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The Hospital Records database is no longer being updated. Oakwood Hospital - Asylum Projects [6], Following the introduction of Care in the Community in the early 1980s and also the transfer of some services to Maidstone Hospital, Oakwood Hospital then became known as the Maidstone Hospital (Psychiatric Wing). Now known as a residential estate, the history of the site dates back almost two centuries. Tell us more. Cheers are you from Maidstone then? Located in Barming Heath, it opened its doors in 1833, admitting its first 168 patients. The Queen's House was sold off in April 1997 and was soon then turned into residential use. The notice board erected by Maidstone Council, wrongly describes this as a "War Memorial" , (See Inscription 1). Designed by John Whichcord Snr, built of local ragstone, it opened in 1833 and later became Oakwood Hospital. By the late 1860's further accommodation was required and another new wing, Hermitage House was built for 400 patients. Due to an increase in the number of patients being admitted, the hospital had to expand from its initial building. Many of the terms that once accompanied them, such as "lunatic" or "imbecile" are also now deemed inappropriate. . In the late 1990s, work began on redeveloping the area as a housing estate, which is still known as St Augustine's. List of Archives Relating to Oakwood Hospital, Maidstone. Oakwood Hospital, Maidstone, Kent. Two further patient blocks were built in 1904, designed by W. J. Jennings and a nurses home and training school were added in 1927. West Malling Lunatic Asylum, High Street, West Malling. Located in Barming Heath, it opened its doors in 1833, admitting its first 168 patients. After closure there were a spate of arson attacks on the buildings and on 11 May 1997 work began to demolish the Hermitage Block and other unused buildings, explained Asylum Project. It was also home to Beech House Hospital School, which was in use up to the 1990s. 506. At its peak, the asylum held around 2,000 psychiatric patients from around the county, and some of the London boroughs due to their close proximity. Evaluation at Oakwood Hospital, Maidstone. I've searched around the town centre for entrances but no luck. JavaScript is disabled. [2] It was erected between 1829 and 1833 on a site in Barming Heath, just to the west of Maidstone. Good idea, I'll have a nosey about in the future some time. Mike Clinch hasn't been the Secretary of KURG for a couple of years. St Andrew's House, Oakwood Hospital, St Andrew's Road, Maidstone. Pinterest Today Watch Explore When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. We pay our respects to Kent residents who have died in recent weeks. The block had been gutted but a 120-foot (37m) tall ventilation tower seemed to have survived unscathed. SKE7299. Hi I'm new to this site but have been watching it for a while. Following transfer of services to Maidstone Hospital, Oakwood closed in 1994 and was then developed as a residential estate known as St Andrew's Park. At about 9.50 am, while officers of the fire brigade and members of the hospital staff were inspecting the damage to ascertain the cause of the fire, the central tower collapsed, killing six people, including three fire brigade officers, a male nurse, the hospital printer, and a Polish patient, and injuring 15 others. It comprised one building; commonly referred to as St Andrew's House,. Nick CatfordKent Underground Research Group (one of my other hats). But tragedy struck on November 29, 1952 after a fire broke out. "Index of Lunatic Asylums and Mental Hospitals", "St Andrew's House at Oakwood Hospital, Maidstone", "Queens House at Oakwood Hospital, Maidstone", "The Beeches at Oakwood Hospital, Maidstone", "Gate and Lodges of Oakwood Hospital, Maidstone", The Concise New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Oakwood_Hospital&oldid=1075674687, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 7 March 2022, at 02:34. Slight bump. The inquest will open on Wednesday. Now Open. <9> CgMs Consulting, List of Archives Relating to Oakwood Hospital, Maidstone. I've spoken to a few shop owners in town and they have confirmed smugglers cave entrances in the basement of their and the neighbouring shops. Care for mental health patients continues to be provided there. With growing demand for places for adults, more buildings went up in the late 1880s, 10 in total, five for men and five for women. More buildings were added over the years, although the manor house is among the structures to have been demolished. Oakwood Hospital, Maidstone East Barming, Kent;Maidstone, Kent Oare Methodist Church Oare, Kent . In 1957, the hospital was the scene of a tragedy when a tower collapsed following a fire, killing seven people and injuring many more. Something went wrong, please try again later. The Kent County Lunatic Asylum opened in Maidstone in 1833. And we have a specialist Facebook group covering traffic and travel across the south east, where we provide the latest updates from any incidents on the roads or trains. Official MapQuest website, find driving directions, maps, live traffic updates and road conditions. Oakwood Hospital in Barming Heath near Maidstone, England was a psychiatric hospital founded in 1833 as the Kent County Lunatic Asylum. They later added: "In the men's side of the establishment we found just a little less of the decorative drawing room element, but everywhere pleasant features and ample facilities for enjoyment. The Oakwood Hospital was originally founded as the "Kent County Lunatic Asylum". [2], Detached Refractory Ward of St Andrew's House 2000, Detached Refractory Ward of St Andrew's House 2009, The word 'barmy' (meaning 'mad' or 'foolish') is popularly said to come from 'Barming' with allusion to the Hospital,[4][11] but the Oxford English Dictionary records that it stems from the Old English word 'barm' meaning 'froth on fermenting malt'.[12]. Hollywood Romaine Medical Offices | Los Angeles Does anyone know anything about these tunnels? Maidstone, United Kingdom. Maidstone is a town in Kent, England, of which it is the county town. Sign up to our daily newsletter for all the latest Kent stories and breaking news delivered straight to your inbox. Their actions forced an inquiry and most of the complaints were upheld. The first 168 patients were admitted in 1833. Some internet browsing identified it as a psychiatric hospital long de-commissioned. The remaining buildings have since been converted into apartments and are now privately owned. administrative records, financial records, staff records, patient and Something went wrong, please try again later. The info me and my friends gathered led us to believe that the tunnels began up towards the old mental hospital (now a housing estate) just off of Tonbridge road, theres still a ton of old buildings in the area, possible access? Home page - Oakwood Patients conditions also improved and they were allowed to keep birds, plants and pictures were permitted on the walls. 2023 Atlas Obscura. This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. The hospital was finally closed in 1994, with Maidstone Hospital taking up its remaining services. I've heard the opticians at the top of Gabriels hill (where the bus stops are) is above alot of tunnels, there is apparently a chapel inbetween that building and the Lush shop on the other side. It was therefore inevitable that the Oakwood Hospital would close or see a change in its role. At 10:00, the tower collapsed, killing three firemen, two nursing staff, the hospital printer and a patient and injuring a number of people. Kent County Lunatic Asylum (Oakwood Hospital) - Maidstone, England Google Maps Oakwood Hospital was founded in Maidstone as the Kent County Lunatic Asylum. The fire brigade was called at 06:40 and arrived four minutes later. At about 9.50 am, while officers of the fire brigade and members of the hospital staff were inspecting the damage to ascertain the cause of the fire, the central tower collapsed, killing six people, including three fire brigade officers, a male nurse, the hospital printer, and a Polish patient, and injuring 15 others. This building was also designed by the architect John Whichcord Snr. The Child-Eating Bunyip Haunts Australias Wetlands, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oakwood_Hospital. She was in the hospital for 21 years iam wondering if you had seen a grave stating Clara Gunningham. Cross in memory of those buried here, Oakwood Park Cemetery, Barming. This page was last edited on 9 May 2014, at 23:05. Originally known as the Kent County Lunatic Asylum, it opened in 1833 and could house up to 1,577 patients at its Barming Heath site, near Maidstone. But they were accepted in the 1800s, when provision of asylums in every county became law. A new nurses' home was built in 1927, and in late 1930s an admission hospital and convalescent villas - for patients being discharged from the admission hospital - were constructed. I travelled through Moat Park daily for five or six years andmy mother still lives within half a mile. On that subject, there was a thread about Ramsgate a few weeks/monthsback in which I said that the author of an article in "Backtrack" hadsaid that there were dangerous concentrations of CO2 in the tunnelsdue to rainwater percolating through and reacting with the chalk. There have been many rumors of tunnels hidden beneath the city maidstone but no one can really find any proof of it. Oakwood Hospital St Andrews Rd Maidstone, designed by John Whichcord Snr 1830. The locations of said tunnels are rumoured to be linked and leading to: Preston Hall Hospital, Oakwood Hospital, and Mote House. Middle Name. December 4, and the Regional Hospital Board is arranging for an immediate investigation into the cause of the accident. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Mention the word asylum in connection with people who have a mental illness and it conjures up all sorts of images. St Andrew's House and The Queen's House are both Grade II listed buildings and so were spared demolition. However, the gardens are open, having been extensively landscaped, and allow a view of the imposing historic buildings. Oakwood Cemetery in Barming to be opened up to the public - Kent Online For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Oneday I had to go inside a container which was loaded up and had the fangoing. Our sister paper the Dover Express visited the asylum in 1904 and published a descriptive account of the inside of the building. Oakwood Hospital - WikiMili, The Best Wikipedia Reader Official MapQuest - Maps, Driving Directions, Live Traffic Both of these buildings were designed by the architect John Whichcord Snr. Patients would be invited to stay with him and, according to research by The Malling Society, he advertised his services in newspapers. Maidstone Hospital - Tunbridge Wells Hospital. Each Small Candle Lights A Corner Of The DarkYou can visit my webpage at www.arthurghost.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk.