SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

This is the only thread I've found about High Royds Hospital.I was in and out of that place for five years, from the age of sixteen, in 1966, when my father decided to consolidate his child abuse by taking me to a psychiatrist and having me confirmed mentally ill by an only too eager consultant, till 1971 . I was first on Escroft ward and then on Denton, the modern ward. This consultant, nicknamed 'Sweeney,' was always shouting at me and telling me what I should do. I was supposed to stop smoking and cut my hair. Stop smoking? It was the only pleasure I had in a life which had only known pain. As for cutting my hair I told him I was going to have it half way down my back. He blew up and went berserk. I was supposed to go to therapy and play chess with a boffin in another ward. I'm happy to say that I didn't do any of the things that I was advised to do and used to spend my time with some girlfriends in a cafe that was just on the road to Bradford as well as in the easy chairs at the top of the access stairs in the modern block, afterwards removed to prevent any one else copying what we had been up to. The consultant used to say that I always went my own sweet way. And I'm better for it.Despite telling the consultant that I had been abused by my father he insisted on ignoring this, (there was no understanding of child abuse in those times,) and insisted on diagnosing me with schizophrenia. Subsequent psychiatrists said this was tosh and I am only ill nowadays because the anxiety and depression, as a result of my abuse, has caught up with me so I take anti-depressants and see the usual berk at the hospital every few months.Once, 'Sweeney' went on holiday and I chose that time to whistle at a sister in Beamsley ward and compliment her on the size of her tits. I was promptly dispatched to Hazelwood, the lockup ward, for my indiscretion, by the stand-in doctor. After a few days, my parents came and liberated me and I had to go back and live with them until the next time I was admitted. I regarded hospital as the one place where I could get away from my father and the bullying at school. Yes folks, when all the nice children at school find out you are vulnerable they bully you as well.There used to be a metal electric box, about four feet high, in the grounds of the hospital, just off the main drive. It had a light sensor. We used to light matches in front of this, at night, and all the hospital lights would go out, the outside ones, that is.Once, I thought I had made one of the women from Clifton ward pregnant. I suffered badly for a month only to find out that I hadn't. We used to go up the wooden balcony that used to be opposite the stage end of the ballroom.Eventually, I got a psychologist who filled me in on the malpractices that the doctors used to get up to. He told me I could leave hospital and live on social security and have a place of my own. I left promptly and found a £2.50 a week room in a house in Manningham which led to more 'adventures.'I always say that I didn't go to university. My education was much harsher. I went to High Royds Hospital. There I learned about people and all their sour ways.

Fred Bloggs wrote: This is the only thread I've found about High Royds Hospital.I was in and out of that place for five years, from the age of sixteen, in 1966, when my father decided to consolidate his child abuse by taking me to a psychiatrist and having me confirmed mentally ill by an only too eager consultant, till 1971 . I was first on Escroft ward and then on Denton, the modern ward. This consultant, nicknamed 'Sweeney,' was always shouting at me and telling me what I should do. I was supposed to stop smoking and cut my hair. Stop smoking? It was the only pleasure I had in a life which had only known pain. As for cutting my hair I told him I was going to have it half way down my back. He blew up and went berserk. I was supposed to go to therapy and play chess with a boffin in another ward. I'm happy to say that I didn't do any of the things that I was advised to do and used to spend my time with some girlfriends in a cafe that was just on the road to Bradford as well as in the easy chairs at the top of the access stairs in the modern block, afterwards removed to prevent any one else copying what we had been up to. The consultant used to say that I always went my own sweet way. And I'm better for it.Despite telling the consultant that I had been abused by my father he insisted on ignoring this, (there was no understanding of child abuse in those times,) and insisted on diagnosing me with schizophrenia. Subsequent psychiatrists said this was tosh and I am only ill nowadays because the anxiety and depression, as a result of my abuse, has caught up with me so I take anti-depressants and see the usual berk at the hospital every few months.Once, 'Sweeney' went on holiday and I chose that time to whistle at a sister in Beamsley ward and compliment her on the size of her tits. I was promptly dispatched to Hazelwood, the lockup ward, for my indiscretion, by the stand-in doctor. After a few days, my parents came and liberated me and I had to go back and live with them until the next time I was admitted. I regarded hospital as the one place where I could get away from my father and the bullying at school. Yes folks, when all the nice children at school find out you are vulnerable they bully you as well.There used to be a metal electric box, about four feet high, in the grounds of the hospital, just off the main drive. It had a light sensor. We used to light matches in front of this, at night, and all the hospital lights would go out, the outside ones, that is.Once, I thought I had made one of the women from Clifton ward pregnant. I suffered badly for a month only to find out that I hadn't. We used to go up the wooden balcony that used to be opposite the stage end of the ballroom.Eventually, I got a psychologist who filled me in on the malpractices that the doctors used to get up to. He told me I could leave hospital and live on social security and have a place of my own. I left promptly and found a £2.50 a week room in a house in Manningham which led to more 'adventures.'I always say that I didn't go to university. My education was much harsher. I went to High Royds Hospital. There I learned about people and all their sour ways. Hiya Fred B, Glad things turned out well for you afterthat horrible experienceFriend of mine was walking by the high back fence of Highroyds a few years back when he heard a chorus of peopleshouting out "Thirteen Thirteen, thirteen!"Curious, he peeped thru a small hole in the fence when someone poked a stick into his eye!Came Chorus of delighted shouts, "Fourteen, Fourteen Fourteen!"

Hi ArryThanks for your compliments. I enjoyed the story of the 'thirteen.' Try this url: www.highroydshospital.co.uk

A video from 1973 taken at high royds.http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=iG9PiH3LMGs

liits wrote: The "Bedlam" / Bethlam hospital is no the Imperial War museum [which is Bedlam in its own right]. Prior to that it was on the outside of the city walls of London, not far from where the Museum of London now is. Visitors could look down into it or through windows in the walland it was this that was the original attraction.If you're ever in the smoke and have a couple of hours to spare, walking the wall is a good way to spend them.

A word of warning for you all - There is an old, disused obviously, hospital in Leeds, I think in Meanwood?Anyway, it has been declared dangerous and people told to stay away as there are dangerous chemicals and radioactive waste/materials still in existence.

Would that be Cookridge hospital?

Yes its cookridge.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west ... 236366.stm

My partners farther had a very serious mental illness, and spent alot of his time at high royds. I know he underwen electro shock therapy but i'm not sure if it was at high royds. did they have the facillity to do this?

hunnyvenom wrote: My partners farther had a very serious mental illness, and spent alot of his time at high royds. I know he underwen electro shock therapy but i'm not sure if it was at high royds. did they have the facillity to do this? Hi hunnyvenom, yes they did do the electro therapy there,my cousin was a sister there in the 70s and she used to tell us tales of some of the things the patients got up to, she told us about after finishing night shift one Saturday night she went to mass there on the Sunday morning as the chapel was used by all religions this one time one of the patients came and said he had hid the chalice so those b****y protestants can"t have communion.