Stafford County Lunatic Asylum - Urban Exploration in Stafford
Stafford County Lunatic Asylum
Where - Stafford.
Visited - 30 September 2007.
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...
Your Comments
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Posted 23 January 2008, 20:50 From kath cox
HI, WE found this so very sad, beleive it or not this was a very wonderful place, full of life and laughter, we, my husband and myself worked here for many years, tended ,beautiful gardens, and shared many happy times with patients for who, this was home,the chapel was lovely, main hall, place of many a dance, shows, pantamimes, boot ,sales, this was like a small villiage , with its farm, sports fields, gardens, tended,by people who spent their lives, in its confines, people who wept when made to move out into the community
The years i spent at st georges were the happiest of my life, many old collegues still write to us in our retirement
sincerely kath cox
Posted 6 February 2008, 10:20 From Ruth
how do you scale a fence like that? ladder o'clock?
Posted 13 February 2008, 17:40 From STAFFORD NORTHEND LAD
I HAVE A LOT OF MEMORIES AS A YOUNG LAD I USE TO CUT THROUGHT THE MAIN HOSPITAL 4 A SHORT CUT AND IN LATER LIFE I WAS IN MILLFORD WARD COMING OF DRUGS AND USE TO GO TO MAIN HOSPITAL TO MAKE BEDS IT DOS NOT LOOK LIKE WHAT I NEW OF IT THEN I REMBER THE HAIR DRESSER HE WAS GOOD HAD MY HAIR CUT THERE LOTS OF TIME HISTORY GONE I EVEN WORKED THERE ON MY WTS PUTTING THE PATH IN AT THE BOTTOM BY THE FILED
Posted 3 March 2008, 17:10 From cazwix
i love this building i have drove past it glad its been graded to be honist cant wait to see the out come and the fact it can still be saved
cazwix
Posted 14 March 2008, 09:50 From Len Smith
I have done quite a bit of historical research on the Stafford asylum, some of which is included in my book - Leonard D. Smith - ' "Cure, Comfort and Safe Custody"; Public Lunatic Asylums in Early NIneteenth Century England' (1999). I also had an article published in 'Staffordshire Studies' in about 1999 - ' "The Brightest Ornament of Our Native County"; Staffordshire General Lunatic Asylum, 1818-1860'.
A woman called Rebecca Wynter (from Stafford) has recently completed her PhD thesis at Bitrmingham University, dealing with the Stafford Gaol and the Stafford Asylum in the periods up to about 1860 - I cannot remember the exact title.
I am really glad to see that the building will be saved, though it is a shame that it is going to be posh flats. The same thing has happened to the old Gloucester Asylum, which opened 5 years after Stafford in 1823.
Posted 21 March 2008, 21:00 From Andy
Your work is amazing, I want to start exploring different places, I guess I should start in Severalls Lunatic Asylum in Colchester as thats where I live, but how do you get stuck into it?
Posted 29 March 2008, 21:10 From sar!!
Hi Len! So sorry didn't get 2say much at Mark's do but was in mega rush really and only popped. loads to catch up on when we do meet properly and I am so jealous of you doing 3days! Bless u for mentioning the job in ur team too-who knows where the wind may blow me. lolxxxx
Posted 6 May 2008, 22:40 From Liz
I worked mainly on a ward just off the reception area as an auxilliary nurse. I also covered on all other wards. I am so glad that they closed the hospital.I found it to be a place of great sadness; how the patients were treated by the old school nurses; how patients had become so institutionalised and I was particulary overwhelmed by how many women had been put in there for having babies out of wedlock and killing their babies because it was socially unexceptable at the time. I remember the day that they had to put up the suicide cages. A patient had jumped from a top floor, there was blood everywhere in reception, there was such a commotion on the ward.
Posted 12 May 2008, 18:50 From Houdinia
It's amazing to think that this building was still inhabited less than 20 years ago. I worked at St. Georges hospital during the period that the patients were gradually being relocated into the the newly built units in the grounds or into the community. The hospital has a fascinating history and was always very atmospheric, especially at night. I lived at the nurses home just across from the main building. I remember that the grounds and buildings were beautiful and the main hospital was huge and labyrinthine. I was fortune to work with those who were too institutionalised to live independantly and they gave me some insight into what life was like for a patient of St. Georges. It's very sad to see what has become of such an important place.
Posted 27 July 2008, 22:00 From F NICKLIN
hi i have just found this site and think my dad died in stafford hospital in 1978.,I never met him so would be gratefull for any information i can get.Can anyone point me in the right direction,I would be very gratefull for tips or help.many thanks.
f x
Posted 30 July 2008, 18:30 From Martin Robert John Hitchens
What a old great buiding
Posted 30 July 2008, 18:30 From Martin Robert John Hitchens
Check out the old RAF base at Church Eaton Little Onn Staffordshire
Posted 4 August 2008, 15:40 From Lisa
amazing photos! A few friends and visited this place a few months back...got some great photos...glad we did now seein as the building has plans to be renevated. It was so interesting to me as i work in mental health but have only ever seen the new hospitals and centres which took over from the Asylums that closed in the nineties. i think this building holds so many sad memories...you can sort of feel them as your walking around the place... reading some of the above comments have made me want to visit again and get some more footage before the buildings plans are carried out! x
Posted 12 August 2008, 00:40 From Aldith M
I was born in Stafford and used to walk through St.George's Hospital to meet friends as we went to school at Riverway Girls. Then after school I worked at St. George's for eight years before moving to London. I loved working there and loved the fact that I was part of this beautiful building, grounds and wonderful peacocks. What an awful shock to come back from London after only 20 years to find St. George's with all its history in such a dreadful mess! So much has changed in Stafford, like the library and the Court House, but I have to say find St. Georges's Hospital building the most devestating.
Posted 12 August 2008, 14:40 From Ray Allen
What a very worthwhile site this is, especially to those who like me had relatives in such institutions, and are keen to know about them. My ggmother died in "The County Mental Hospital Stafford" (from her death certificate) in 1919. I hope to be able to examine in the near future an archive to trace her records. I confess to being a bit unclear as to whether or not she would have occupied the building illustrated here. If you can shed any light on this, I would be very grateful. There seem to have been so many buildings in the early 20th century which together constituted the Stafford asylum.
I am most grateful to you for this site.
Posted 14 August 2008, 10:20 From acs
i remember going through the old st.georges as a youth. Me & my mates used to walk around it stoned and freak each other out...which wasn't hard to do! we all found it fascinating, and i used to be amazed at other kids' knowledge of the place. This was all before it was borded up mind, it wasn't that vandalised back then. I'd love to use some of your pics for some cover art, especially ones of the isolation rooms as i remember them quite vividly.
Posted 19 August 2008, 09:00 From RP
My great grandmother, Lucy Emily Brown nee Cope died in the County Mental hospital in 1919, so I was interested in Ray Allen's similar information about his ggmother.
My grandfather was Alfred Brown. My mother Beatrice had a cousin Rose who I think had the surname Allen.
Posted 19 August 2008, 12:50 From Linda Raynor-Edwards
My grandfather, John Duncan Edwards died at St Georges hospital in 1934. I am trying to trace the circumstances as I believe he was deeply traumatised during the war but cannot prove this as my family never spoke of him. He was only 41 when he died and my Dad was 5 years old. If anyone can help please contact me. Thank you
Posted 14 September 2008, 21:30 From sy
At first glance looks like the interior of the hacienda!
It's not obviously
Posted 29 September 2008, 16:10 From Liam
I work at St Georges have done for nearly 25 yrs it has been so good to work here I can remember all the old pts It has changed now due to all of the old patients moving /passing away exellent times one big family
Posted 29 September 2008, 16:50 From val bowkett
my mother's uncle died in safford mental hospital
in 1914 at the age of 27, I would like to find out
more, why he was in there.
Also my husbands grandmother was in there from
May1939 to July 1946,her name was Ada Jones,
she came home to live till the 1950's.
my mother's uncle was name frederick victor little.
Posted 3 October 2008, 20:20 From Liam
Is there any one who worked at St Georges in the last 20 yrs
Posted 13 October 2008, 11:40 From Ray Allen
This is for RP, who posted on 19 August, and is without doubt a cousin of mine:
I have only today discovered your post. We really must find one another! How may we get in touch?
Posted 24 October 2008, 01:00 From nooooo
this place crazy!!!!!
Posted 24 October 2008, 17:50 From Jon C.
Firstly, hi Aldith! How are you - remember Michael Flanagan Day Hospital in Sandon Villa? I trained as a Registered Mental Nurse at St. Georges from 1980 to 1983. I then worked there until December 1985, and got out, as Thatcher had started to wreck the NHS with her 2 "Griffiths Reports". These reports (a) created trusts, and (b) closed the asylums nationwide. I then left Stafford, and went to work in one of the 3, then Home Office run, Special Hospitals. Your pictures are of part of the main block of the hospital obviously, as the admission wards, sandon villa, weston villa are still intact, as are other related buildings. The main block housed 2 distinct types of patients, alzheimer patients (dementia), and long stay chronic psychosis patients (schizophrenia, manic-depression etc). Your term "isolation rooms" is incorrect. They are/were merely single bedrooms. One main building ward was the exception here - Cowcill Ward, which had seclusion rooms, as it was the refractory ward, i.e. it was used for violent patients, or potentially violent patients, as a mainly short stay environment.
The "main hall" as you put it, was the staff canteen. No events were held there, certainly post late 1970s, as the staff social club was used for that. The chapel in your photos was the old chapel. In the early 1980s, a new chapel was built, between the main building, and the also now derelict St. Chad's unit of Wildwood Ward, Kingstone Ward, Shallowford Day Hospital, and Baswich Ward.
It would have been interesting to know what wards are on your photos, it is impossible for me to tell! How did you get in to take the photos? Last time I went there (80 miles from where I now live) there were security people on, who didn't know who to write to for permission.
The "suicide nets" - it wasn't one patient who jumped, it was 3! At different times. All of whom, were long stay patients, involved with the same woman patient, interestingly........Yes it was a long way down from Creswell and Gayton Wards to the bottom.
I lived in Block 5 for 3 years, and had many a good party in the nurses home too. These are now offices, they've built massive offices on the drive to the staff club too - proof that the NHS has become full of too many chiefs and money men, and not enough Indians (i.e. doctors, nurses, porters etc).
Posted 27 October 2008, 01:10 From Sophie James
Lovely to see someone else's photo's of St George's!
I explored it not long ago with a friend.
I know you don't usually find many of places like this, but does anyone have any Pre-dereliction photos of the interior?
it's one place i've been to that i'd love to see in it's heyday.
Thanks!
Sophie.
Posted 28 October 2008, 22:40 From Liam
Hi Jon C I used to work on cowcill ward I now work in the Forensic side called The Hatherton centre we have 4 units here I C U and assessment and rehab ,i was interested to read about the incidents /suicide nets I used too nurse the lady in question her initials are F W I worked with the late Larry Morrisey on Cressell I also lived in the nursing home or as we called it in them days "The Dogs Home" great days
Posted 29 October 2008, 11:40 From bongus
i worked in the old st george's building from 1990-93 as a domestic (cleaner) and covered all the wards at weekends and in the evenings...some of the wards were closed then due to relocation into the community...over the years i was there, the rest all closed too....i work in the new part now (like liam) but still walk past the old building regularly...i would love to go in for a last nose about...it was a beautiful building...and not all of the stories were sad..some of those people were placed there wrongly but lived there for many years, it became their home...and i always felt there was a good atmosphere and a buzz about in the corridors...there was sadness, but happiness too!
Posted 29 October 2008, 22:10 From Jon C.
Yo Liam! I am aware that the Hatherton Centre sprung up out of Milford Ward / The PDU, and voila, a regional secure unit! When I left in Jan 1986, the admission wards were Walton Chebsey, Brocton, Milford. Oh, and Weston Villa Alcohol Unit. Now the wards are, ?old Walton, Brocton has swapped places with Chebsey, and your Hatherton Unit. I went to Rampton Special Hospital to work.
You are correct in the name "FW", and I also worked with Larry, he was on Cresswell then though; Cowcill had Paul Kingston and Tom Mc Murray, and Dave Constantine swapped with one of them at some point. No doubt I know a few staff on your Hatherton Unit, I believe Gill Chalder (nee Griffith) works there, as does Mark Melvin?
Posted 29 October 2008, 22:30 From Jon C.
If anyone is interested, this is my momory of the names of the main building wards, which are now derelict. Looking at the front of the hospital, from left to right, you can see a block of wards 3 stories high, then 2 blocks 4 stories high, then a block of 3 again. So from left to right, bottom floor upwards:-
Woolley, Farmer, Seighford.
League of Friends, Moss, Hopton, Cresswell.
Wheaton Aston, Lapley, Haughton, Gayton.
Hotchkiss, Tixall, Cowcill.
Palmer and Giffard wards were single story wards, situated perpendicularly to and behind the main block.
As I wrote before, the St. Chads Unit was connected to the main hospital by a covered walkway, and housed Wildwood, Kingstone on the ground floor, and Shallowford Day Hospital, and Baswich on the first floor.
There were also 2 quirky places for patients who needed little staff input, The Beeches, and The F.I.R.S. That was an acronym, and meant "For Intensive Re Socialisation"!!!
Last but not least, there was a prefabricated ward, called Norbury, situated just off the drive, which goes past the nurses block residences,
Posted 29 October 2008, 22:40 From Jon C.
Oh, and Kingsmead Hospital (the "H" shape building near the staff club), was nothing to do with psychiatry. It was a general hospital, allied to the SGI (Staffordshire General Infirmary), which was the precursor of Stafford District General Hospital, now known as Stafford General Hospital lolol. I wonder how many internal letters go to the general hospital, when they're meant for St. Georges (both are "SGH"
?
Posted 30 October 2008, 09:30 From bongus
the old walton is now called stonefield..it is learning disability, there is a picu called norbury which works in conjunction with brocton and chebsey...the hatherton has 4 wards..st chad's (kingsmead) houses 2 elderly wards..baswich and bromley plus eating disorders..kinver...and mother and bay..brockington...coton house (addictions) is at the far end in one of the old blocks
Posted 31 October 2008, 23:30 From Liam
Jon C Hi
yes iworked with all the people you have mentioned gill is now a Nurse consultant tom has retired now ithink he has gone back to Scotland Dave Constantine has also retired I worked with Dave on the old Walton Ward as Bongus Mentioned it is now Stonefields ,not sure where Paul is these days i think he is in birmingham teaching as for Mark Melvyn he is still here (old Twat ) He was living with me for a couple of years Mark is teaching MAPPA (C&R) Martin Moore is the ward manager on my unit Newport House I C U
Posted 7 November 2008, 15:10 From Jon C.
Yo Liam!
Monty is your ward manager! I remember him as one of my students, good lad. Is he still a hippy? Ha ha! MAPPA - what? Is that another name for MVA? Management of Violence and Aggression? When I went to Rampton in 1986, we had to do the full prison C&R, including using 2 teams of 3 to ascend stairs with 2 shields at the front (one per team), and 2 massive shields above (to ward off objects hurled down on to you). They don't do that anymore, just in prisons I guess.
Since I worked there from 1980 to the end of 1985, I might know who you are?
This addictions place, I am mystified by Bongus' description of where it is, is it the old alcohol unit in Weston Villa? Oh, and is Dr. Enrique Mateu still there?
Posted 11 November 2008, 23:00 From Brian Merricks
I have vivid recollections of St. George' s Hospital as a child.(approx. around 1945-1949) I used to visit my grandfather who lived in the grounds of the hospital, the bungalow, where he lived, is still there to this day. It is located in the grounds, at the junction of Crooked Bridge Rd. and Corporation St. There used to be a road entrance with an avenue of trees leading up to the hospital, the building of a brick wall now closes this off. His name was Bernard (Bert) Moore, (1890 – 1969) I think he was a nurse / superintendent. Many years later I met a nurse who had worked at the hospital, upon mentioning my grandfather to him, he said, a room in the hospital was named after him. Opposite the bungalow he had a large walled garden, long gone, and regularly had help from a few of the patients, one being totally deaf, who as far as I could tell, as a child, was perfectly normal.
One of the great thrills when visiting him was that I used to enter the hospital, on my bike, using the Goal Square entrance, this meant I rode in front of the main building then around the pig farm. As a child I used to spend many hours watching the pigs. Then came the tricky bit, there used to be a women’s ward which had a large grass area in front of it, just past this there were a couple of open barred windows, and soon as the women saw me they would all shout and scream at me, It amazing how fast you can peddle. Many other recollections such as sports day, receiving an Xmas present, built by a patient, of a working model steam engine, nobody had presents like that in those days. Finally grandfather showing me a marvellous pencil picture of Winston Churchill, drawn by a patient, saying something to the effect “ they may have their problems, but many are only one step from being brilliant.”
Posted 14 November 2008, 11:20 From Liam
Jc
Yes the Moore is the boss i think he still has Hippy tendencies Dr Enrique is here still but on a
locum basis ,still acts like Adolf H.... The addictions is over by Block 5 towards the back of the old wildwood .My name is Liam Mccourt I worked on cowcill with people like Gill Chandler ,Gill wells ,Mark melvyn ,Mark Utterly (Muttely) Mark Smith Jez HILL Carl bradley Tom McMurry ,Tom chandler Bernie Holt there are many more I moved over to the Hatherton approx 16 yrs ago What is youre last name .cheers Liam
Posted 17 November 2008, 08:30 From Glynis Bakker
Hi Fascinating Site and very poignant for any of us that have had members of our family spend time in here. My Grandfather William Bowers spend the majority of his life here 1932 – 1959 when he died in the hospital. As a Christian Brethren he suffered post traumatic stress (not recognised as such then), fighting for the North Staff Regiment in WW1. The social policy of the day was to lock up all these victims of the war but the impact on his family is still felt today. I would love to know more about the life within the hospital during this period and of course anyone who remembered him as he made an excellent recovery but was never released.
Posted 21 November 2008, 14:10 From nataliie davison
I have reason to believe my great grandmother Rose Barton spent a period of time at the hospital after the unexpected death of her baby.Im really not sure how to find out for certain can anyone point me in the right direction please.
Posted 26 November 2008, 10:00 From WEAS
I trained and worked at St Georges for many years. Always look back with fond memories of good people and good care. It's a shame that these old instituitions are automatically associated with negative images and practices. There were excellent nurses and practices at St Georges Hospital when it was still housed in the old biulding. The social "crack" was good as well, "Bring back the Hunt Nights"
Posted 26 November 2008, 17:20 From Liam
WEAS
You know about the hunt nights ...........reveal ya self man
Posted 10 December 2008, 13:10 From Bill Jones
I believe my great grandfather was in St Georges. Unfortunately I don't have a name as my grandfather was registered in his Mothers maiden name (I think). I know I am clutching at straws but can anyone tell me where records may be kept, ie next of kin .
Posted 17 December 2008, 20:00 From Kath Cox
We worked at st Georges from 1960 trained their by a wonderful man [mr Anthony] he was a brilliant tutor, we had a good school. I remember Larrie Morrissy, Alf moss was chief mail nurse, bill murcott, stan callagan, Dr liegh, dr Wilson, and Don perkins what a character, I worked with him for years, vic sargant, , shelby Carter,Peter Anthony[ junior] and his wife Erica , brian Simms, jack Rudd, and his wife/
As i said in my first post these were the happiest working days of my life We were proud of our hospital, in fact wish we could have a reunion with old collegues, but many are now dead, or, scattered all over the globe We live in Corfu
Kath, and Alf COX
Posted 10 January 2009, 17:10 From Chris D
I also worked at St George's, many moons ago. In fact I shared a flat with Jon C in block 5! Also served my time in the 'Dogs Home'.
I started my training in July 1979 in set 120 and staffed on Walton, Wildwood, Kingstone and Baswich wards before leaving to do my general at the, also now defunct, SGI.
Out of my varied nursing career SGH still holds some of the best memories of both staff and patients. How sad though to see the state of the main hospital.
Posted 14 January 2009, 08:50 From Martin
Just had a look at the 1911 census and found my grandfather, William Edward Jordan, listed as an asylum attendant and my grandmother Helen Mary Porter (still unmarried) listed as a parlourmaid. I wonder if they got married in the chapel there sometime in 1911/12/13?
Posted 14 January 2009, 22:30 From Ruth O
Everything changes eh!
Thanks to Chris D who pointed me in the direction of this website not 10 minutes ago .... I am moved and though sad to see what I know to be a place where I learned my trade, which has given me a a really interesting career over the last almost 30 years, to be a very different place now from the one I remember. I can only look at the photographs fondly.
I grew up here!
I was on the first floor of the dogs home and my flat in block six used to over look Jon Cs flat in Block 5
when he shared it with Adrian, who I was pally with and a chap I went out with for several years also had lived in the same flat - blimey talk about blasts from the past. Looking at those photo's though, remembering the laughs I had, running up to the social club 10 minutes before closing time for a pint of brain damage, I couldn't help but wonder what the team from Most Haunted might make of a couple of nights in there!
I have a very positive recollection of this place, it was one where I learned to respect people with mental disorders and institutional illnesses and old age and was privileged to care for them and learn from them as I did.
I recognise many of the names mentioned in the comments here and a big HELLO to anyone who remember me and thanks for sending me here Chris - I was happy to look at the photos and then superimpose the images I will always have in my head right over the derelict debris and see once again the vibrant place it used to be and for the skills I learned there
And no I am not hallucinating OK!
Posted 15 January 2009, 17:20 From J Watson
How sad! if that's all that's left of Wheaton Aston Ward, where I was a student nurse for 3 months and then a Staff nurse for 3 years.
At one time that arch was half windows, with 12 panes and I painted the 12 days of Christmas on them one year.
Posted 15 January 2009, 17:50 From Martyn Adams
I know what went on in the walls of this building throughout history wasn't what we like to dwell on .. thinga have moved on since the building closed down (but not as much as they should have done) ... politics aside .....I have fond memories of St George,s Hospital. My time as a Student Nurse and later qualified nurse. I worked on most of the wards as a student. The outside of the building and the grouns were gorgeous and my lasting image is walking back to the hospital from Stafford town centre when it had been snowing heavily. magical.
does anyone know whais going to happen to it .. i've heard so many rumours
martynadams@rocketmail.com
Posted 15 January 2009, 18:40 From J Watson
I too want to thank Chris D for telling me about this site.
At first, looking at the pictures, all I could think was how sad it all is that such a vibrant, wonderful 'community' end up in such tatters, but reading the many comments makes me realise that Ruth O is right, Everything changes, even us, sadly! But, our memories do stay the same, so it is good to have a site like this for some of those memories to be written down, instead of just lost.
I started working at St Georges in the summer of 1978 on a YTS scheme but started training in group 119 in 1979 and I do remember events happening in the staff restaurant (Jon C) such as sales, Xmas parties, I remember one birthday 'do' and some retirement's as well.
There was also summer fete's on the front lawns. Bring-n-buy, tombola stalls, fancy dress events anongst some, which Jon C should remember as he nicked the first prize from me one year, purely coz he was in a wheel chair dressed as a baby and I was a baby crawling on all fours and couldn't get to the prize fast enough! Proving that the hare sometimes does win!!!!!
Like most I served my time in the dog's homes in room 9 on the ground floor next to Chris D in room 8 and remember some great parties with the likes of Phil Anderson, Karen Pierce, Debbie Worthington, Randy Salmon and so on......
I am sure I remeber Hazel Cooper mentioning Kathy Cox at some time. We used to work together on Palmer and kept in touch after I retired in 1990 till she passed away in 2006. Would I be right Kathy?
Having found this site I look forward to hearing more stories from 'back then'.
J
Posted 16 January 2009, 12:30 From Tim Salmon
Is this *really* the St Georges Hospital I did my training in from 1981? I didn't even know it had been closed. And less than ten years after I left. Very sad. But very good for the people who lived (or might have lived there now) if they now have/did have more fulfilling lives in ordinary living situations experiencing valued mixing with ordinary people in ordinary settings. www.dignitygroup.net/srv.html
Posted 16 January 2009, 13:30 From kath cox
Hi there,
Kath cox here , yes we did train and work with Hazel cooper, stan callaghan, still writes to us ,he did,nt tell me Hazel had died, she must only have been in her late 60,s anyone know if Ray Bennett still around
We left Stafford, I becamea sister in nursing home at St Annes for many years , before retiring to corfu
Posted 16 January 2009, 19:20 From Jon C
Yo J Watson! Obviously I was not in the in-crowd then, coz the only time I went to the "great hall" was to eat! Or it could be that the functions ceased in 1980. Yeah, I remember getting dressed up as a baby in a pram, to do some project outside Hotchkiss ward for a crazy nurse tutor called, I think, Anna Cavell - she was well weird! I do remember being in an It's a Knockout team, when I was on my first ward, Giffard, and we did the events on the football field, in front of the hospital. The others in my team were Mick Dooley SEN, Peter Anthony Nursing Officer, and Mike Jennings Nursing Officer. I think Chris Colley and Steve Kimberley from t'club and rugby team were in the winning team. Phil Anderson charged a fire hose with an umbrella, and almost took his eye out, ooer!
So Ruth overlooked my flat, ooer again! I had 2 flats in block 5; firstly flat 5, which was unqualified and we had 4 of us in it, people like Tim Salmon (hi dude!), Adrian Wells, Keith Harland. When I qualified, I went to flat 1, (which had 3 people in it, with a sitting room as well), and shared with people like Chris D, Raz Crowther, and Paul Kingston, for a while.
When we were turfed out of block 5, Raz and I were given a council maisonette in Rising Brook, which I stayed in for a few months, before I went to Rampton.
I'm not sure what this Martin Adams is quite on about, is he referring to pre 1950s psychiatry before antipsychotics were available, the post world war one practice of throwing unmarried mothers into the asylum because they were an embarrassment, or the use of unmodified electroplexy (ECT) in earlier times? I don't know. But I can say for sure that care standards were pretty high in my time at SGH. Sure, it was rough on psycho geriatric wards (EMI), getting 25 patients up for breakfast with 3 staff, but we managed. Not ideal, but we did ok. Of course EMI has now been taken care of by the island of Mauritius closing, and all their residents coming over here training as RMNs and opening nursing homes....or is that a Mauritius rumour? Long stay, well that's another story, I am told that Staffs had to build a unit st the DGH for the long stay patients that social services could not care for - no surprise there folks. That leaves acute admission and special units, which are quite unique in Stafford, as they are practically based exactly where they used to be all those years ago!
I trained in Group 122, commencing April 14th 1980. I retired early from the NHS in Feb 2005, for reasons of integrity. Thank Goodness for Superannuation and Mental Health Officer status. Hello Chris, Hello Ruth, oh and a special hello to Cathy Hopson, nee Simkins.
Posted 16 January 2009, 19:40 From Jon C
This is a special note to all the people on here, who are trying desperately to find information out, regarding relatives, who were patients in St. Georges in past times. When I worked there, and the hospital was intact, I used to be aware of, and have seen, ancient case notes, which were housed then in a basement under Sandon Villa - the big building behind the present admission wards. Now I have no idea where they might be, indeed, they might still be there. Then, St. Georges was part of Mid Staffs Health District, which in turn, was part of Staffordshire Area Health Authority. Now St. Georges belongs to South Staffs and Shropshire NHS Trust, for some bizarre reason - there is no more Mid Staffs. Anyway, I reckon the way forward for you all, is as follows:- Write to or telephone:-
Neil Carr OBE - Chief Executive
Trust Headquarters
Stafford
01785 221501
internal ext 5501
I'm sure he, or one of his team will be able to sort something out for you all.
Good Luck
Jon C
Posted 16 January 2009, 19:50 From Jon C
Oops! I forgot to put the written address, here it is, along with an alternative telephone number:-
South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Trust Headquarters
Corporation Street
Stafford
ST16 3SR
tel: 01785 257888
fax 01785 258969
email: neil.carr@sssft.nhs.uk
Posted 17 January 2009, 20:30 From John
I work for the company who presently own St Georges. I have worked on site for the last two and a half years. I have found St Georges fascinating and have only seen it in its present state of decay. I can only imagine what a wonderful building it must have been in its prime. I would be extremely grateful if anyone has any pictures that I could view, especially of the chapel, main hall, the tended grounds. I can only say that it is a truly amazing building which must hold many memories for many people.
Posted 18 January 2009, 12:50 From J Watson
Martyn - From what I have read on this site it sounds like the buildings gonna be used to make flats! not sure I'd buy or live in one, but......
However, there has also been talk of it being turned into shops and offices over the years, so I'd say it's anyone's guess, but they'd better hurry before there's nothing left.
Kathy - I though I'd remembered Hazel mentioning you.
She died fairly suddenly, so I don't think too many people would have known, however Herbert and Jocye Fritz and Sister Sandy amongst others were at her funeral.
I remember Ray Bennett but Have no idea of what he's doing now, sorry
Posted 18 January 2009, 13:40 From kath cox
John, trisha melvin was a nursing officer there early eighties.If she is still in the stafford area, her mother Violet melvin took rolls of the old cini films of shows in the main hall, before it was turned into staff canteen/ the xmas spectacular was a great show
if you could trace these old films, put them on cd , it would be great
you could see Coreen Hollis who had a great voice. Tricia, was a bird in a guilded cage, I was jack frost;;
I have still photos of pagaent floats from st georges, in STAFFORD carnival, before such events were banned, Also cricket team from 1962, in the field , Eddie Hood, Brian Simms, Bill Murcott, Don lockett
I really am living in the past///////but happy day,s
I nearly got sacked for putting soap in the fountain, hundreds of bubbles entered the entrance///
Also one night we found a donkey wandering the corridors, he was taken away to a farm at hixon, came in to give rides at future garden parties
Posted 19 January 2009, 21:50 From Jon C
Trish Melvin / Ball whatever she's called now, left there yrs ago, maybe 4 or 5 yrs after me. However, her brother Mark Melvin still works there (see Liam's comments above), so maybe Liam could ask Mark about the cine films? Herbert Fritz, now there's a name that made me smile, the king of Cresswell, nice bloke.
Posted 20 January 2009, 22:00 From Cathy
Its been really interesting reading everyones memories about st georges, i did my training there after working on a yts scheme placement in the psychology department in sandon villa, now michael flanagan building. I still work there 26 years on. Ive worked on many of the wards, baswich, wildwood, kingstone, giffard, hotchkiss, chebsey and brocton and am now a community nurse. I see i have a special mention from Jon C which is a bit of a shock, how long has it been? 25 years!! lol that was a rocky 18 months wasnt it|?
Posted 23 January 2009, 00:00 From Mandy Dyche
Really sad to see such a beautiful building in such a terrible state...i trained and lived at St Georges 1990-1993...i loved it, the atmosphere was excellent...and the socila life not bad either, lived like Kings and Queens for a week after pay day then off good will and tick fron the corner shop for the rest of the month.
Some real characters back then....both staff and patients..lots of staff related to each other if i recall...
Posted 27 January 2009, 15:20 From Natasha
Does anyone rememberLilian Heap? She was a patient at St Georges from the 1950s until her death in 1985. She was my grandmother and i am trying to find out anything about her.
Posted 27 January 2009, 15:20 From Natasha
Does anyone rememberLilian Heap? She was a patient at St Georges from the 1950s until her death in 1985. She was my grandmother and i am trying to find out anything about her.
I know she was on ward 10 and Hodgkiss (I think) ward at some point during her stay.
Posted 27 January 2009, 19:30 From Cathy
hi Natasha, i worked on hotchkiss ward and remember her name but im sorry i dont remember anything else about her.
Posted 28 January 2009, 08:50 From kath cox
hi, Natasha. I worked on ward 10 I too recall the name Lilly Heap. but also.can,t recall her face//
In the 70,s we had 99 patients on that huge unit, so this is not supprising, but let me reassure you it was a happy vibrant place, she would have been happy there
Hotchkiss ward was much smaller, ground floor ward, patients were usually sent there from larger units if they developed physical illnesses...post operative etc
Posted 1 February 2009, 01:10 From Ruth O
hello Natasha
I can't give you very much but I remember the name Lillian Heap -Or rather Lilly Heap, tough I never worked on Hotchkiss Ward, so I would have met her and cared for her on one of the other wards.I was at SGH from 1980 to 1990 and worked as a student nurse, did my general training and went back to SGH after as a Staff Nurse, Sister and A kind of manager with odd titles, before I ended my days in Staffordshire at the Health Authority and moved to London, only to discover that mental health care was about 10 years behind what we were about in Stafford.
I am so sorry I can't recall your Grandma. I would tell you more if I could.
All I can tel you is St Georges was a hospital where I was proud to be a nurse and I absolutely learned to care for people with respect and to show them the dignity and care they deserved, and that was taught to me by others who were there before me ... So I am sure she was cared for well.
J Watson ... Lovely to see you here, along with Chis, J C, Martyn and to hear the mention of Mark Melvyn, his sister Trisha and a number of other familiar names and faces here as well.
May live be being kind to us all
Posted 1 February 2009, 01:20 From Ruth O
John, who works on the building now, -
I am so sorry I don't have any old photos to offer you (we were very un-technological in those days.)
But I hope you are taking care of her (the building that is) and maybe you can give us a clue about her intended use?
Thanks for posting as well - as I hit my 50's (can't believe I am typing that, as SGH is a part of my youth,) I can't help but feel nostalgic about St Georges' Hospital, all it gave me and all I owe it and the people who taught me there, for my ability to be a good nurse and to earn income on the back of all I learned back then, even today.
John thank you for caring for the old place now, as we did then.
Posted 1 February 2009, 12:50 From bongus
john....any clues about what is going to happen to the old place would be welcome... what do you do there? security?
Posted 2 February 2009, 19:20 From Gillain Green with both my maiden name and surname so you should find me with a search.
Hi, Jon Cowin. Long time. Your memory is really good. You were obviously paying attention. I was in G122 alongside you, Pete Kelly, Sue Gore, Sally Mitchell, Mel Bullivant, Sue Batty, Gemma Wong, Julie Lawson, Ian Thompson, Katie Laybourne, Magan Hughes, Richard Kermu, Phil Dodd, Lesley Wood.
Our training was exceptional wasn't it? We all realise that now. Most of us realised when we move to other areas in the country that the stanard of care at SGH was way ahead of most places. But we had great fun as well. One memory I have is of one of the tutors coming in the classroom to roast us for the noise we were making when Eugene McGarrell's group were next door doing their intermediate exams. We were suitably embarrased as we were hanging Katie Laybourn out of the window by her ankles at the tima, ha,ha!
I would challenge your memory on our starting date though. As far as I remember we should have started on April 1st but it was a Bank Holiday so we started the week after on the eigth. Perdantic I know. Still in touch with Mel and the two Sue's. Woul love to here from you Jon. I am on facebook, link up x
Posted 2 February 2009, 19:40 From kath cox
Anyone know what happened to mike Jennings, did he move , retire
Talking about the superiority of St georges over other hospitals. did you know we had a mother baby unit functioning on the new hospital[Brocton] in 1968....
Sr Smith was so proud of the project
Posted 3 February 2009, 04:30 From Jon C
Yes I knew Mike Jennings Kath, he was my nursing officer - see it's a knockout above! He retired, and got an antiques shop at Wolsley Bridge, other side of Milford. Where was ward 10?!! What was ward 10?
Gillian Green, thanks for revealing my surname, didn't you know I'd signed the Official Secrets Act? (it's a Rampton thing, when it was Home Office Run). Yep, my memory ain't bad, no dementia there! Mohammed Reshad Kurmoo aka Richard....erm, VERY dodgy geezer that! Gemma Wong...who??? Megan Hughes, again...who? Sue Gore/Pleasance/Mullin, bless her; Sue Batty joined us later, transferred into our group from somewhere in south Staffs; Andy Martin and Jay Moorhouse, remember them? Post RNMS staff doing their year RMN course. Maybe I might be wrong re our start date Gill, have to look at that. Yes, our training was exemplary, far removed from the university based shite now. The schools of nursing were awesome. RIP Mike Tombs, senior tutor, a very caring bloke. He took over from Shirley Weetman. Remember Kenneth Ryder, Director of Nurse Education? Good man.
Facebook, oh yeah, it's the new myspace isn't it? I will sign up! I'm on Friends Reunited Gill, look for St. Georges Hospital Stafford there.
You have stated your maiden name Gill (which I obviously know), but not your married name, so I might not be able to find you with a search! Lol at the mention of Eugene McGarrell, nuff said.
Liam, you now know my surname, at least Gill spelt it right!
Tell you what, if anyone wants to contact me, I am at joncowin@sky.com
Feel free to chat or ask questions!
P.S. Gill how is Oldham Mumps? And bless you too xx
Posted 5 February 2009, 15:40 From christopher pugh
Hi there found out today my uncle had passed away last year my grandfather visited him often when he was able to get around but sadly he died in 2007 at the age of 84 and would never let my mother or aunt go with him to visit. i just wondered if anyone could shed any light on my uncle apparently he was admitted at the age of 17 and was there until he died aged 86 that is a stagering 69 years his name was FRED EVANS and his problem was a mantoid or manatoid to the ear or brain area.
Posted 5 February 2009, 18:30 From Sarah Ritchie
Thank you for these photographs, even though I view them with great sadness. I trained and worked at all three stafford hospitals (St Georges, SGI and the SDGH) from 1992 - 1995 St George's was beautiful with magnificent features and gardens. Unfortunately the wards were very gloomy and dated and typical of an early asylum. I would be very interested to see any pictures which you may have of the SGI
Posted 5 February 2009, 19:10 From bongus
i notice that there are now cameras all over the front of the old place that weren't there until recently...does this mean that the work (whatever it is) is about to begin?
Posted 6 February 2009, 12:40 From Dave
I visited my mother at st georges about 1954 to about 1958 her name was lilly sansome does anyone remember her
Posted 7 February 2009, 06:00 From Liam
Jon C
Jay is still here he is ward mananger on Chebsey Sue Mullin is still around Robbie Mullin still here he is the maintainance boss (we call him Peter pan) never ages perhaps it is the Grecian 2000 he he
Posted 9 February 2009, 14:40 From Jon C
Hi Cathy! How goes it? Well, I hope!
Posted 11 February 2009, 15:20 From bongus
there appear to now be some kind of alarms doted about the place too...i fear any further explores would be difficult
Posted 28 February 2009, 08:00 From Natasha
Hi
Yhanks to everyone who replied to my post on Lily Heap. Could anyone suggest a way I could find out more about why she was there? I don't think my Mom knows very clearly.
Posted 28 February 2009, 10:00 From J Willrich
Hi Everyone,
I'm trting to write my memoirs for my descendents. My Grandmother was a dressmaker and used to visit the homes of ladies requiring her service. She used to visit (I believe if my memory is correct) a Mrs Curran I think she was the wife of Dr Curran at St George's, I think she entered from Gaol Square this would be in the 1950s. Could anyone confirm the name Dr Curran for me, please.
Posted 2 March 2009, 17:30 From J Watson
Hi
I've just been reading through all these messages and find that there are many people trying to find information about relatives that have at some time been patients at the hospital.
It might be useful for you all to know that you will only ever get very general reply's about relatives even if they are remembered because of things like the Data Protection act.
As an ex-Nurse at the hospital I can tell you that personal record's are not kept for ever and that if your relative id now deceased you may find it difficult to get any personal information. Dates of admission, Discharge and death etc will be held at the General Registry Office and there is a site online. If you relative is still alive then I'd try the address that Jon C has given, but for older information I think, where it me I'd google, things like mental health in the 60's, 70's etc or Psychiatry medicine's/treatments in the....
Good luck and I hope this will help. J
Posted 2 March 2009, 17:40 From J watson
Hi,
I have read through the messages on site and find there are alot of people wanting information about relative's who have at some time been patients at the Hospital.
It may be useful for you to know that you will only ever be given very general replys even when your relative is remembered, because of things like the Data Protection Act, this also cover's staff too J Willrich, sorry, but it is to protect everyone and their personal info.
As an ex-nurse of St Georges and keen family Historian, I can tell you that personal records are not kept for ever and would be destroyed some time after death, so personal info may be hard to find, but I do not know how long records are kept so it is worth you trying the address which Jon C's has given. Admisson, discharge and death dates etc should be obtainable at the General Registary Office and it has a site online.
Other than that if it were me I would google, things like Psychiatry drugs/therapy used in the 60's, 70's etc, or Psychiatric care in.... or try sites like genes reunited for info, as some times they have a chat site with a geneologist who may be able to give you some tips to try.
I hope this helps and good hunting, J
Posted 3 March 2009, 12:00 From barry evans
I've just discovered that my great aunt was a long-term patient at St. George's. She was admitted in 1928, aged 19, and died there in 1987. Her name was Lucretia Bell Evans. As she was a patient for 59 years, I wondered if any of the former nursing staff who access this site might remember her, and perhaps know the reason for her admission. I've already tried the records office at Stafford, but they have been able to give me only limited info.
Many thanks, B
Posted 6 March 2009, 19:40 From Jon C
Barry Evans, you could email me (see above posts) and I might be able to point you in some sort of direction. I knew your great aunt, but not to a massive extent. What I know is personal, so I can not reproduce that here.
Christopher Pugh, I have asked some people I know, and I'm sorry, but I have not found anyone who knew your uncle. Try the Hospital's address and phone numbers I gave in an above post, to see if they can suggest any other avenues you might take.
I don't think the Data Protection Act 1998 applies to people who are dead. Also, hospital patients' records are only usually kept for 8 years after death, usually being the word.
Posted 7 March 2009, 16:30 From Gillian
Well, what do you expect to happen when you leave Robbie Mullin in charge of the works department? Nuff said.
Posted 2 April 2009, 12:20 From mandy owen
i'm trying to find a relative in stafford who i understand worked at stafford hospital saw this site and wondered if anyone out there nows her her name is patricia ann i think the surname is Beardsmore maiden name was morgan she also has a son called Derren who would be in his forties i would appreciate any help thanks
Posted 3 May 2009, 10:40 From Dave
Thank you all for your kind help ref Lilly I have researched and came up with...guess what nothing. Ah well Dave
Posted 13 May 2009, 22:00 From dj sibel
does anyone know if the building is still there today or has it been demolished for housing as i would like to go and see it and check it out
Posted 15 May 2009, 10:20 From Emily
Nope hasnt been demolished were off there today as it happens. its just got more dangerous. A friend of mine fell through the floor there not long ago. but its still okay for the first 2 levels.
Posted 17 May 2009, 17:10 From cathy
It is still standing but is in such a delapidated state, so sad, i went to look yesterday, cant get near it as fencing is all around, i hope whoever owns is decides to do something with it soon
Posted 19 May 2009, 17:00 From Jeanette
Sadly some of the building isn't standing any more and it makes it hard to get your berrings! If something isn't done, I would not be suprised to see it almost gone in the next five years or so!
St Georges has become how Stafford Castle was in the 60's and 70's, dangerous!
Posted 21 May 2009, 09:10 From cheryl Williams
Just like to say a big hello to everyone, although none of you know me yet. I am currently a student working on placement at the forensic department and part of my study this third year is about research. I have always had an affinity and curosity about asylums/institutes and i was asked to identify some empirical research to back up my current intervention with a patient. During my own researches i came across this website and as i had been intrigued about the old hospital some of my current collegues (some of whom have been mentioned) pointed me to this and other website also archive documents and i have been doing some personal interest research. I was fascinated to read all through some of your memories and also much amused as an ex auxilliary of an old type hospital i very much warmed to your experiences and almost envied the times you all had coupled with the hard work you obviously put into the care yu all gave.
I have decided after speaking to one or two of the older colleagues (who i didnt get permission to mention but know most of you guys) lol, at their comments (not publishable online ha ) Anyway i have decided there's a valid excuse for research here but it seems to me that nothing very solid is being recorded before it all goes 'belly up' as it were. I feel that if I could here more of these intriguing and very interesting stories there would be an interesting line of research here for me. This is not research for any other reason than i am hugely interested and i feel that the essence of this could easily be lost if something is not caught quickly. I will be incorporating some research into the historical details and for those who are worried about confidentiality and data protection i will be adhering to specific regulatory information and complying with policy. I know this may take me a long time to do and i want to get the mix of it right hopefully i can do you all the justice you deserve and come up with something that preserves st Georges and the atmosphere from a staff perspective. so ....Jon C Gillian G Liam (ill get you on the ward) Bongus? Sarah R Kath C and all you very interesting people if you feel you have a story to tell that would contribute and put the record straight get in touch with me....you can get back on this website as i am also asking the perpertrator of this genius site to contribute with the wonderful photos and comments as an important part. or I am based at Marston House at st georges ask for me by name or I will approach Liam on the ward and you could speak to him... thanks for reading if there is anyone else out there who may like to contribute to this but has not been on the website then please ask them for me I will leave a contact number with Liam thanks. Cheryl
Posted 22 May 2009, 08:40 From kath cox
Stan Callagan did't send me a xmas card last year, for the first time since I retired. /// Cheryl do any of your collegues know of his welfare //// We live in Corfu now, but send me your email address.
IF all is well with Stan, he would be ideal, for stories for your research, he was a great orator, he, and his late wife Francess worked at St GEORGES for many years.
Brian Simms, V sargeant, Eddie hood, ask them about the cricket team in the 60,s
regards Kath
Posted 22 May 2009, 11:40 From bongus
hi cheryl
i currently work on norton house, welcome to ask me anything you like about the old hospital and ill try and answer...i worked in there from 1990 to 1993 when many of the wards were still active, although some had closed and so witnessed the end of the asylum as it closed slowly around us
liam knows me
Posted 22 May 2009, 15:20 From kath cox
Cheryl ; my address has been deleted could you send an email to the Rossendale nursing home. ansdell lytham st Annes// the matron there has my e mail address
I have many stories, wartime goings on, ,and these were told to me By DON PERKINS, what a character, ask the older staff about him They never did the conventional training in those days, but he knew more about those patients , and their illnesses//learnt in the university of life
Posted 24 May 2009, 15:50 From Bill Jones
Does anyone remember a patient named William Potts?
Posted 27 May 2009, 03:30 From Jon C
Cheryl, I worked at SGH between 1980 and 1986, when I left the decaying NHS (destroyed by Maggie and her Griffiths' Reports), and went to work for the Home Office, in Rampton Special Hospital - the ultimate forensic environment. Ask me owt you want. My email address is above, in an earlier post.
Posted 30 May 2009, 14:40 From kath cox
The Reorganised National Health Service 1974
THE Salmon report started the downfall of the N.H.S
Posted 8 June 2009, 21:30 From Sandy Norris
Hi
I stumbled upon this web site while researching background for a novel I am just starting to write. One of my key characters is a girl born in 1900 who finds herself pregnant in 1919, but whose boyfriend is killed right at the end of the war. She ends up in a lunatic asylum - By the time another key character - a student nurse in the 1970s - becomes intrigued by her, she has become totally institutionalised. I am grateful to the many anecdotal comments on this site and I hope you don't mind me using your knowledge - but I would love to hear from anyone who could give me more detail about how my character might have been treated. (My idea comes from a real patient I came across when as a student training to be a teacher, I took a holiday job as a nursing auxiliary at Whitecroft Hospital on the Isle of Wight.)
Thanks
Sandy Norris
Posted 24 June 2009, 11:40 From cheryl Williams
Hello everyone been somewhat busy but have been persuing research so not too bad. thanks for your wonderful responses i promise to get round to you as quickly as i can have your details thanks for that feel free to contact me cheryl.williams1@mypostoffice.co.uk thanks again all best wishes catch you soon cheryl
Posted 30 June 2009, 05:50 From Jeanette
Yes, G Smith, I heard many times during my 11yrs working at the hospital, that it was haunted and vaguely remember certain wards had specific stories, but I never saw personally or indeed met anyone who ever saw anything!
Jon C, going right back to one of last years comments, Mid Staffordshire health Authority still exists, even more bizarrely than you thought though is that what there is of SGH is as you say part of South Staffs, but the DGH remains in the old MSHA!
Posted 30 June 2009, 09:20 From adam t
hi i live in stafford myself and love this place i have been in there a couple of times and am also going back inside very soon to take photos before its changed but am unformillia with the lay out can anyone tell me of places that are difficult to find as there is more chance they will have not been trashed to much or if any one wants any photos of a particular part just let me know email me at tunni4264@yahoo.co.uk the last time i visited was a while ago and managed to find 1 or 2 places untouched suppose its not like that now
Posted 2 July 2009, 09:50 From kath cox
Jeanette/ Woolley Ward was the worst////// and the upstairs ward coton hill hospital///when it was part of t georges now entrance to DGH I beleive, I very often wonder if they still patrol that area
Posted 17 July 2009, 17:20 From Helen
All records from General hospitals are kept for 8 years. All records from Psychiatric hospitals are kept for 100 years. I know that the heavy leather bound books from the turn of last century still exist, complete with photographs and some very strange diagnoses. These records are kept in the basements of Michael Flannagan Building. After this, records are microphished (please excuse spelling) and are kept in the William Salt Library in Stafford- where all ancient records from Stafford, including the Gaol are kept. Hope this helps. Helen
Posted 19 July 2009, 16:30 From Sandy Norris
Thanks Helen
Sandy
Posted 19 July 2009, 23:50 From keith bamon
i came acroos this site by accident, and have quite good memories of st georges. i was a patient at varying times from 93 to 97 on the old walton ward. The staff there were amazing, dave constantine, liam (ginger) sue m trisha. And the night staff sue mandy reggie. All staff were great even those i havent named. They looked after me well if it wasnt for them i might not be where i am today, a happy family man, working for myself in pc building and repair. in fact i might not have been here at all, so a big thank you to any who read this that remember me, and wld like to say hello.
Posted 31 July 2009, 02:40 From Claire
I visited the asylum site today and took some photos from the fence. I'm interested in the asylum because my great, great grandmother worked there as a domestic maid in the 1880s/1890s. I was struck today by how big the building is and I found it quite spellbinding to look at.
Posted 2 August 2009, 11:10 From Liam
Mr Bamon
Hello good too here you are doing well ,they were good times we all are still here grinding away good luck in the future
Posted 3 August 2009, 00:10 From keith bamon
liam .... thank you for your saying hi it was nice to hear from you.... please pass on my hellos and sincerest gratitude to all the satff that remember me.. hope you are all doing very well.
Dont let them work you all too hard lol.
Posted 9 August 2009, 22:40 From maria luisa mcgarrell
I worked at St Georges hospital from 1976 to 1990. I was a ward sister in Lapley Ward and Walton ward for many years. I have many good memories and some no so good.I have been retired for twenty years. I now live in Spain but visit Stafford regularly as I still got one daughter living there. When I pass the place it brings back memories and wonder what happened to so many people who saw the place at there home. Many, I suppose will have died but many others will be in the community. I am sure the place gave many people including the staff a sense of belonging. I always feel it is a tragedy to distroy buildings with so much history attached to them
Posted 19 August 2009, 17:40 From Ann
I had an uncle Geoffrey Jones who was a patient there until he was an old man when he moved to sheltered accommodation probably in the 1970s. I visited him in the early 50s with my grandmother and I think we sat in the Great Hall which was like a canteen. Does anyone remember him?
Posted 25 August 2009, 14:10 From Samantha Pommells
Hi, just found out that my Great Grandmother was possibly a patient & died at the hospital in 1924. Does anyone know where I could find out if this was true? Also, where were people buried if they died there.
Thanks
Sam. x
Posted 26 August 2009, 10:40 From Trouble
Mornin all... found this site by accident,I was scouring tinternet for St Georges. I have worked at the hospital for 20 years now - bongus,if you are the housekeeper/domestic on Norton then I know you well! I first started off life as a domestic on the evenings,worked in the microbiology,smelt gorgeous!! I'm now in the staff restaurant/Bistro, Georges.Liam even sat in on my interview all those years ago!
The old hospital was supposedly to be the great british kitchen,but that never happened,then it was to be turned into luxurious apartments. Now it looks like it's being tirn down bit by bit so slowly the people responsible hope no-one notices.Shame cos that building was really lovely..
Posted 7 September 2009, 20:10 From Joe
HI, I've been trying to catch up with Mohammed Reshad Kurmoo and I noticed some of you use to work with him, do you know what he's up to these days or where he is?
Posted 11 September 2009, 11:30 From David John Leigh
Youngsters (well, mostly). Nice to know Dad is mentioned (note the spelling correction in the name). Dr Curran was . Also interesting to see Michael Flanagan's name perpetuated (Deputy Medical Superintendent). I lived there (well, in Coton Hill, actually) from about 1952 to 1965: and worked there during the late fifties and early sixties, in the Path Lab.
Wards with names were just coming in when I left - for me it was M1 - M10 (or so) and F1 - F10. At Coton Hill they were G1 - G3 and L1 - L3 (the difference between Men / Women and Gentlemen / Ladies!
If anybody wants me, try Googling the name.
Posted 12 September 2009, 12:20 From kath cox
hi mr david john Leigh.//
tried googling yor name 48 pages//// can,t find you ////senile moment , can,t keep up with all this technology
just wanted to say , if you ever read this ,,that your father was one of the nicest men ,we had the pleasure of working with in the 1960,s, he taught us lots, never too busy,or self opinionated to speak, and explain things we did,nt understand
I fainted once in the company of your father,when doing e, c, t, treatments on Giffard ward/// when I came round, He had the most puzzled look on his face,told me to take specimen to the lab/// Who phoned me later that day Pregnant 5 months and did,nt know///aged 45yrs
MY Husband who also worked at st georges, just told me over lunch, that dr Leigh, used to talk to him a lot about his family, and that he was extreemly proud of you
Regards Kath, and Alf Cox [Corfu]
Posted 16 September 2009, 20:10 From Penelope Pitstop
Dear Joe, so you're after Mr. Kurmoo, eh? You'll probably have to join a long queue. Possibly the best place to start, is ask the Police, as he was of great interest to them in the 80s. He was not at all popular with the staff, due to, shall we say, his behaviour, which directly led to the said Police intervention. Present whereabouts? Anywhere from Pentonville to Wormwood Scrubs might not be too far off reality.
Posted 4 October 2009, 16:10 From M.W.Smith
I found a Great Great Aunt who was in the Staffordshire Lunatic Asylum in 1891 listed in the 1891 Census. I would like to know why she was there and for how long. She died in 1906.
I'm not sure what type of treatment she would have recieved in those days. Did she die there?
Please could you help me.
M.W.Smith
Posted 12 October 2009, 23:40 From jacqui
Hi also trying to trace Mohammed Reshad Kurmoo (aka Richard) ? when did he work here anyone remember? or know where he is now xx
Posted 21 October 2009, 12:30 From prodigal
Hi all,
So many names and memories.A real blast from the past. Anyone remember Tim Nixon, Steve Deakin, Hywell Evans, Jim Erdwin, Pete Downs, Sue Roberts, Gill Caddy, Julie Olynec and that crowd?
Posted 25 October 2009, 01:00 From Victoria Collins
It would be SO nice to see some pictures of this building when it was up and running! Many of my family members worked there as laundry assisstants/worksmen and porters over the years, I have worked in the new buildings as a HCA/auxillary staff recently and a couple of nurses I met (whose names I won't mention for privacy) from Coton House told me some amazing stories, and promised me pictures, however I left shortly after these conversations, but I hope to go back in a couple of years as the staff are so brilliant at what they do. Nursing in Stafford is second to none in comparison to that of other places. Anyway, if anyone has any pictures/stories they would like to share that would be fantastic! my e-mail address is (all one word) vikki underscore collins at hotmail dot com.
Posted 25 October 2009, 12:30 From bongus
tim nixon is my uncle, he still works in mental health down south
Posted 26 October 2009, 15:40 From Mike Potter
My gran was a patient there in 1975 due to a mental breakdown, shame to see it delapedated really.
Posted 29 October 2009, 19:50 From Susan Howell
My Gt Aunt was a long term patient at St Georges from the 1930s till 1991 her name was Doris Fieldhouse and wonder if anyone who nursed there remembers her .I didnt know about her till I started doing the family tree this really upset me because I could have visited her so if anyone does remember and can tell me anything about her I would be most grateful
Thanks Susan
Posted 12 November 2009, 22:40 From Joe
Hi Jacqui any luck tracing Richard Kurmoo?
Posted 14 November 2009, 22:40 From jacqui
Hi joe well lol long story yes and no if u want to email me i can tell u bit too personal to put on public pages
jacqkoo@aol.com xx
Posted 25 November 2009, 04:10 From victoria collins
someone must have some pictures?? i heard stories about a white peacock squarking outside one of the wards. if anyone has any stories or pics e-mail me please. i live in stafford n being 23 vaguely remember the building and grounds before it closed. i wrote to the staffs newsletter about a year ago n got a lovely response. my grandad a buckley-robins used to work in the work yard I think. any pics or stories to vikki_collins@hotmail.com . id love to hear frm u!!
Posted 3 December 2009, 18:10 From bongus
there was indeed a white peacock, and 2 ordinary ones that i remember too
Posted 6 December 2009, 09:20 From Liam
Hi The peacocks were great fun we used to feed them,they eventually were moved away to the Amerton Farm ,Alf Ealy took them due too Health and safety .Victoria you mention youre grand dad being Buckley is George Buckley any relation too you
Posted 2 January 2010, 22:30 From stacey
hi...did anyone work with my grandad his name is william (bill) sim he worked with brian simms and is still in contacted with him. i remember alot of the names that have been mentioned on here from when i was a little girl and would go to the club. my grandad would dress up as santa and give out the presents at the chrismas partys for the kids...i don't really remember the old building much as i was very young when i would visit...stacey
Posted 2 January 2010, 23:30 From julie bell
what a shame , i visited my nan here all through the seventies, and it was very beautiful , i remember the gardens an the water feature, it was neglected but still qite lovley, nan died inther eventually, we never saw any visitors there was not any just us i think ? a pity , julie.
Posted 3 January 2010, 17:40 From Kath Cox
HI Stacey,
we worked with Brian, And Bill Simms we were only talking about them at christmas,,[ fond memories ] would love to get in touch with them both.
We now live in Corfu, but this site won,t let you put on e, mail addresses
GET them to write to us
Alf, and Kath cox
Avliotis
corfu , greece
Both Bill and Brian were good cricketers, in the 60.s
have photos, and Brian taught me too drive , this was a real test of friendship
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU
Posted 3 January 2010, 17:50 From Kath Cox
IT was with great sadness that we learned of the death of Violet Melvin over the christmas period R.I,P.
Vi was a great lady, who gave an awful lot of her time and energy to St Georges over many years
Condolances to her family
Kath,and Alf Cox
Posted 8 January 2010, 16:30 From Denise Williams
Can any one help me .i have found out that my grandma was a patient at ST Georges ,she died there in october 1954 age 34yrs,Her name was Lilian Peplow,we dont know anything about her or even what she looked like as my mum was put into a childrens home in 1946.Hope to here from any one who knew Lilian ,
Posted 8 January 2010, 19:10 From Denise williams
Can any one help me .I have found out that my grandma was a patient at ST Georges ,she died there in 1954 age just 35yrs.Her name was Lilian Peplow .We dont know anything about her as my mum was put into a childrens home in 1946 ,mum cannot rember her .I have tried tracing famliy members ,but the ones i have found have no photoes or even infoe on Lilian .Does any one out there know or rember Lilian Peplow ?
Posted 8 January 2010, 19:50 From Kath Cox
hi Denise.
I doubt if any of the staff who nursed your gran visit this site as they themselves will be in their 80.s,
All the staff who were senior to me in the 60.s are now deceased, as time moves on relentlessly
I n the 1950,s things changed radically in the state mental hospitals,and this hospital building was in all its glory,and had beautiful gardens, and a working farm in its grounds
Posted 9 January 2010, 12:40 From Denise Williams
Hi Kath ,
Thanks for the message .i had a feeling that would be the case ,but i though give it a go .I just would like to try and fine out where Lilian was buried /cremated so i can take my mum to place some flowers for her mum Lilian .again thanks ,Denise
Posted 9 January 2010, 13:50 From Kath Cox
All records from General hospitals are kept for 8 years. All records from Psychiatric hospitals are kept for 100 years. I know that the heavy leather bound books from the turn of last century still exist, complete with photographs and some very strange diagnoses. These records are kept in the basements of Michael Flannagan Building. After this, records are microphished (please excuse spelling) and are kept in the William Salt Library in Stafford- where all ancient records from Stafford, including the Gaol are kept. Hope this helps. Helen
Posted 11 January 2010, 17:10 From Denise Williams
Thanks for that info Helen thats great i will give that ago ,many thanks Denise
Posted 19 January 2010, 00:20 From Liam
Stacey Iworked with Bill on the wheaton aston ward many yrs ago still see him and june now and again are you andy.simms girl
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