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.
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.
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
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.
The Recreation Hall
Medical and Overnight Wards
Admin Building
Old Pathology
The pathology department had clearly been closed for a long time and has suffered heavily from decay
Physiotherapy Department and Sports Hall
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.
Various other hospital services
The hospital had a plethora of services to support the day-to-day running. Here are a few of those….
Records Department
Amazingly the records department still had many of the patient records in storage
Workshops and Engineering
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
Exterior
The red bricked exterior of the buildings with yellow stripes is quite distinctive
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
It really is, hopefully it will get a new lease of life soon
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 ;-(
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?
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.
Can I ask how long ago were the photos taken? Especially the ones of the sports hall with the stage?
I had several visits between September 2016 – August 2018. The photos of the hall specifically were taken in July 2018.
Any idea which security company is being used here?
Thanks
Sorry, I can’t help with that
No worries, hoping to use the space for detection dog training, would be perfect.
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.
Behind Closed Doors brilliant, thanks for your help.
Great shots btw, my favourite being the dentist chair
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
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.
Behind Closed Doors there was never a “high secure ward”
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?
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.
Any idea is this is still accesible? Or even still there?
They have made it a lot more secure now
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.
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
Cheryl John yes there was, called ICU
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.
I hated it here and when you enter the place it made me think if it was haunted
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
Leave for 20 years to rot then flog to housing developers . Long Live Maggie and Care in the Community