Cane Hill 29/05/2009

...and beaten I was not. Ish.

I drove around for a while, tried to find some ex-animal testing labs near Purley Oaks but couldn't find them, then tried to find Queen Elizabeths Hospital in Banstead woods (later found out it's long gone and now proper private housing with an electronic gate and everything the posh twats), I found myself very close to Cane Hill so headed there for a lone explore and to finish some unfinished business with regards to a changing room we found on the last visit.



Not a lot of the old girl left now, demolition is happening fast. Felt quite at ease although I was on my own and soon found what I was looking for, the old changing room.

Some internals:











Scary 'what the fuck' mangle thing in both male and female changing rooms. Later, and it's quite obvious, am told these were probably for wringing out swimming costumes. There was also a pair of mouldy old granny pants in the 'footbath' thing. And a kettle I wanted to bring home and grow plants in but Urbexers don't take anything from sites.

I may as well continue round the perimeter and see how far demolition has got in a couple of months. As soon as I get to where we took a wrong turn the last time the site foremen shoots out of his hut and asks what i'm up to. Explain that i'm taking externals as the place is going quicker than a randy rabbit (I may have exaggerated what I actually said here) and he informs me that the land owners want no one up there



I said to him very nicely as he is only the site foreman, that there is no way in the world the land owners can suddenly make a public footpath/bridleway private property, 'tis the law. He agreed but this is what he has obviuously been told to tell everyone. Tough tits 'Home and Communities', fuck your privacy because it ain't legal to close a PFP/BW. Buildings, yes, PUBLIC FOOTPATH thats been there for years big fat NO.

And if we had our way it wouldn't be legal for you to destroy such a beautiful building such as Cane Hill.

Wonder if this still works? Never had the guts to try it



oooh Landrovers moved



This photo makes me feel very sad, sad for the building as it merely is just the outer shell standing there, there is absolutely nothing the other side of this, it's almost a ' - ' and sad because I have only got to go there when it has been heavily constructed.



and the Chapel, which is listed so they have to keep that, and the water tower.



(more pics can be found at http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v89/AnthillMob/Cane%20Hill/ but a photobucket mishap has confused them all with my first visit)

West Park alone - 29/05/2009

I had some days booked off work, the kids were at nursery and my mission was West Park. Just a walk around the outside as I was on my own.

After stopping off at the local Tesco garage on the way for the staple diet of Urbex of Sausage rolls and a bottle of coke, off i roll to West Park in the sun with the windows open blasting Girls Aloud (as you do). Drive straight onto site and park in car park again.

Decise this time to walk the opposite way to they way I went with Mr Ant and soon find myself greeted with an airing court.



things are looking good.....I take the old crumbly footpath that runs alongside the building, can reach out and touch the building and its beautiful red brick, stopping along the way to take photos of the exterior and ready to poke the lense through any welcoming holes in the boards covering the windows but never came accross any. Shame.







Things are looking really good, I get as close as I possibly can without trespassing to the great hall (or what's left of it after the stupid fucking arsonists ruined it a few years back. You can see from the picture all thats left is the roof thingys. Ignore the building infront of it)



As I walk along I encounter a most wonderful site...Admin. A truely wonderful site and totally overtaken by nature...



I walk away to get a more distant shot and spot some steps. All overgrown and looking interesting, may they lead to Narnia or some undiscovered part of West Park. As Harry Hill would say 'there's only one way to find out......' (I didn't fight though, I walked)



As I walked and found more steps and more steps that song sprang into my head 'we're on the road to nowhere', and indeed that song was right. Maybe it was written about a trip up the steps at West Park, though I doubt this very much.

It just lead to an overgrown patch of grass with tree lining. Very interesting. But at least I covered it and didn't miss it out. The utter excitement of it all.

So I come back down a bit gutted I had wasted my time going up there but then you never know what's there or not there until you've looked. As I approach the 2nd to last set of steps I see near Admin a yellow hi-vis vest. This can only mean one thing, HAMMER TIME (oh oh oh, oh oh, you can't touch this), there he was in all his glory, Mr Security Guard, AKA MC Hammer and he had 2 friends with him. Ginger bollocks and baldy.

They were closely inspecting the building next to Admin and then the fencing and then along to Admin. I decided to hide behind a handy fir tree and watch what they were up to so I walk do to said tree and crouch. Crouching ain't my thing and I had suddenly overcome all paranoid that if I was caught hiding I would look really suspicious so I sat in full view of them on the steps and had a fag.

What a fucking idiot!! That should really be written on my grave when I go...

MC Hammer spots me and starts walking over. Right, what do I do now? Sit or run? Sit because you are not doing anything illegal, chat with him, explain yourself, he might be OK like the guys at Cane Hill.....oh shit here he comes....brain engage mouth properly.....

MCH - excuse me what are you doing'

ANT - having a fag (brain obviously hasn't engaged properly and now it seems I am pointing out the obvious incase he is a bit thick or something)

MCH - why are you here?

ANT - i'm taking photos of the building

MCH - you can't, not allowed

ANT - aww mate i've come a long way to do this and besides i'm not doing anything illegal, see you can look at my pictures (offer him my camera and think to myself 'what the fuck are you doing?')

MCH - where do you come from

ANT - oxford (what the fuck! i'm local and digging a hole for myself though I did think he kight take pity on me) i've driven a long way to take external shots of the building, I wouldn't go inside, i'm not stupid (brain is saying 'shut the fuck up Ant)

MCH - no, no you must leave. Are you alone?

ANT - yes

MCH - you must go. It's not safe for you, lady on your own, the Police will move you on their half hourly check

ANT - (big sigh) ok

MCH - where did you park?

ANT - car park 5

MCH - you go now

ANT - i'm going

MCH - are you Romanian?

ANT - what? do i sound like i'm from Romania (brain is saying to me to mind my language at this point. Not only has he patronised me about being female and alone and not safe for me but now he is accusing me of being Romanian. Nowt against Romaninas but I don't look or even sound like one. I have a South London accent and at the time had red hair)

So off I trot back to the car as quickly as I could hoping perhaps I could go round the other way from the previous trip with Mr Ant. No sign of me being followed which is a bonus. I reach car park 5 and just as I am about to head down the covered walkway MC Hammer appears out of nowhere like the fucking shopkeeper from Mr Benn and tells me I must get in my car and leave and then stands beside my car watching and waiting for me to go. I admit defeat and leave. Muttering a few choice words to him as I do so.

But I wont be beaten and think to myself 'I will find a way in'. I drive around for a bit and then head back and park outside West Park on the road and follow the signs for the public footpath. I find the Staff Sports and Social Club, nothing really of interest, just some glorified portacabin in a field next door to the main hospital.



I then walk for what seemed like miles through some shitty little footpath, getting coated in then odd green caterpillar things that hang from trees and beating my way through the maze of gnats with a handy stick I found. After almost losing a trainer in mud I find access through a battered down bit of fence and then lose my bottle! Fucking wimp, so I turn and head back for the car...but I wont be beaten...

Atkinson Morley - 26/05/2009

(some historical pictures and info http://www.amhlung.org.uk/Image%20Bank%20-%20AMH%20History.htm )

One of my cousins worked at Atkinson Morley, I go exploring with her daughter sometimes.

It's been out of use since 2003. The CT Scanner is still in there somewhere, old machinery according to my cousin, hence why it was left behind. Seems a shame though as they are expensive machines. It also had a fabulous slab in the Mortuary but aparently someone's had it away on their toes with it.



Went with the kids again, just for an external recee. Saw secuirty going on his rounds with his packed lunch in a Sainsburys carrier bag. How do I know what was in the bag? I had a look when I saw it outside Admin.

There wasn't a great deal of interest or possible access points. Apart from one place that had slides in a box, from St Ebbas (one of the Epsom Cluster). I assume being a brain hospital in it's day that these were slides of someones lunatic brain bits. Lovely.



There was access to this 'hut' they were in, through a ruddy great hole in the side of the 'hut' but having the kids with me I couldn't investigate further. Why are such things left behind though?

While i've been nosing through this window Chops has decided it would be a great idea to cover Boris head to foot in his buggy in rotting blossom. Cheers Chops.



We then walk down a path and find ourselves in the grounds of the Woolfson Centre which is still live, it's a rehabilitation unit for thos who have had brain injuries. Just next door to this I discover what used to be the staff quarters for Morleys.



(all pics can be found at http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v89/AnthillMob/Atkinson%20Morley/ )

Sutton Hospital - 19/05/2009

It's very local, Chops wants a picnic and it beats sitting infront of the continuous loop of Cbeebies. So off we trot, on the longest bus journey in the world (note : never get the S3 to Sutton Hospital).

Not a lot of history to find, well I can't find any.

Parts are still live, had to take 'Boris' (my son. obviously not his real name but he bears a striking resemblence to Boris Johnson with his mop of blonde hair) recently for an appointment at the eye hospital situated there. But a lot of it is boarded up. So off we wander.

Absolutely no atmosphere at this site, in my opinion. Usually you can pick up on some kind of atmosphere, but here I felt nothing.



As you can see, not the most stunning of buildings. And all totally boarded up although someone has been inside recently but I wont name names, just say I have seen the pictures.

The site is right next door to the Royal Marsden and we stumble into Marsden territory and come accross a swimming pool. Would be rude not to take pictures and these can be found on the link at the bottom.

Back onto Sutton Hospital we near the rear of the building and find the place quite busy, believe this to be the Chiltern Wing which is very much live and helps those with addictions (mainly alcohol).

From a fence I spot the old Radio St Helier mobile studios so grab a pic. Some chavess in a souped up Peaugeot that had what looked like a kingsized dining table stuck on the roof (or maybe it was a shit spoiler) stopped plucking her eyebrows in the rearview mirror to glare at me as if I had just taken my pants down and defecated on her cars bonnet. Don't worry love, I wouldn't photograph you as beastiality is illegal.



The walk round the grounds don't really throw anything of interest up as everything is boarded up and as I said there was no atmosphere so I was left feeling a little bored. Although we did meet a strange man who asked where the eye hospital was, to which I directed him and then he wandered off in the opposite direction. Bad, bad eyes obviously.

Got a shot of the live covered walkway which reminds me of that walkway past West Hill's Chapel.



(all pics can be found at - http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v89/AnthillMob/Sutton%20Hospital/ )

West Park - 1st visit - 14/05/2009

As a birthday treat (it's what I wanted) Mr Ant took me to West Park Hospital in Epsom (in return to me going with him to Heathrow to look at some planes. We all have our vices).

(History bit - http://www.countyasylums.com/mentalasylums/westpark01.htm )

So kids safely at nursery we set off to West Park. A place I had read about extensively and longed to go to and it's kind of local.

Drive straight onto site, past MC Hammer in his hut (he's the security guy, thus called because he carries a hammer on his rounds to board up entry points and maybe even for his saftey or intimidation) park up in car park 5 and head down the outside corridoor.



Find a lot of odds and sods, like abandoned chairs



The water tower



sadly taken through a fence. Water towers at hospitals are always spectacular objects and some Urbexers climb them. I wouldn't given i'm not that sure of heights or any cop at climbing.

West Park also has wild deer running through the ground which are a source of either amusement or the need for a change of pants. They can catch you very unawares, especially when you are somewhere you shouldn't be. Its not illegal to take photos of such a building from outside the security fence, it goes that way if it's MOD. But security don't like it. It only becomes illegal if you tresspass but tresspass is a civil law so the ground is still shaky for the powers that be. Not that I condone tresspass.



So we come accross a 'villa' and an open door which I can't open. Mr Ant obliges with a shove and I step inside. Found a not-smashed-to-fuck toilet, peeling wallpaper, mildew curtains and this wonderful fella



shame I can't play....

It becomes apparent that this really isn't floating Mr Ant's boat so we head off to Heathrow to look at the planes. Not really my idea of fun but I did take a few pics and also got to see some hardcore horse porn.

(full days pics found here http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v89/AnthillMob/West%20Pak%201/ )

Only when I got home and looked online did I realise we only ever saw a very small portion of West Park.

Orchard Hill (formerly Queen Marys Hospital for Children) - 12/05/2009

I usually ignore the mass emails at work that tell us inane crap but something caught my eye on one of them. Orchard Hill was closing on 08/05/09.

(history bit : http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/49397 )

I had a week off work and thought I would get in quick before the place gets chavved up (urbexers NEVER trash a building and its contents). Again this turned into another picnic as I had the kids with me, a picnic works wonders for exchange of coming out with mummy exploring. And as it had closed down the previous friday it would have been foolish to go without them and assume the whole place was vacant and open to internals.

There was a lot of construction going on behind huge green wooden security fences that must have been at least 12' tall. The small viewing bit showed a barren wasteland of rubble bar one building. This was what was left of the old Queen Marys Hospital for Children.



Still we did find what I assume was a playground of sorts for the old place.



It contained the remains of an airing court. I would love to know what the multi-coloured mound was. Aparently there used to be a small train that ran around the grounds but I never came accross any remains of the track.

I did come accross this though that I found quite freaky



I believe this was for use for Orchard Hill though and not QMHC.

There were a few men on diggers and such around the grounds and also a couple of live bits but we weren't bothered by anyone apart from some bloke asking if I knew where some place was. When I said 'no, i'm just here to take photos of the abandoned place' he looked at me like I had 3 heads and swiftly moved on. Did meet a woman and her little boy in the woods though who applauded me for taking photos of the place as it's due to be completely demolished to make way for a 'super high school' (Stanley Park).







(all pics at : http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v89/AnthillMob/Orchard%20Hill/ )

Carshalton Park Grotto/Carshalton War Memorial Hospital - 15/03/2009

So its a Sunday and 'Mr Ant' is at work. 'Chops' (my daughter) has decided she wants to go out and have a picnic after watching Peppa Pig have one for the umpteenth time. It's a nice day and mummy thinks 'ahhh, theres a grotto at Carshalton Park' so we kill two birds with one stone and go for picnic and play on the swings and a nose at this historical site at the same time.

(history bit : http://www.sutton.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1387 )

A short bus ride and a long walk later we find ourselves in Carshalton Park and are greeted by the odd landscape.



Have our picnic and then go for a wander. yes we will be going to the swings in a bit....mummy spots a building just outside the rear of the park with razor wire and thinks 'ahhhh, interesting'. We discover the Carshalton War Memorial Hospital.

(unable to find any websites of interest)

No way in so point and click through the fence, well kept lawn so someones still taking care of the place, bulldozers next door.





So off we trot towards the kiddies playpark, but have one port of call before that. The Grotto.



Take my word for it, NEVER wheel a buggy down the embankment if you go here because it's a pain in the fucking arse to get it back out. Of course, me being me, didn't think of this. Piece of piss to get down there, PITA to get back out.



(more pics can be found at http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v89/AnthillMob/grotto%20and%20war%20memorial%20hospital/ )