SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

Hi to all,After reading as anonymous for a short while I have become engrossed in the site and have decided it's time for a post. More of a call for info/ pictures than a question, but here goes....Does anybody remember the Scalebor Park Mental hospital just on the edge of Burley In Wharfedale? It is now another generic housing complex, but as a youngster we had the privilege of exploring the abandoned site before construction began. As kids we weren't exactly out to document what we saw, more there to scare ourselves silly I guess, but i would be really intrigued if anyone has documentation/ info on the place either from when it was in use or the interim period before it was redeveloped.The only thing I have found on the site is a short mention of a railway siding leading off from the local train station.Anything at all will be of great interest, thanks.

An ex of mine worked there for a short while in the 1980's - it was part of the training for the student nurses from the Airedale & Wharfedale Hospital, they had to do 6 months there. She used to come away freaked out (the building rather than the residents) Scared the living daylights out of her.

Scalebor park opened in 1902 and was originally a private assylum for 210 paying patients.It was built on the site of Scalebor Hall by WRCC on a 120 acre site and cost £126,000.It closed in 1995 and was redevloped for housing.

wayne_thewizard wrote: Hi to all,After reading as anonymous for a short while I have become engrossed in the site and have decided it's time for a post. More of a call for info/ pictures than a question, but here goes....Does anybody remember the Scalebor Park Mental hospital just on the edge of Burley In Wharfedale? It is now another generic housing complex, but as a youngster we had the privilege of exploring the abandoned site before construction began. As kids we weren't exactly out to document what we saw, more there to scare ourselves silly I guess, but i would be really intrigued if anyone has documentation/ info on the place either from when it was in use or the interim period before it was redeveloped.The only thing I have found on the site is a short mention of a railway siding leading off from the local train station.Anything at all will be of great interest, thanks. I have visited Scalebor Park on a number of occasions, as I used to have responsibility for alcoholics, and there was a treatment centre there. Not a place that made me feel better.

Thanks guys, both useful bits of information.I can certainly see why your ex came away freaked out, when we nosed about as kids we found it was mainly the equipment that put the fear in us; 7ft long metal tables (and some chairs) with leather strapping, bizarre steel surgery equipment, empty (and some full) medical jars and other pieces of restraint equipment.If i was being honest, what i'm really looking for is photo documentation of this period when the hospital was no longer used but before its re-development.

A bit of quick googling finds these http://www.burley-in-wharfedale.org/gal ... index.html

Ah ha, I'm not sure how I didn't find those, much appreciated Chrism!