Lancaster Moor Hospital, Lancaster
April 17th, 2006 Posted in Place Mapping, Urban ExplorationSome photos I took a little while ago. I guess this mental asylum doesn’t really class as ‘urban’ exploration, but it is definitely interesting.
I discovered it one evening coming home the back back way from university, and as I rounded the top of the hill it was just there in front of me. I had to pull in at the gates and have a look, but I didn’t have my camera with me at the time. I also had to wait until I had a better camera in order to get good shots of the building from the front, as the only place to stand is on the hill a good 3/4 of a mile away.
It’s difficult to get any closer pictures of the grounds than I managed here, because there is 24 hour security – you can see their little office in one of the pictures. What I did notice however, is that inside the door of their office are lots of photographs pinned to the wall and I’m sure they are of the asylum. Makes me wonder whether they give people permission sometimes to wander and take photos. I keep meaning to look into it.
The place is fantastic to walk around, I wish I’d been in Lancaster when it was still acting as A&E, actually seeing it trying to function as a modern NHS hospital would have been brilliant. Some parts of it still appear to be used – certain sections seem to have been taken over my NHS work men for storing equipment and vehicles. There’s also an active cricket club somewhere on the grounds, but I didn’t see a cricket pitch.
24 Responses to “Lancaster Moor Hospital, Lancaster”
By Elizabeth Gurr on Oct 13, 2006
I just found out yesterday that one of my ancestors was a patient at the Lancaster Moor Hospital. He first appears in the 1881 Census. Then he appears in the 1891 and 1901 still there until his death in 1907. I think the address is Quernmore Road Lancaster LA1 3JR but I need more time to clarify that. I am currently looking at the http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/hospitalrecords/details.asp?id=1383&page=32
to make sure.
Do you have a picture of the Lancaster Moor Hospital on Quernmore Road Lancaster LA1 3JR ?
By sara on Nov 5, 2006
Sorry it took me so long to reply, I had the comments going to an email I don’t check. I’ve fixed that now.
The photos are indeed of that hospital, the main building is still there, and still empty. Some of the side buildings over the road, including what I believe was a farm the patients tended, were demolished a few years back to build a housing estate.
I hope thats of some interest to you. I intend to go back and take some better photos, but I’m waiting until I get a new camera to do the place justice
By flickrzak on Mar 28, 2007
Some beautiful well shot photographs you have on your website Sara. I worked in the Moor hospital kitchens for 2 years. It is the photo with the caption that says “newer building seems to be attached to a church of some kind” or something like that !!
Keep up the good work…..Check this out
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=436199389&size=o
By sara on Mar 28, 2007
Thank you very much for the compliments
I’ve just bought my new camera, and hopefully I’ll find some time to go back and take some bigger and better photos. It’s a shame that I can’t go wandering around the place freely, but anything is better than nothing.
It’s really interesting that you worked there, I spoke to someone who had worked there as a councillor once, but mostly in the buildings across the road that have been knocked down. Were you working there when the hospital was the A&E, or earlier? I’d love to have taken a look around before it closed as a hospital, sadly I didn’t know it existed until I came to university in 2003.
By flickrzak on Mar 28, 2007
I was working as a trainee chef in the mid eighties but lost interest in that career and so moved onwards.
Anyway, when I worked there it was still a mental institute. Most of the patients were allowed to an extent to roam where ever they wanted. They would often appear in the kitchens (although didn’t stay long if spotted by staff), some were friendly others scary. I remember a certain one just used to ask everybody all day for the time, once he’d been told he would trot over the next person in sight and ask the same question.
There was also scuffles between patients in the corridors it was just, normal.
Meals were delivered from one side of the road to the other by van and trailer so I got to see most of the separate wards, the grounds used to be wonderfully kept in order.
My memories of it are as a happy, pleasant, friendly atmospheric place to be
.
Catch you on flickr
By ian on May 8, 2007
I have photographed the internals of lancaster moor,your not missing much,the building has been pretty much stripped,as well as the security the whole ground floor of the building is alarmed.intrestingly though there are several old hospital machines in the basement tunnels.
By annia on Aug 1, 2007
wow this is all so interesting,im trying to find out if there is any way of me viewing the inside of this building,my grandad was put in there shortly before he died,it is a very spooky building,is there anything strange about the drive and the tower,also the annexe on the far left? i was drawn very much to the tower the other day when i was walking around the perimeter.
By Krissy on Jul 2, 2008
My Great Grandfather’s sister was put in this hospital suffering from what we now think was postnatal depression, having read all the records of her incarceration in the hospital. It was sad to read the reports an her time there, she deteriated over the 8 years she spent in the hospital. She never got to care for her two children, one aged 3 and one a few months old when her husband signed her into the hospital. He left for Australia leaving the children with an aunt of his. Says a lot for the man who did this did not care one way or the other. Treatment for post natal depression in 1904 was none existant so this poor woman died in an institution along with many others who should not have been there. Reading the case notes some of the treatment in this hospital and many others was barbaric, cold baths, daily enemas, and tied down to the bed. I just hope when the building is converted into apartments etc. that the residents have a happier life than the previous residents.
By Nathan McGowan on Oct 11, 2008
Hello,
I am hoping to film a documentery at the moor hospital before the apartment conversion, at the end of this year. And i unable to find any details so i can ask for filming permission. does anyone have an email adress or postal adress, also where can i access patient records and case notes, can anyone help thankyou
By Lynda Read on Oct 25, 2008
My family has been associated with the Moor Hospital for many years. I worked there from 1978 until it closed. My mum worked there from 1963 until about 1994, and both my sister worked there to. Going back even further my Great Uncle was head porter there from the turn of the last century, my Mum’s cousin was a Wardress, (as they were called), early in the 1900, and my Great Grandmother was a patient there in the early 1900’s. There’s not a lot I don’t know about the Moor. Incidentally I don’t know where the idea of an A&E came from, but that is something it never had. Garnett Clinic, which is the area you can see with the gates, from the main road, was a general hospital. This is where eye, orthopoedic, and brain surgery happened.
I could talk for hours about this place, including ghosy stories. If anyone has any questions I’d be happy to help.
By jean wright on Nov 7, 2008
I am researching my family history and to day i received the death certificate of my great aunt who was a patient at the lancaster moor hospital and died there in 1949 is there any way i could get hold of her records whilst she was there .
Thankyou
By Jon Lane on Nov 8, 2008
What an imposing structure ! As i came along Quernmoor Rd from the east I came around the corner at the top of the hill, and the hairs on the back my neck stood up !
It certainly is a legacy to a bi-gone era. Half of me wanted to go inside and half didn’t, something told me it was a negative building even before I’d looked the place up and found it was a redundant asylum.
My advice would be to leave well alone ! I certainly wouldn’t want a converted apartment in it, things are bound to go bump in the night !
By lisa on Feb 26, 2009
hi, i am very interested in asylums especially the moor hospital my gran used to work there …but there is noway i can find information about the moor . it is a very scary building and i would love to go round it but like the above comments have said security is a problem but how come there is security now i got told muslims bought the place for a pound? and it is now there school? i would love to here more storys from Lynda Read! x
By sara on Feb 26, 2009
I think you might be thinking of the Royal Albert hospital on the other side of town. That’s now a very magnificent looking Muslim private school. The Lancaster Moor site, as far as I am aware, is currently vacant but they’re considering redevelopment into houses or flats.
I’d love to hear more of Lydia’s stories too, I don’t know whether she ever comes back to this page though
By Andy on Mar 15, 2009
I was a patient in the Garnet Clinic when i was 9yrs old approx.for a wound in my eye.(38yrs ago).The main building i have worked there when i was a scaffolder and often used the dining room for meal times.
By Ruth on Apr 12, 2009
Does anybody have pictures of the area around the mortuary of the Moor Hospital.
Also would like contact with any of the builders that were part of the construction of the new housing estate across the road from the main building. Especially builders.groundworkers that cleared the site prior to starting the building work.
By Matt Collin on Apr 23, 2009
My late sister was in the Moor hospital in the late 1960’s and 70’s. Does anybody know where I would be able to find any records associated with my sister?
By Rita stewart nee;Robinson on May 2, 2009
My mother died in lancaster moor hostpital in 1951,her name was Annie Robinson is there any way i can get
details of her stay in there,is there any records
available anywhere,i am desperate to know.
By Sally on Jun 14, 2009
You may be able to obtain hospital records from the Lancashire Record Office, Bow Lane, Preston, PR1 2RE. I obtained records of my great, great grandfather but he died in 1891, so records for the 1950s/60 may not be obtainable but work a try.
By emily on Jul 27, 2009
hi
i now live across the road from the moor hospital, and me and my friend regularly take walks around the grounds with her dog,
if you would like i could take photos from the inside, as the security guards don’t seem to mind us walking the dog in there
By sara on Jul 27, 2009
That’d be *really* cool if you could!! Let me know how it goes here and I’ll see about hosting them for you
By chris on Jul 28, 2009
I worked on the Barratt site across the road a few years ago, when the ground workers were there they dug up a paupers graveyard, they had to wait for the bones to be taken away
By Russ Booth on Oct 8, 2009
My great grandmother was admitted by her family in 1928 for the offence of giving birth while unmarried, her patient number was 31038. I cannot find any more information, but I have been told that she died in the institution, never having seen her child. This is a sad but common story, and I would like any one who can help with more info to get in touch. thanks
By liam moore on Dec 13, 2009
hello my names liam iv been reading your comments am 21 years old my grandad was there in 1999 he had a new leg replceedment the age he was 72 he was i think iv got some notes what he had when he was there i think there in my dads and letters but its was lovey in side when i was six white and black and greay walls the floor was shinney and very clean but the nurse were very sriked and herd working but i hope u send some phots of it from in side i bet know its in dess reaiper now and kids thoring stones at the poor billding i hope i here from u soon your senciey liam james moore