Tone Vale Hospital was built in 1897 and closed in 1995. This is now pretty much totally converted into homes, and a few leisure services.
The main recreation hall is really the only derelict piece of interest left. Situated bang in the middle of the development, it contains a curious selection of junk – presumably from people now living in the converted parts…
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Thanks for that SJR, Thats a nice comment.. Im only about 56 miles from you based in Fareham, Portsmouth, maybe you could give me some therapy if i travelled , I will pay you …
Hi Christopher
Thank you for your response. I’m afraid I won’t be taking on any more clients until the new year as I am so busy. I would be happy to let you know as and when I am taking clients or alternatively if you want to find a therapist in your local area you could go on the BACP website. Hope you find someone suitable. Best wishes. Susie
I worked here converting it into new flat’s it was a cool place to work as when i worked there not much had been touched so we had loads to explore i only wish i had taken picture of it now
Nic
Thanks susie, Take care x
just been looking at the comments very intresting. my mother was sent to tone vale in the early 80s mid 80s. bit of a long shot does anyone remember a margret cotty/rice being treated at tone vale? would be good to hear from you.
Oh My God, I live in Bridgwater and am in my thirties and grew up knowing that Tone Vale was not a nice place to go but I had no idea what happened there. I didn’t even know about Merryfields. I work with children in care and do my best to make sure they have the social skills they need for a better future, I do my best to make sure they know that someone cares. Reading these stories has shocked me and I hope all of the former residents stay safe and find some sort of closure. Best Wishes X
I was in merrifeild for a while and even tho i’m 41 now i still have memories both good and bad,the use of drugs to “control” troubled kids was abundant,morning meetings were a farce,Dr Zinner use to spend more time making pots than worrying about his patients.The education there was laughable,one teacher blatantly carrying on with another but trying to hide the fact.Time out to punish those they couldnt control.All i can say was is certainly changed the way i grew up
Steve, I well remember Dr Zinner and his pots, and Dr Bakker (and Dr Bailey, too, Zinner’s predecessor). I don’t remember any ‘blatent carrying on’ between teachers, but I do remember one particular teacher who, though entertaining, was an outrageous and extremely vocal racist. His successor was an improvement, however.
Educational deprivation is certainly one of the terrible things Merrifield inflicted upon kids. I now have two degrees, but I still regret my lack of a general secondary eduction, and I very much feel for those who were less fortunate than me in dragging themselves forward.
The Merrifield staff (Unit, as opposed to School) were a mixed bag; some were well-intentioned but useless, some did their best under difficult circumstances, and some were sarcastic at best and sadistic at worst. It’s a wonder our story has never got out, but this site clearly shows that the pressure is building. I don’t think the secret buried under the new houses and greenery of Cotford St Luke is going to stay secret for too much longer (well, not if I have anything to do with it).
hi dma
yes Dr zinner was the classic nhs doctor lol patients came a close third on his priorities,i heartily agree with your comments about education,i actually went to kingsmead for a while but was treated as the nutty freak from the kids loony bin,the staff there were in best sufferable they seem to derive pleasure from ordering us about and telling us what we could do and when id be lying if i said there wasnt a knock on effect from being there i still think about times there and still sends shivers down my spine
The whole set up was a joke, and i wont forget wot happened to me and dr zinner was italian he was the one prescibed me valium 4 times a day ??? we need to all get together on a reunion and try and get a story to the papers ??
i dont think ive seen anyone from my days at merrifield,i often wonder how their doing?i know one girl committed suicide as for the others i dont know,often wonder if their haunted by memories as i am
Hey steve do you remember me, i was also known as Timmy busch, as that was my nick name timmy, I was always interested in d. j ing which i have been for the last 25 years, also my mum and dad used to have an ice-ceam business out of wellington used to go on and on about music and transit vans etc,, was you there when jo cadick and mr pledger and mr nugent etc.. if not sorry you dont know me ? I hope your ok bud im 42 now and based in Fareham near Portsmouth.. you must have had the same doc as me zinner was a ????.. LOL x
yes i remember u tim,i think i knew u before merrifields aswell,i remember jo caddick and martin carpenter,andy cole,maggie pickering.im sure your familys ice cream buisness was near the dolphin pub in wellington
yes mate it was , and we had a depot next to the dolphin the landlord was bernie and jackie ., all our vans were called Mr softee, thats spooky bud ? andy cole i remember him , do you remember cindy kellow annette sexton, and heather the one who used to bang her head on the wall and make her self bleed ? bless her ,, also the foot therapist janet wilkins , hey if you remember me bud we went through F…..G hell , I am still doing ice-cream now and d.j ing, i went to court fields school as well , small world , bring it on mate lets hear more xx
yes its a small world bernie n jackie green had the dolphin i went to courtfields with their son andrew,i can only recal a few of the kids at merrifield,brian love,shaun o driscoll,adrian smith,jason powell,howie jones,melanie lomax,pete saunders do u remeber Avril silk one of the teachers? howard thomas was my teacher(for want of a better word)as for the staff,carol thomas,johanna,jerry mogg,mr n mrs mackie,bob and pete