My brother and his mates walked them a few years ago under moat park via Cheshire home (the large listed building in the park.) The building was. "Near this entrance is the waiting room for visitors, and the approaches to all parts of the buildings. Hi, I live in Maidstone and as a child i remember going through tunnels up by the old mental hospital. Hospital Name: Oakwood hospital Previous Names: Kent County Asylum, Barming Heath Asylum, Barming Mental Hospital, Maidstone General Hospital (psychiatric wing) Location: St. Andrew Road, Maidstone, Kent Principal Architect: John Whichcord Sr. Plan meals, try new foods and explore cuisines with tested recipes from the country's top chefs. In the decades that followed there was a move towards de-institutionalisation. Was Oakwood an institution for chronic mentally ill patients in 1969 and could it be possible she . Unpublished document: Oxford Archaeological Unit. Oakwood Hospital - Wikipedia The hospital shut in 1993 and most of its buildings, although not the chapel, were demolished. The Maidstone Health Authority Operational Plan for 1984/85 (paragraph 4.2) states that the long term objective was to close the Oakwood Hospital. The Hospital Records database is no longer being updated. 1998. It comprised one building; commonly referred to as St Andrew's House,. There is a tunnel from the river going to underground reservoir tanks at the old asylum. 2023 Atlas Obscura. The Queen's House was sold off in April 1997 and was soon then turned into residential use. Now known as a residential estate, the history of the site dates back almost two centuries. Oakwood Hospital, Maidstone, Kent. The info me and my friends gathered led us to believe that the tunnels began up towards the old mental hospital (now a housing estate) just off of Tonbridge road, theres still a ton of old buildings in the area, possible access? Held in the Centre for Kentish Studies. [2] It was erected between 1829 and 1833 on a site in Barming Heath, just to the west of Maidstone. But tragedy struck on November 29, 1952 after a fire broke out. Oakwood Hospital Cemetery M.I.s, Barming, Maidstone recorded by D.E Trying to find the right nursery, school, college, university or training provider in Kent or Medway? The story of Maidstone's Oakwood Hospital - Kent's forgotten mental asylum, St Andrew's House, Oakwood Hospital, St Andrew's Road, Maidstone, Located in Barming Heath, it opened its doors in 1833, admitting its first 168 patients. Alledgedly they carried out various uses, such as transportingprisoners and air raid shelters, the tunnels alledgedly run from theold mental asylum (a good mile out of town), all the way down to theriver and beyond it, through parts of the high street (Gabriel'sHill), and out to County Hall where much of the local government isbased. Queen's House, Oakwood Hospital, Maidstone DTS. "Index of Lunatic Asylums and Mental Hospitals", "St Andrew's House at Oakwood Hospital, Maidstone", "Queens House at Oakwood Hospital, Maidstone", "The Beeches at Oakwood Hospital, Maidstone", "Gate and Lodges of Oakwood Hospital, Maidstone", The Concise New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Oakwood_Hospital&oldid=1075674687, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 7 March 2022, at 02:34. As with many things in Victorian England, those that could afford it were offered better accommodation, and wealthy private patients were housed in a separate house in the grounds. Cross in memory of those buried here, Oakwood Park Cemetery, Barming. The development and expansion of the hospital continued in 1867, when a third building was added; the new asylum block was called Hermitage Block. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. At its peak, the asylum held around 2,000 psychiatric patients from around the county, and some of the London boroughs due to their close proximity. The Oakwood Hospital was founded as the Kent County Lunatic Asylum, a single building constructed between 1829 and 1833 in Maidstone, Kent. Its absolutely fascinating anyway! The hospital was extended in 1904-6 by the construction of male and female blocks.Additional information (2,3,4,5)The provision of a county asylum was established by the County Justices in 1825 and 37 acres were purchased on Barming Heath in 1828 for the site. This page was last edited on 9 May 2014, at 23:05. Cheers guys any info is a help. Six pumps attended and the 350 patients in that wing were evacuated. SKE7297. It opened in 1878, initially for 560 youngsters aged five to 16. Kent's most notorious lunatic asylum is undoubtedly St Augustine's Hospital in Chartham. Kent County Asylum (Oakwood Hospital) Cemetery, Maidstone That's the beginning of one of the culverted parts of the River Len which runs under the Sainsburys, the Shopping Centre and a few other roads etc. [2], Detached Refractory Ward of St Andrew's House 2000, Detached Refractory Ward of St Andrew's House 2009, The word 'barmy' (meaning 'mad' or 'foolish') is popularly said to come from 'Barming' with allusion to the Hospital,[4][11] but the Oxford English Dictionary records that it stems from the Old English word 'barm' meaning 'froth on fermenting malt'.[12]. The tunnels aren't completely sealed, they have left access for bats at bothends. 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Oakwood Health System - Wikipedia I found the article again last week. Hi I'm new to this site but have been watching it for a while. still interesting though. I would like to express my deepest sympathy with the relatives of those killed and injured in this tragic occurrence and my deep appreciation of the courage and devotion of all members of the hospital staff, the fire service, the Civil Defenceteams and others engaged in the work of rescue.. "On both the men's and the women's sides there are ample pleasure grounds in which to walk, and with the purpose of giving the idea of liberty there are no high walls, and the distant view is not obstructed. (Unpublished document). It may not display this or other websites correctly. "Steve Walker" wrote in messagenews:ak8p97$maj$1@news5.svr.pol.co.uk > "Steve Piper" wrote in message> news:3e2a07a.02082@posting.google.com, Have a look athttp://www.swanley1.freeserve.co.uk/miscellaneous/ramsgate_tunnels.htm. Oakwood Hospital was founded in Maidstone as the Kent County Lunatic Asylum. Welcome to 28DaysLater.co.uk - 28DL - The UK Urban Exploring / Urban Exploration / Urbex Forums. In 1850 an additional building, known as The Queen's House, was built on newly acquired land at the site. The fire brigade arrived promptly and by 7.31am the fire was under control. Evaluation at Oakwood Hospital, Maidstone. now doesn't that just makepurfect sense? Also found anything else interesting!!? St Andrew's House was converted into apartments in 2001-2002 after some 60,000 was spent by a specialist firm to landscape the grounds which had become overgrown.. 22. I thought it was, but you never know there might be more under there! i've never found any reports from here. A tunnel from the local asylum to county hall? St Andrew's House and The Queen's House are both Grade II listed buildings and so were spared demolition. I was recently going through all the old family files and saw that my Great Great nan was here. It was therefore inevitable that the Oakwood Hospital would close or see a change in its role. 506. found this on youtube shows the Oakwood Hospital derelict and now as apartment. Located in Barming Heath, it opened its doors in 1833, admitting its first 168 patients. Further to those videos, I found out some very interesting stuff about this hospital today which I think is worth posting, intriguing to say the least. Oakwood Hospital RCHME Historic Buildings Report. The complex is known as St Andrew's Park, which was the name of the hospital's original main building. The hospital was finally closed in 1994, with Maidstone Hospital taking up its remaining services. Im up that way for college And if there is tunnels around that way i would like to check them out. A 10million extension was officially opened in 2012. Andrew's House, Oakwood Hospital, Maidstone, Kent (NGR TQ 735 552) on behalf of Try Homes in respect of a planning application (Planning ref MA/96/0333 and . (1) The hospital complex also includes a chapel of 1848-52 (TQ 7350 5528), a clergy house of 1869, offices of 1866, a house of 1845 , a water tower of 1834-66, a dining hall of 1834-66 and a farm of 1834-66. I would like to express my deepest sympathy with the relatives of those killed and injured in this tragic occurrence and my deep appreciation of the courage and devotion of all members of the hospital staff, the fire service, the Civil Defence teams and others engaged in the work of rescue.. Following transfer of services to Maidstone Hospital, Oakwood closed in 1994 and was then developed as a residential estate known as St Andrew's Park. Mention the word asylum in connection with people who have a mental illness and it conjures up all sorts of images. <6> Oxford Archaeological Unit, 2000, St Andrew's House, Oakwood Hospital, Maidstone, Kent. Following transfer of services to Maidstone Hospital, Oakwood closed in 1994 and was then developed as a residential estate known as St Andrew's Park. In 1920, it was re-branded as Kent County Mental Hospital, becoming St Augustine's when it was taken on by the NHS in 1948. Following transfer of services to Maidstone Hospital, Oakwood closed in 1994 and was then developed as a residential estate known as St Andrew's Park. (SOmeyears ago I was involved in airfreighting Asparagus. Turn left and. Kent areas with worst pollution amid controversial ULEZ expansion, Current plans would see the Ultra Low Emissions Zone expanded this summer, Arrest after man has neck cut in 'serious assault', Police are now appealing for witnesses and those with information to come forward. SKE7623. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. "Near this entrance is the waiting room for visitors, and the approaches to all parts of the buildings. "The only depressing sight in these rooms was the patients themselves, but if we had not known that mental derangement was the cause of their being detained there, there was little in their demeanour to indicate the fact. The cemetery chapel remains, but it is unclear if the cemetery is still in use or when it may have gone out of use. [5], Further expansion took place between 1867 and 1872 with the building of the third asylum block (also known as the Hermitage Block). Details of the incident were discussed in Hansard on December 2 that year by Derek Walker-Smith, then Minister of Health. The fire brigade was called at 06:40 and arrived four minutes later. Attempting to access the www.kurg.org.uk tonight gives a variety of interestingerror messages not sure what's broken but something seems to be. The only vaguely undergroundfeature I was aware of was what I always presumed was an ice house betweenMoat House and the lake. Curiously have just found article mentioning sandstone mines under Mote Park, wonder if there is any linkage..? When the policy of keeping mentally-ill people in institutions for many years was ditched towards the end of the 1900s, and services were transferred to Maidstone Hospital, Oakwood was closed. There is the County Emergency Centre(now closed) at Springfield and some stone mines at Moate Park, quiteextensive but they don't run under the town. The management was condemned, particularly for the way it used electroconvulsive therapy - passing electrical currents through the brain. Unpublished document: Oxford Archaeological Unit. (Unpublished document). Designed by John Whichcord Snr, built of local ragstone, it opened in 1833 and later became Oakwood Hospital. Oakwood Hospital in Barming Heath near Maidstone, England was a psychiatric hospital founded in 1833 as the Kent County Lunatic Asylum. All rights reserved. Do not trespass. Oneday I had to go inside a container which was loaded up and had the fangoing. The locations of said tunnels are rumoured to be linked and leading to: Preston Hall Hospital, Oakwood Hospital, and Mote House. Oakwood Hospital and Medical Center. Hide this ad by donating or subscribing ! The reporter commented: "The entrance is from a road with a southern aspect, through a great gateway between which and the principal entrance is a wide intervening space planted with shrubs, trees, and flowers. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. Slight bump. By 1948 there were 2,000 patients being treated at the site. Carbon Dioxide Poisoning comes on quite fast and starts offfeeling like you've inhaled the contents of 10 or so bottles ofextremely lively soda water). The reporter commented: "The entrance is from a road with a southern aspect, through a great gateway between which and the principal entrance is a wide intervening space planted with shrubs, trees, and flowers. Oakwood House Hotel: need a stop over before the tunnel or a place from which to visit Kent,? December 4, and the Regional Hospital Board is arranging for an immediate investigation into the cause of the accident. Said the engineers were talking about a tunnel that runs under stone street from Maidstone to Mote park, 6 / 7 metres down, shopkeeper verified this with an elderly resident who said the tunnels were escape tunnels from WW2. [3], As the asylum expanded, additions and extensions were made to this building until it had reached maximum potential capacity. <3> Oxford Archaeological Unit, 1998, Queen's House, Oakwood Hospital, Maidstone DTS (Unpublished document). The block had been gutted but a 120-foot (37 m) tall ventilation tower seemed to have survived unscathed. junio 12, 2022. keyboard shortcut to check a checkbox in word . *This relative died in Oakwood aged 86 years. Tell us more. Culverts aren't really my thing thou, so I've never been inclined to check it out. This facility offers a cutting-edge, three-story medical . When they built the new housing estate off of queens road by oakwood park some of these tunnels were opened up altho they have all been filled in now. Overcrowding soon became a problem and new sections were added to the building. Last Name(s) Special characters are not allowed. It may not be so far fetched, the old police station was at the corner of Knightrider St and Stone St, Mote House was used in the war for various things and Kent was frontline. Hospital Records| Details - The National Archives Middle Name. A blue plaque acts as a reminder of the Grade II-listed high street building's former resident. Construction on the Maidstone Hospital began in 1980 and was completed in 1982/1983. Ashford - Maidstone. After the First World War, it became known as Canterbury City Mental Hospital, and was renamed St Martin's, after the church nearby, following the Second World War. Asylum Project explains: During the 1970s and 1980s there was a change in focus on the best way to treat the mentally ill and housing patients long-term in large institutions was falling out of favour. Further extensions were added over the next few decades, as well as the construction of a third asylum block, the Hermitage Block, by 1872, reports Asylum Projects.