High Royds Hospital

simong · Post by **simong** » Sun 09 Mar, 2008 3:01 pm

carrotol wrote: The "Bedlam" / Bethlam hospital is no the Imperial War museum [which is Bedlam in its own right]. Bedlam moved around the City in its early history: it was against the city wall on Bishopsgate Street until the 17th century, then relocated to Moorfields. The Museum of London has an exhibition on about it at the moment.To get back on topic, High Royds, when it was called Menston Hospital, was something of a by-line for mental illness in the 1930s and 40s and was, I believe, one of the leading hospitals in the treatment of shell-shock.To drift off again, was 'the green van's coming to get you' an euphemism for being accused of being mad around Leeds?

Si · Post by Si » Mon 10 Mar, 2008 9:25 am

We used to say the men in the white coats with the green van with square wheels. The reason is lost in the mists of time.

fevlad · Post by **fevlad** » Mon 10 Mar, 2008 10:35 am

I was a psychiatric nurse rmn/rmnhI worked at StanleyRoyd Hospital in Wakefield. That place has been converted very tastefully and the buildings are shown up to their best advantage-like something out of jane Austen.I wouldn't live there for a million quidI was a charge nurse at Meanwood park Hospital in Leeds also-apart from the mansion it was completely demolished and the residents moved to specially adapted bungalows in the community-the best thing that coild have happened.

carrotol · Post by **carrotol** » Mon 10 Mar, 2008 1:09 pm

Strange. I have been quoted earlier on with a quote that I didn't write.

zscort · Post by **zscort** » Tue 11 Mar, 2008 9:38 pm

My wife worked there in occupational therapy until it closed. 3 months before closure they fitted a new kitchen into the re-habilitation suite where she worked and also put up brand new signs!!! All so the trust could spend it's budget.....what a waste of money!!

Lilysmum · Post by **Lilysmum** » Thu 10 Jul, 2008 12:07 pm

Last night I went to the exhibition at Highroyds which is being held in the social club there.It is housed in what was the old ward10 which I believe was a mens ward.What a chilling place it is! The whole site is being converted to housing but who would want to live there is beyond me.The building work seems to have halted and there are some new flats which are occupied as are a few converted ward blocks but these are surrounded by derelict and boarded up buildings.It has the appearance of a ghost town.It is tragic to see what was once a landmark building in such a sorry state.There are photos in the exhibition showing the decay that has been allowed to happen and are on display on the walls of the old ward which has also has confinement cells. It made me think of all the poor tortured souls who in some cases spent their lifetime there and ended up forgotten in the burial ground over the road.Like many other people I think this site could have been put to much better use but greedy developers want to maximise the cash potential of any bit of land they can grab hold of nowadays I think in this case they will get their fingers burnt,the houses are too expensive and the stigma attached to the place will put a lot of people off,I wouldn't like the "Old Mortuary" as my address! The exhibition is on till the 23rd July (I think) you can check it on the Highroydshospital.co.uk website.

Dalehelms · Post by **Dalehelms** » Thu 10 Jul, 2008 7:16 pm

If you're interested in the High Royds photographs, but dont fancy the old hospital as a venue, The Great Little Coffee Shop in Springfield Road in Guiseley has a good sample of interesting photographs plus a large montage of all Mark's High Royd's images.The coffee shop is a gem of a place. The photographs are displayed well on their walls. Add to that good tea/coffee and lovely grub and you've got yourself a pleasant lunch and art exhibition rolled into one.

ceejaylufc · Post by **ceejaylufc** » Fri 11 Jul, 2008 1:40 am

good grief, is the sports and social club still there ? - I used to frequent that when I was a nurse at High Royds in 1979, have marvellous memories dancing there till all hours of the morning.ps. Was also born at St. Mary's in 1961

Lilysmum · Post by **Lilysmum** » Fri 11 Jul, 2008 10:29 am

ceejaylufc wrote: good grief, is the sports and social club still there ? - I used to frequent that when I was a nurse at High Royds in 1979, have marvellous memories dancing there till all hours of the morning.ps. Was also born at St. Mary's in 1961 Hi ceejaylufc,The social club is still going but is now in what was ward 10, its signposted as you go up the main drive,I assume it's just a temporary arrangement and whether a new club is included in the conversion plan I don't know.

silverstealth · Post by **silverstealth** » Fri 11 Jul, 2008 11:39 am

The exhibition will probably run long term at the social club given the epic response. The social club will remain for at least the next 2 years and as pointed out is housed in ward 10, originally the male chronic block when it was added in 1891. We have 5 confinement cells used in the exhibition - the centre one with the original 3 spy hole door and wooden window shutter. www.highroydshospital.co.uk