Whitchurch Hospital / Cardiff City Asylum, Wales

Whitchurch Hospital / Cardiff City Asylum, Wales

Opening in 1908 the Cardiff City Asylum had space for 750 psychiatric patients. The hospital closed in 2016 after being deemed unsuitable for modern services.

Visited September 2016 - August 2018  UK Whitchurch, Cardiff, Wales, UK Closed, Abandoned

Opening on 15th April 1908 after 10 years of construction, the Cardiff City Asylum covered 5 acres and cost £350,000. The hospital had a capacity of 750 patients across 5 male and 5 female wards. Like most of the Victorian asylums, it was designed from out outset to be a fully self contained institute. As such, it had its own 46m water tower and a farm providing food supplies and work for the patients. The asylum also had two Belliss and Morcom steam engine powered electric generator sets which were removed from standby service in the mid-1980s.

Whitchurch Hospital water tower and admin building
Whitchurch Hospital water tower and admin building

During the First World War, Whitchurch Hospital was used by the military and became known as the Welsh Metropolitan War Hospital and was used to treat injured soldiers requiring orthopaedic treatment. The psychiatric patients were moved to other institutions.

The hospital was absorbed into the National Health Service in 1948. The hospital’s role began to change in the mid-1980 when care in the community began to reduce the number of resident patients. By the early 2000s the hospital was considered unsuitable for the requirements of 21st century psychiatry. Services were gradually moved out to either new purpose built facilities or into the community. Whitchurch Hospital finally closed its doors in April 2016.

Day Wards and Communal Areas

Whitchurch Hospital - Communal room in a day ward
Whitchurch Hospital – Communal room in a day ward
Whitchurch Hospital - Lots of items left in this day room
Whitchurch Hospital – Lots of items left in this day room
Whitchurch Hospital - Pool table and sofas in day room
Whitchurch Hospital – Pool table and sofas in day room
Whitchurch Hospital - Dated curtain hiding an examination bed
Whitchurch Hospital – Dated curtain hiding an examination bed
Whitchurch Hospital - Plenty of seating in this corridor
Whitchurch Hospital – Plenty of seating in this corridor
Whitchurch Hospital - Wooden cabinet and nice wood flooring
Whitchurch Hospital – Wooden cabinet and nice wood flooring
Whitchurch Hospital - The old asylum has a lot of big bay windows
Whitchurch Hospital – The old asylum has a lot of big bay windows
Whitchurch Hospital - One of the many day wards
Whitchurch Hospital – One of the many day wards
Whitchurch Hospital - Seats in a day ward
Whitchurch Hospital – Seats in a day ward
Whitchurch Hospital - Day room with pool table
Whitchurch Hospital – Day room with pool table

Corridors

Like many Victorian asylums, Whitchurch has a lot of corridors – one huge main corridor spans the entire hospital and connects all the wards together.

Whitchurch Hospital - A section of the main corridor with entrances to West 2 ward
Whitchurch Hospital – A section of the main corridor with entrances to West 2 ward
Whitchurch Hospital - Another section of the main corridor
Whitchurch Hospital – Another section of the main corridor
Whitchurch Hospital - The main corridor and a split leading elsewhere
Whitchurch Hospital – The main corridor and a split leading elsewhere
Whitchurch Hospital - Corridor in the physiotherapy ward
Whitchurch Hospital – Corridor in the physiotherapy ward
Whitchurch Hospital - A corridor of partitioned cubicles
Whitchurch Hospital – A corridor of partitioned cubicles
Whitchurch Hospital - A corridor on another ward
Whitchurch Hospital – A corridor on another ward
Whitchurch Hospital - Corridor of various hospital services
Whitchurch Hospital – Corridor of various hospital services
Whitchurch Hospital - Small waiting area in a corridor
Whitchurch Hospital – Small waiting area in a corridor
Whitchurch Hospital - Nature creeping in
Whitchurch Hospital – Nature creeping in
Whitchurch Hospital - Main corridor as it passes pathology and the pharmacy
Whitchurch Hospital – Main corridor as it passes pathology and the pharmacy

The Recreation Hall

Whitchurch Hospital - View down the recreation hall
Whitchurch Hospital – View down the recreation hall
Whitchurch Hospital - The hall's stage
Whitchurch Hospital – The hall’s stage

Medical and Overnight Wards

Whitchurch Hospital - Bed in a ward room
Whitchurch Hospital – Bed in a ward room
Whitchurch Hospital - This room has padded walls
Whitchurch Hospital – This room has padded walls
Whitchurch Hospital - Hospital bed in a private bedroom
Whitchurch Hospital – Hospital bed in a private bedroom
Whitchurch Hospital - A few remaining items in a ward side-room
Whitchurch Hospital – A few remaining items in a ward side-room
Whitchurch Hospital - Quite a few items remain in this room
Whitchurch Hospital – Quite a few items remain in this room
Whitchurch Hospital - Residential ward room
Whitchurch Hospital – Residential ward room
Whitchurch Hospital - The secure unit
Whitchurch Hospital – The secure unit
Whitchurch Hospital - Rooms in the high-security ward
Whitchurch Hospital – Rooms in the high-security ward
Whitchurch Hospital - One of the cell-like rooms
Whitchurch Hospital – One of the cell-like rooms
Whitchurch Hospital - Rooms off another ward
Whitchurch Hospital – Rooms off another ward
Curtain and Crutches at Whitchurch Hospital
Curtain and Crutches at Whitchurch Hospital
Whitchurch Hospital - Curtains on another ward
Whitchurch Hospital – Curtains on another ward
Whitchurch Hospital - Ward with beds
Whitchurch Hospital – Ward with beds
Whitchurch Hospital - Therapy bath
Whitchurch Hospital – Therapy bath
Whitchurch Hospital - Commode chair in a ward
Whitchurch Hospital – Commode chair in a ward
Whitchurch Hospital - Ivy growing in a room
Whitchurch Hospital – Ivy growing in a room

Admin Building

Whitchurch Hospital - Main entrance into the admin building
Whitchurch Hospital – Main entrance into the admin building
Whitchurch Hospital - The hospital front entrance
Whitchurch Hospital – The hospital front entrance
Whitchurch Hospital - Board room in the admin block
Whitchurch Hospital – Board room in the admin block
Whitchurch Hospital - Another grand admin room
Whitchurch Hospital – Another grand admin room
Whitchurch Hospital - Admin block staircase
Whitchurch Hospital – Admin block staircase

Old Pathology

The pathology department had clearly been closed for a long time and has suffered heavily from decay

Whitchurch Hospital - The old pathology department
Whitchurch Hospital – The old pathology department
Whitchurch Hospital - Metabolic Pathways 1968 poster in pathology
Whitchurch Hospital – Metabolic Pathways 1968 poster in pathology

Physiotherapy Department and Sports Hall

Whitchurch Hospital - Physiotherapy sports hall
Whitchurch Hospital – Physiotherapy sports hall
Whitchurch Hospital - Creative physiotherapy workshop
Whitchurch Hospital – Creative physiotherapy workshop
Whitchurch Hospital - One or two crutches in the physio store
Whitchurch Hospital – One or two crutches in the physio store
Whitchurch Hospital - One of the gymnasiums
Whitchurch Hospital – One of the gymnasiums
Whitchurch Hospital - Weights gym
Whitchurch Hospital – Weights gym

Therapeutic Baths

There were two sets of therapeutic baths – one for male patients and one for females. These have since been converted to a changing area.

Whitchurch Hospital - Therapeutic baths
Whitchurch Hospital – Therapeutic baths
Whitchurch Hospital - Since converted to showers for sports activities
Whitchurch Hospital – Since converted to showers for sports activities

Various other hospital services

The hospital had a plethora of services to support the day-to-day running. Here are a few of those….

Whitchurch Hospital - Dentist chair
Whitchurch Hospital – Dentist chair
Whitchurch Hospital - Hair dressers
Whitchurch Hospital – Hair dressers
Whitchurch Hospital - "Snack and Tack" the hospital shop
Whitchurch Hospital – “Snack and Tack” the hospital shop
Whitchurch Hospital - The main kitchen
Whitchurch Hospital – The main kitchen
Whitchurch Hospital - Room with nice ceiling
Whitchurch Hospital – Room with nice ceiling
Whitchurch Hospital - Main stores
Whitchurch Hospital – Main stores
Whitchurch Hospital - Switchroom and backup generators
Whitchurch Hospital – Switchroom and backup generators

Records Department

Amazingly the records department still had many of the patient records in storage

Whitchurch Hospital - Records department
Whitchurch Hospital – Records department
Whitchurch Hospital - Shelves of patient records
Whitchurch Hospital – Shelves of patient records

Workshops and Engineering

Whitchurch Hospital - Engineering stores
Whitchurch Hospital – Engineering stores
Whitchurch Hospital - Engineering workshop
Whitchurch Hospital – Engineering workshop
Whitchurch Hospital - Woodworking and carpentry shop
Whitchurch Hospital – Woodworking and carpentry shop

Ward West 5

The West 5 ward was closed down in the early 1980 and has remained disused ever since. The ward is now derelict and retains some original features

Whitchurch Hospital - West 5 still has that old-asylum feel to it
Whitchurch Hospital – West 5 still has that old-asylum feel to it
Whitchurch Hospital - Doors in West 5
Whitchurch Hospital – Doors in West 5
Whitchurch Hospital - Corridor in West 5
Whitchurch Hospital – Corridor in West 5
Whitchurch Hospital - Lots of decay in the wash room
Whitchurch Hospital – Lots of decay in the wash room

Exterior

The red bricked exterior of the buildings with yellow stripes is quite distinctive

Whitchurch Hospital - The admin building with the water tower behind
Whitchurch Hospital – The admin building with the water tower behind
Whitchurch Hospital - View from the west over the wards
Whitchurch Hospital – View from the west over the wards
Whitchurch Hospital - Aerial shot showing the "compact arrow" which was a popular asylum layout
Whitchurch Hospital – Aerial shot showing the “compact arrow” which was a popular asylum layout
Author: Andy Kay | Facebook | Flickr | Instagram

26 thoughts on Whitchurch Hospital / Cardiff City Asylum, Wales

  1. I wish this building would be brought back to life by turning it into flats or something. Just a shame to see it getting vandalise by the local kids

  2. I went a couple of months ago (with a couple of friends). We managed to put out a few small fires started by the local kids. Just hope it doesn’t get trashed completely ;-(

  3. Where did all the patients go especially those from the secure wards? Also the tremendous staff who worked there. I was alarmed to read of its closure. It was a truly wonderful hospital which dealt with patients on all levels. The patients felt safe and were known and accepted by local shops. This is a travesty. Whose decision was it?

  4. I understand some of the patients were transferred to Hafan Y Coed unit at Llandough in the Vale of Glamorgan, while others are now in community based settings.

  5. Can I ask how long ago were the photos taken? Especially the ones of the sports hall with the stage?

  6. I had several visits between September 2016 – August 2018. The photos of the hall specifically were taken in July 2018.

  7. It would be ideal for that. Security compnaies like advertising themselves on the perimiter fences, so if you’re local it might be easiest to swing by – their contact details will most likely be on the security signs.

  8. Behind Closed Doors brilliant, thanks for your help.
    Great shots btw, my favourite being the dentist chair

  9. I would love to come here with my paranormal investigation team for a night… Do u know who I would need to contact for permission to do this? Thanx

  10. I believe the property is still manged by the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. If not, they will be able to point you in the right direction.

  11. Thank you. That area certainly had a higher level of security than the rest of the hospital – can you indicate what that area actually was?

  12. So sad seeing it like that, I worked there for a couple of years in the Mental Health Act Office. Fascinating place to be, but it always felt a bit sad.

  13. I was a housekeeper for 10 years in this hospital. I was really gutted that it got closed down. I work with amazing work colleagues and the staff on the wards were doing a awesome job. The money they spent on the new hospital for llandough they could of used it to keep this hospital opened for a couple more years.

  14. It would be a great location for a film crew to use either as an “ asylum” or an old Victorian Hospital. I can imagine the nurses dressed in their Victorian uniforms walking through the corridors

  15. This would be a great place for a rehabilitation for people who suffer with drugs and alcohol. I am from Cardiff and now live in the US. There is a rehab called Christopher’s Inn garrison New York for people who cannot afford to pay for help and pay for private rehabilitation. The residents also work on the property and help take care of the buildings and gardens and a store on site. This helps pay for there stay and rehabilitate. It’s a beautiful place for all walks of life And opportunity to heal properly and be given the help they need. This type of place in Cardiff would be truly a gift.

  16. I hated it here and when you enter the place it made me think if it was haunted

  17. Thanks Cheryl, whilst I make every effort to ensure the captions are as accurate as possible, they are based only on what I learn during my visit so sometimes I get them wrong. If you would like to point out the inaccurate ones and indicate what they should be, it would be greatly appreciated

  18. Leave for 20 years to rot then flog to housing developers . Long Live Maggie and Care in the Community