Tales of the Urban Explorer: Batley Hospital
Batley Hospital was a case of, 'get it done before it's gone'. That and the fact that everyone, even old grannies are going in there means it may well get boarded up soon.
I haven’t done a hospital before and this isn’t one of those old lunatic asylums that people rattle on about.
I wish it was but most have now been demolished, it also is not haunted. Less of the bloody sensationalism thanks.
The hospital was first opened in 1929 but was shut more than 31 years ago in 1988.
From 1990 to about 1996 it was known as Carlinghow nursing home and then it closed down again.
Someone tried to burn it down in 2017 but the damage was mostly confined to the lower basement area.
A more recent report states that it will be partly demolished to make way for new houses.
Well isn't that just dull? Having a spooky hospital next to your house would be awesome, but wait, it's not haunted, I already said that.
Having been tipped off on how to get inside, it took a little effort but was not too strenuous.
I will say that this large hospital is very dark and you need a big light to see anything. Those poxy little torches won’t cut the mustard at all.
We could see endless corridors after endless corridors once in, and I noticed some areas exuberated a certain coldness in the air. It was OK one minute and then cold the next.
I did say it was not haunted, that's three times now. Empty since 1996 means it's a wreck inside and it did not disappoint in that respect.
I was looking for any signs that it was a former hospital and was struggling.
There were a few NHS papers scattered around and this dairy from 2006. What a 2006 diary is doing in there is anyone’s guess.
This area of the stairs looked like it had sustained some fire damage.
The stained glass windows were a surprise, firstly that they exist and secondly that they haven't been smashed by mindless vandals.
Graffiti was everywhere, but due to the size of the building parts were free of the spray paint gangs.
The odd floppy disk and playing card were amongst the exciting things I found in Batley Hospital.
This is the basement where the fire started. I have seen some sights but this was one to behold that no photograph can do justice to.
It looked like something out of hell, blackened and disturbing.
I should have picked this chair up to get that ‘great photograph’. I’m still learning and regret missing the shot that was not to be.
I do like this one though; it is suitably creepy.
The staircase was great, though I couldn’t seem to get the shot that I wanted.
A lot of the other rooms were quite similar, with collapsed ceilings.
We exited the main building to have a look around the outer ones. Part of the hospital had been used for some kind of conference center or something.
Information is quite hard to come by. Why would they need this old musical item?
Some of the chairs had been burnt and yet the old organ was saved, and one of the few things of any note left.
It was while we were inside that we became aware of voices and others inside the hospital.
I don't let things like this bother me now, it is usually other explorers, kids, or ghost hunters though the latter type arrive around midnight generally.
We didn't see them, but they were making quite a clatter. After more mooching around outside they became aware of us and went all quiet.
I really don't give a shit, why do these other bastards always try and hide?
A few outhouses were in a burnt state, it seems burning is the business at Batley Hospital.
After a good hour of poking around, we made out way to the exit and left the scared rabbits to whatever they wanted to do.
I would have liked to see some more hospital signs, equipment, or anything resembling life. As it stands Batley Hospital is getting more shell-like by the day.
It is reasonably safe by the standards of others if you take care of the metal strips left at eye level, ready to poke them out if you are dawdling.
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I am quite amazed those windows were intact. How bizarre!
Yes, there were several, usually, the first things to be smashed... all those shiny colours.
Anything glass usually gets done. Inconsiderate bar stewards. Well, not in this case!
I'm generally standing on the shards.., crunch crunch on the ground!
Like that snow that thaws then freezes over!!
You get used to it, best not done with bare feet!
That would be quite the sight!
Those stained glass windows are pretty awesome. A lot of times hospitals have chapels in them, so maybe that is what the organ was for. I was waiting for the picture of the old lady wandering around, but it never came... Nice job!
It would have made it more exciting. I am not a fan of overly large places, they take too long to get around.
That must be one of the most depressing places you've visited. The photographs in the second half were interesting, especially the ones of the windows (at the back)? They looked like they had replaced some other sort of earlier windows.
It was bereft of interesting stuff I would say. Many rooms that looked similar. Once it must have had signs everywhere, but all were gone. Its like time had eaten them.
That is suitably and satisfyingly gloomy One bloody big behemoth of a place
It was big and quite samey, I am not a fan of massive places. It takes too long to find the good bits. These were in short supply.
You spot on there big isn’t always better
That corridor one with the dangling something (a few shots before the organ), did you check it wasn't a body hanging upside down.......
If you mean this.. then there were a lot of bodies!
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A couple of interesting things. like the 2 of hearts, and the old floppy. Do you take it to see what was one it? I looked for the Organ on line, I found the CRB Diamond 33 and the CRB Diamond 32 but no CRB Diamond 34. Very surprising the stained glass window. If they do demolish I hope they make an effort to recover the metal stair railings, they looked pretty old and if they go back to the original build they would be very unique.
I didn't look at the floppy, I see lots of those in many places. I can't remember it being bespoke software, more a data disk.
I was kind of surprised to see it in the picture, I was wondering and then read that it was one. I do hope they save those railings when it comes demo time for the building.
I like the staircase and the old organ. I guess someone wanted some entertainment. 'Jolly old tunes from Reg and his large organ!'.
There's something about old staircases, especially metal ones like that. If they are full of dirt and grime you can get some good shots. I tried but didn't get the one I wanted.
Tweet: https://twitter.com/BrynRogers/status/1272985833696608258
Definitely seems weird to have that stained glass unbroken.
Through your pictures I toured round, I guess, what's left of the hospital.
Correct me if I'm wrong please
Some outstanding photography. You really are finding the shots now!
Thanks, man, I am trying to get line things up better and watch out for what is on the edges. All techniques I'm still learning.
I hope that they are not using toxic paints and even toxic insulation in that rotten hospital @slobberchops
Who knows what they used 100 years ago, it is likely full of toxic materials.
Was the hospital haunted by any chance? 😄 I didn't seem to catch you talking about it.
Massive points for the piano, glass with art and the stairway railing! Could have been a legendary spot if those cunts hadn't done a number on it.
Yeah, I try and focus on the good parts. It was big, but not necessarily good.
I used to live half a mile from there from 1999 to 2004. You could spend a month in Batley and Dewsbury and not get through a fraction of the abandoned dumps!
It was a specialist care home for dementia patients and there were many stories of neglect and inquiries into alleged abuses....
Most nursing homes and care homes have an organ. On a cold winters night, if you listened carefully, you could here the strains of 'roll out the barrell' and 'On Ilkley Moor bah' t'hat '.........
Hope you were wearing masks.....might have been a lot of asbestos in there!!
Edit....I had to have a google!!!
Did you hear any screaming???
https://www.thepressnews.co.uk/press-news/care-home-workers-cleared-of-neglect
No screaming.., wish there would have been some. It looked great from the outside but with all the rooms being much the same, it wasn't so great inside.
Nice one on the history, I didn't think of checking, 'Carlinghow Nursing Home' in the search. During those years you lived there, did you personally hear about any of the bad tales?
No masks, I can't abide the things. If I die, then so be it!
Oh my, a visual trip into the past and into the decay. Funny to think that this once was functional. There is something powerful in watching these kind of images, a testament of the passing of time. That musical instrument looked so out of place that it made it even more interesting. Loved this post, thanks!
Amazing! - do these places smell much?