For the last six years, up in the woods on the outskirts of my village there has lain an abandoned building. Built in 1796, it had originally been a private Tudor-style residence known as Garthland House which was home to the Adam Family (believe it or not). In the 1930's it had become a training college for missionaries before they went off to the far corners of the earth to 'spread the word'. Finally in 1985 it was converted into St Josephs Nursing Home until its closure in 2004 due to poor standards of care. I hadn't visited it it since about 2001 and decided it was time to investigate. Nothing could prepare me for the ruination that it had succumbed to. Besides the very haunting atmosphere, there was a great feeling of sadness about the place. The amount of people who lived and died in this building over its 208 years of habitation must be staggering. Inevitably, local lore tells tales of horsemen and priests roaming the corridors and grounds by night. Books were said to have fallen from shelves and inexplicable banging sounds came from the floorboards and walls. If you visit, you may appreciate the palpable, supernatural fear (possibly unfounded) that surrounds the place.The following is a short photo-essay documenting its current state of decay.
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| The figure of St Joseph himself can be seen on the chapel wall. |
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| There was something human about the curtains, I didn't like them. |
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| Note the buckled carpet. |
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| The boiler room. |
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| Discarded sanitary products, still in their packages. |
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| The name 'Tosh' was inscribed on a number of trees. |
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| Eiree lone shovel in the wilderness of the walled garden. |
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| Scattered around were various parts of zimmer frames and wheelchairs. |
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| Gate to nowhere. |
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| 1796 - 2011 Rot In Pieces |
2 comments:
Agreed about the curtains, too 'homely' a remnant in amongst all that inhospitality.
Dare ya to spend the night there. And do some recording in case you pick up any ghosties.
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