Kent County Lunatic Asylum (Oakwood Hospital) in Maidstone in 1989 (Whole site)

The Kent County Lunatic Asylum was opened in 1833 at a site on Barming Heath just outside of Maidstone.

These photos were taken in 1989. At this time the hospital was referred to as the Psychiatric Wing Of Maidstone Hospital. Parts of the hospital were still open but closures had started. The photos are divided into three sections (each separated by a colour aerial view).

The first section shows the original building (St Andrew's House), which had recently closed.

The second section shows the second asylum building to be built on the site (Queens House). This part of the hospital was still open at the time. Also in this section are photos of some of the additional buildings that were on the hospital site (mostly all demolished now).

The final section shows the third asylum building built on the site (Hermitage House). This part of the hospital was also still open but wards were being taken out of use.

Today, of the main buildings, St Andrew's House and Queen's House still stand; both having been converted to residential use. The Hermitage House building was demolished in 1997.

David Bowie provides the music.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Maidstone
• Hospital
• Psychiatric
• Wing

[Mrsziggystardust2728]

why play a david bowie song >:( ???

[Moriarty0001]

@Mrsziggystardust2728 ..... why not?

[loriburr]

it wasnt an underground tunnel, it was demolished. It was more creepy at night because it was deserted!

[scottydesthegooner]

@loriburr But if it was a tunnel, it wouldn't matter if it was night or day. And where did the tunnel go? Did it get up and walk off?

[mcveoy]

i worked there in hermitage house

[TheRalphus666]

@loriburr I visited a couple of abandoned asylum's and almost everyone had tunnels going from building to building,and its the only places that I feel eyes on me and I seen 2 ghosts in my life one at an insane asylum and the other in a empty church.

[loriburr]

i remember there used to be a link tunnel between the three main blocks, it must have gone before this was filmed as the area between look very open. the tunnel was a short cut and very creepy at night!

[loriburr]

i love the footage at the end of hermitage house , just as i remember it!