Chilling Images From Inside Britain's Long-Lost Lunatic Asylums

Loading...
  • 1/23
    Two pairs of shoes are all that remain of the occupants of these beds at the abandoned Surrey County Lunatic Asylum.
    1/23 Two pairs of shoes are all that remain of the occupants of these beds at the abandoned Surrey County Lunatic Asylum.
  • 2/23
    An empty dentist char sits among appliances and crumbling walls at a former surgery at Barrow Gurney Mental Hospital in Somerset.
    2/23 An empty dentist char sits among appliances and crumbling walls at a former surgery at Barrow Gurney Mental Hospital in Somerset.
  • 3/23
    Photographer Mark Davis spent more than six years travelling to former psychiatric hospitals including Lanark District Pauper Asylum at Hartwood Hospital.
    3/23 Photographer Mark Davis spent more than six years travelling to former psychiatric hospitals including Lanark District Pauper Asylum at Hartwood Hospital.
  • 4/23
    The ballroom at West Riding Pauper Lunatic Asylum at High Royds Hospital in West Yorkshire has been abandoned since its last use several years ago.
    4/23 The ballroom at West Riding Pauper Lunatic Asylum at High Royds Hospital in West Yorkshire has been abandoned since its last use several years ago.
  • 5/23
    Faded green sheets that would have provided privacy for the patients in their hospital beds at West Park Hospital.
    5/23 Faded green sheets that would have provided privacy for the patients in their hospital beds at West Park Hospital.
  • 6/23
    The crumbling walls of a holding area for distressed patients at the West Park Mental Hospital in Surrey.
    6/23 The crumbling walls of a holding area for distressed patients at the West Park Mental Hospital in Surrey.
  • 7/23
    A battered and rusting wheelchair abandoned at North Wales County Pauper Lunatic Asylum gives an insight into the abandoned buildings.
    7/23 A battered and rusting wheelchair abandoned at North Wales County Pauper Lunatic Asylum gives an insight into the abandoned buildings.
  • 8/23
    An abandoned and dishevelled corridor at West Riding Pauper Lunatic Asylum at High Royds Hospital in Menston, West Yorkshire.
    8/23 An abandoned and dishevelled corridor at West Riding Pauper Lunatic Asylum at High Royds Hospital in Menston, West Yorkshire.
  • 9/23
    Blankets and other debris from the hospital litter the floor of this room at what was once the North Wales County Pauper Lunatic Asylum.
    9/23 Blankets and other debris from the hospital litter the floor of this room at what was once the North Wales County Pauper Lunatic Asylum.
  • 10/23
    An empty bath remains in place among broken doors and fallen ceiling at East Sussex County Pauper Lunatic Asylum at Hellingly Hospital in East Sussex.
    10/23 An empty bath remains in place among broken doors and fallen ceiling at East Sussex County Pauper Lunatic Asylum at Hellingly Hospital in East Sussex.
  • 11/23
    A painting of a teddy bear and an old wheelchair are a reminder of the people who once lived within the walls of West Park Hospital, Surrey.
    11/23 A painting of a teddy bear and an old wheelchair are a reminder of the people who once lived within the walls of West Park Hospital, Surrey.
  • 12/23
    West Riding Pauper Lunatic Asylum at High Royds Hospital, Menston, West Yorkshire.
    12/23 West Riding Pauper Lunatic Asylum at High Royds Hospital, Menston, West Yorkshire.
  • 13/23
    Glasgow District Pauper Lunatic Asylum at Gartloch Hospital, Scotland. Many of the buildings featured in the book are due to be demolished.
    13/23 Glasgow District Pauper Lunatic Asylum at Gartloch Hospital, Scotland. Many of the buildings featured in the book are due to be demolished.
  • 14/23
    An abandoned room rots away at West Riding Pauper Lunatic Asylum at High Royds Hospital in Menston, West Yorkshire.
    14/23 An abandoned room rots away at West Riding Pauper Lunatic Asylum at High Royds Hospital in Menston, West Yorkshire.
  • 15/23
    A whistle used to sound the alarm in emergencies.
    15/23 A whistle used to sound the alarm in emergencies.
  • 16/23
    Surgical instruments left out at Brecon and Radnor hospital in mid Wales.
    16/23 Surgical instruments left out at Brecon and Radnor hospital in mid Wales.
  • 17/23
    A flooded recreation area where patients would have once gathered to chat at West Park Mental Hospital in Surrey.
    17/23 A flooded recreation area where patients would have once gathered to chat at West Park Mental Hospital in Surrey.
  • 18/23
    The arched ceiling of the East Sussex County Pauper Lunatic Asylum provides a contrast to the dust-covered floor and graffiti beneath.
    18/23 The arched ceiling of the East Sussex County Pauper Lunatic Asylum provides a contrast to the dust-covered floor and graffiti beneath.
  • 19/23
    Jackets, trousers and a suitcase belonging to former patients have been left in this room at West Park.
    19/23 Jackets, trousers and a suitcase belonging to former patients have been left in this room at West Park.
  • 20/23
    An abandoned bike left in a room at Cheshire County Pauper Lunatic Asylum.
    20/23 An abandoned bike left in a room at Cheshire County Pauper Lunatic Asylum.
  • 21/23
    A photographic record of the abandoned psychiatric hospitals of Britain has gone on sale.
    21/23 A photographic record of the abandoned psychiatric hospitals of Britain has gone on sale.
  • 22/23
    A record player at North Wales County Pauper Lunatic Asylum at North Wales Hospital.
    22/23 A record player at North Wales County Pauper Lunatic Asylum at North Wales Hospital.
  • 23/23
    From the roof of Eglington Pauper Lunatic Asylum in Cork, Ireland.
    23/23 From the roof of Eglington Pauper Lunatic Asylum in Cork, Ireland.
Advertisement

Who loves photos of abandoned places as much as we doooo?

A new book of photographs has given a haunting insight into the lives of people who were held in institutions that used to be called 'lunatic asylums' in Britain.

Photographer Mark Davis spent more than six years travelling to abandoned former psychiatric hospitals, where patients were treated for a range of mental health problems.

His book, Asylum, captures the remains of 17 buildings, including West Riding Pauper Lunatic Asylum, Staffordshire County Asylum, North Wales County Pauper Asylum and West Park Mental Hospital in Epsom, Surrey.

Source