Springfield Asylum

History

The hospital opened on 15 June 1841 as the Surrey County Pauper Lunatic Asylum. It received 299 patients, transferred from various private pauper asylums. In the beginning, the asylum coped with every sort of clinical problem; specialist facilities developed gradually over time. The cottage hospital opened in 1872, and an infirmary block and operating theatre followed in 1881. Over the next 100 years, admission rates soared. Many were suffering the effects of poverty and alcoholism. And as more people moved away from agricultural life to city living, those with mental illness often became a burden their families could not support. In 1959, an act of parliament allowed the number of patients to be controlled and their needs matched to a specific type of treatment. From the 1960s onwards, the number of inpatients began to fall. This reflected changes in treatment, and changes in attitudes towards mental health. Springfield University Hospital remained open, but implemented changes. Now, there are fewer inpatient beds and the majority of services are provided in outpatient or community settings.

As for the internals of the structure, it was truly magnificent back then. The lack of attention it had received despite having public reports up from 2009 was unheard of these days, but allowed it to be naturally decaying and with many fascinating belongings left behind. The architecture, too, was classic asylum with the little glass arches above old doorways, tall corridors with no lack of daylight from imposing, detailed windows and a delightful dormitory hall with a arched wooden ceiling.

New defences, including PIRS on every door, alarmed scaffolding and a security response made it slightly trickier than before.

It was a little sad to see the tarps covering the windows meaning torchlight was required to see the interior beauty and the bay windows overlooking the gardens had been defeated, but the beds and items still remained inside.

Starting with the iconic areas.

Beds dumped in the corridor.

More beds in a ward.

Top floor.

A few shots from the recently closed bit from 2020.