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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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?
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
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..
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?
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.
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]
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.
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
Hi also trying to trace Mohammed Reshad Kurmoo (aka Richard) ? when did he work here anyone remember? or know where he is now xx
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?
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.
tim nixon is my uncle, he still works in mental health down south
My gran was a patient there in 1975 due to a mental breakdown, shame to see it delapedated really.
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
Hi Jacqui any luck tracing Richard Kurmoo?
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
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!!
there was indeed a white peacock, and 2 ordinary ones that i remember too
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
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
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
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
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 ,
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 ?
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
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
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
Thanks for that info Helen thats great i will give that ago ,many thanks Denise
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
Hi Kath ,just to give you a up date on my search for my gran lilian peplow ,sadley there are no records from St Georges of her i have tried all paths but Stafford record office was able to fine were Lilian was buried,so i am now waiting for the cemetery to send me a map of were the grave is and then i can take my mum to place some flowers on Lilian grave ,thanks Denise.
Hi denise,
So pleased// a little comfort to your mum,as we get older,our roots seem more important to us,but sadly we leave it too late
As a staff member i have attended many funerals of patients who died without contact with family, floral tributes were provided by the hospital , the hospital chaplin, staff and fellow patients usually attended
Tell your mum to plant a rose in her own garden,she will then have a token to remember her mother, and enjoy its beauty
Regards Kath
Hello everyone
Just found this site, and find it absolutely fascinating -having lived in Stafford in the 1970s.
A distant relative of mine – Raymond Wynn – was in St George’s for many years from the 1950s – anyone remember him?
Furthermore, I’d heard that the hospital had closed so I was quite surprised to hear that somewhere who lives near to me here in Shropshire – and who is having some mental health problems- is now in St George’s Hospital, Stafford. Can anyone explain?
Oops! I meant ‘someone’ who lives near to me in Shropshire.
Also, the St George’s Hospital that this chap is a patient at is also listed as being in Corporation St, Stafford. Has the hospital been rebuilt?
Phillip N – there is a “new” hospital next to the derelict asylum featured in these photos.
i have just heard the old building is on fire….pretty badly!
Makes you wonder if it were deliberate don’t it? Every so often set fire to another bit,pretty soon the place will be too dangerous to go near and it will have be demolished. Shame,because it still has more character about it than any of the new wards. Does Fred Pritchard still own it? He’ll knock the place down and stick one of those metal framed monstrocities in its place,just like the new riverside centre!
I’m afraid is not looking good for the old place, My wife said that whole of the building was pretty much ablaze when she saw it at midday on Sat. We drove past last night at midnight and you could still see flames in some of the windows. I guess the fire brigade had no option that just to let it burn. It would have been suicidal to try and fight it from inside as it was in such a poor state. I recently found some pictures on the web that had been posted in Nov 2009 and It was in a terrible state, totally beyond repair, so my moneys on deliberate arson, subsequent demolition and another faceless housing development within the year.
Stafford town planners have a long history of gross incompetence when it comes to looking after old buildings,
The Brine baths, Lotus Shoe Factory, the old market, the Eagle Pub & Baswich House to name a few………………..I suprised no ones “Stolen” the roof of the old Post Office yet!
Oh Greg don’t! Can you imagine a load of “bricks with roofs on” as me mum used call them? Garage underneath,just like those on the old Lotus site! I’ll have a nose 2mrw when I go work,looks like the builders have finally got what they want.
Sorry,that should’ve said “boxes with roofs on”….. i’ve been tryin’ for a bed on Norbury for ages,still no joy!!
Unfortunately someone (or several someones) have set fire to it again (06.03.10), burned for several hours, still damping down today (08.03.10) had approx 40 firefighters on scene trying to control the fire, including aerial platforms. Police suspect arson on the ground floor, in the central tower area. Fire personnel from as far away as Longton attended. Severe fire damage although first reports say the fabric (walls) of the building seem ok, so hopefully it can be restored.
It’s such a shame that this beautiful building (and it was beautiful in its day) can be destroyed by mindless vandals.
Forgot to say that yes Fred Pritchard does still own the site and, apparently, he’s still on about restoring it, starting this autumn (and if you believe that…)
Anon,he wanted rip the place down when he first got his hands on it, way it’s going he won’t have much longer wait,the weather n the vandals will have done it for him
Trouble I quite agree – it’s been a big thorn in his side for a while. Imagine how many houses or units he could build in that space
Anno duck,and all the units will look like those on the towers business park at rugeley,just like the riverseide centre, a metal frame with cladding bolted to the sides. do you work at the hopital anon? ya dont get discount in the restaurant but ya could say ello!
No sorry didn’t work at the hospital – did some work experience there (Shallowford), for a few weeks, many, many years ago.
Yes all they can build in Stafford (and Rugeley, Cannock and the rest of the county) are what my grandad called “lego buildings”. No imagination or talent needed
I lived in stafford in the 70′s and 80′s, my Nan worked in the laundry and we used to spend lots of happy times at St Georges going to the bonfires the its a knockout days or visiting the bird aviary with my grandad. The patients used to wander the grounds asking for fags or money. I went back to visit the old site yesterday and it was sad to see whats finally become of such a lovely place!
i have lived in stafford most of my life,one of my loves is old buildings and history.i feel so sad that what was once such a stunning building with such history has been left to rot,and now some prize halfwit has set fire to it not once but twice i hope they lock them up for a long long time.
For Kath and Alf Cox, any other ex Staff, and any other interested people.
I was aware of St Georges Hospital throughout my childhood being a local lad. I worked there from January 1961, qualifying as an RMN in 1964, until early retirement after nearly 28 years.
Seeing the sorry state of the buildings and grounds now is sad and depressing. I don’t know how they can possibly retain/rebuild it in a recognisable state now. Such a shame to lose yet another building of architectural importance. It holds great significance for the local community. Especially for the staff who worked there and the patients and relatives who received care there,
A psychiatric hospital it may have been but a Dickensian Bedlam – never !!
I wish we could show these images alongside earlier ones – what a comparison that would be. Perhaps someone out there has photo’s from the period when it was still up and running. If anyone has same and/or is interested in making a portfolio you can contact me by e-mail
brian-simms@talktalk.net
I was a student nurse at St.Georges from 1961-64. My time spent there was very enjoyable and I have so many happy memories of both patients and staff.
Unfortunately very few names on this site come to mind but three I do remember. Mr Anthony, our brillant tutor, it was a joy to be taught by him. Dr Leigh, a gentleman and a wonderful doctor. He treated the patients and staff as though we were his own family.He was a credit to his profession. The one thing I remember about Dr Leigh was the fact he always carried nuts in his pocket and when he came onto the ward he always said “have a nut, dear boy”
The third person was the young Brian Simms. Brian and I were in the same set. He was a mind of information and shared his knowledge with the whole set. If he had one fault, it was he always wanted to organise you. Once he wanted to start a pop group. He was on drums, he wanted me to play the guitar. I was so musical, I could not play the gramaphone. He got cross but it did not last.
He arranged for our set to go for a curry, he got us drunk, I could not find my way home. My mother was furious, when I told her Brian had got me drunk she hit me round the head and told me not to tell lies because “Brian is such a nice boy, he wouldn’t do that”
It is sad that the building is in such a state and sadly some of the staff are no longer with us.
On March 6, 2010 I moved into a house on Corporation Street, Stafford, directly opposite St George’s. My partner and I watched with open mouths as, what at first looked like a bonfire in the distance, became a blaze that engulfed the top floor of the old building. Firefighters battled for nearly 12 hours to control the flames but I believe that most of the top floor has been destroyed. The cause was arson. The man who is hoping to develop the building, Mr Pritchard, has said in local press that he still hopes to continue with his plans despite the vandalism. I just think that it is tragic that a piece of Stafford’s heritage has been treated in this way.