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Worcestershire County Asylum Barnsley Hall Hospital Date of Opening: 26th June 1907 Date of Final Closure: 1996
Location: Stourbridge Road, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire Layout: Compact Arrow Plan Architect: George Thomas Hine History and Development: Barnsley Hall Hospital opened in 1907 as the second Worcestershire County Lunatic Asylum to relieve pressure on the existing site at Powick, as well as providing a more convenient location for the north of the county, including the towns of Bromsgrove, Redditch, Stourbridge and Kidderminster. The population of the asylum which was usually around 1,200, but swelled during World War One with relocated patients of the Birmingham Borough Asylums of Hollymoor and Rubery Hill which were then used as Military Hospitals. These patients were returned by 1921. Additions were made during World War Two in the form of temporary Emergergency Medical Service blocks located on the East Drive, close to the boundary of the estate. Worcester County Council passed responsibility of the Hospital to the new National Health Service in 1948. Under the NHS, Barnsley Hall Hospital was placed in the West Midlands Regional Health Authority and from the Sixties the population gradually decreased and the main building became partially empty by the Nineties following resettlement programs, eventually allowing full closure of the hospital with a small amount of new accomodation located around the Porter's Lodge to the north west of the site. Description of Buildings: George Hine's design consisted of equal provision for Men and Women in three blocks on either side of the Recreation Hall which occupied the centre of the south front. Located behind this were Kitchens, Stores and the Administrative Block. The Engineering Department, Water Tower and Boiler House were located to the west, alongside the Male wards, with Laundry, Sewing Room and Nurses Block to the East. The Buildings were constructed from red brick with terracotta faience detailing on the principal buildings and Water Tower. The Administrative Block displays the county crest and bears a louvred cupola. Ward blocks bore strong resemblence to other Hine asylums with multiple paned sash windows and banding from courses of lintels, almost identical in style to Netherne (Surrey CC 1909). Airing Courts contained typical octagonal wooden shelters. Status and Condition: Following Closure the Hospital was demolished with exception of the Administration Block, Chapel and Isolation Hospital which have been converted for business use. The Porter's Lodge and Staff Accomodation survive as private housing or sheltered accomodation. Demolished areas have been redeveloped for new housing with some preservation of the grounds, including one airing court shelter.
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Porter's Lodge
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Administration Block
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Administration Block
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Water Tower and Ward Block
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Airing Court Shelter
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