. Once I have researched more, I will post on this website. Its sad that the hospital is in such a state, however its good to have a glimpse of what the hospital may have once looked like.
Are Alf Moss and Mr Anthony still alive?
I’ve just come on here to catch up… I am so sad to see that the Hospital has suffered arson again! I thought it was a listed building… it should be, so why is it being allowed to suffer in such a way.
I went round last year with a video and was so upset, I would hate to see it now. I wish this site would let you post pictures, I drew the building from a picture I found online in the 1990′s… I’d love to post it!!!!