The Abandoned Table

Tonight we visited the grounds of Bangour Village Hospital, an abandoned psychiatric hospital, opened in 1906 and thankfully closed in 2000. Apparently, in its hey-day it was pretty much self sufficient with the staff living on site. Everywhere there were signs of the lives that people once led, even to the extent of this table left in what appeared to be a recreation yard beside an old cottage and flower garden with aquilegia still growing amongst the very attractive but now invasive buttercups. The grounds were extensive and quite beautiful and the sound of birdsong in the otherwise tranquil surroundings was almost deafening. It seems we visited at the right time too given that the rhodedendrons were still in full bloom and very colourful.

But the buildings (here), including a church, felt imposing and austere and almost spooky in character - as you might imagine an early 20th century psychiatric hospital might be. All doors were padlocked and windows boarded but given a different purpose and history and I'd probably be describing how ethereal and gorgeous the buildings were. They were certainly very ornate and solid. I hear that Persimmon Homes is now the proud owner of the complex but that the current downturn has meant that there are no plans to develop/convert the buildings into homes for the time being.