The East Essex County Mental Asylum opened its doors in 1903. It is built close to the small village of Hellingly, in South West England. The architect G.T. Hine designed the Victorian hospital on a very large scale, spreading the many buildings on a huge campus.
Isolated from everything, having only one single road and its own train line, the psychatric asylum remained self-sufficient for years.
Patients & staff used to live under the same roof in the many red bricks buildings linked by closed hallways, and offering "therapeutic" and relaxing views onthe surrounding quiet and green countryside.
The asylum closed its doors in 1994; since then it is decaying, forgotten and rotting in the middle of nowhere...
Hi!
I shot my final collection here last year, absolutely love the place there is something addictive about it! seriously recommend doing a reckie first for a fashion shoot as it is such a vast space and getting garments in and around is a nightmare so it is good to have a plan so you dont loose day light and warmth. Also do not go alone or without at least one guy, bumped into a load of pikees in there and wouldn't have liked it if it had just been a bunch of us girls and the security guard is weird. He actually broke down a door to let us in, i dont know the security guards name but i did a bit of ringing around through the hospital itself and managed to get through to someone, this was last year and unfortunately i have broken my phone and lost the number since then. But it is possible to get in in a safe way, you just have to do a bit of digging, and as far as i know it is still standing (just about) but i doubt it will be for long.
it is a stunning place but there are parts where the floor is literally coming away and this is on higher levels as well as ground so be really careful, but couldnt recommend doing it more. good luck!
hi i dont suppose anyone knows the number or name of the security company so i can call them, or even if this place is still there as i would loveee to do a fashion shoot coming up there?! thanks x
I don't suppose you could provide the name of the Security Co., could you? Thanks.
Hey,
I got in there a few years ago now to take pics. My friends and tried to sneak in time after time with no luck...we kept getting caught until finally i just thought Hey! why not call the security company! That's what i did, i signed a waver and i got a guided tour from someone that knew where was safe and where really wasn't (huge holes in the floors...be careful if you sneak in) amazing amazing place. It was a few years back so maybe they are more strict now but worth a try.
Have fun, stay safe!
iTS STILL THERE BUT NOT FOR LONG GO SOON B4 IT COMES DOWN
Hi all, heard news that this place had already been demolished? can anyone confirm that it is still actually standing? and if so is it impossible to get into these days?
does anyone know any websites where i can get more information about this place? or photos that were taken when it was still in use? thanks
Is is possible to visit this site legitimately to take photo's, save being followed by security guard and dogs? if so does anyone know who I'd contact to get permission?
Hi all, i am hoping to visit Hellingly, can anyone give me advise
I want to go in there for photos for my uni project. I know its unsafe or what ever...but even just one room would be awesome. This is the only place closest to me. I need like photos of close-up eroding walls or whatever. If anyone have a any photos they can donate to me for my project it will great. I am in a first year textiles degree
hiya has anyone been there in thee night time recently? coz me and a few mates were thinking this could be the perfect place for ghost hunting if any one could help us find a way in without getting caught feel free too email me on amber-louise16@hotmail.co.uk thank you
Just airing on the side of caution guys, I can understand why some folk see the appeal of Hellingly Asylum, for the Architecture, history etc,but there are some kids who may be reading this and many others like it, please bare in mind if these individuals follow the masses, they're the ones likely to either be seriously injured or worse case scenario killed in these buildings! Yes I am a Dog handler with a security firm working on a similar site to Hellingly, no hiding the fact, and I have had to go into a building with my dog to trace these kids to get them out, and yup I have found a blood trail leading from a huge hole in the floor were it had given way under their weight! not a pretty sight to be honest guys, imagine finding bloodspattered walls and floor and trying to find them in a derelict unlit, unsafe building that in places could drop at any god given second? With the recent storms we have had countrywide it's made derelict buildings like this even more un safe, not saying don't go to Hellingly, it's your life and your mind, but I would hate to be the guy there wether security or building cotractor who finds someone either seriously wounded or having to tell the Police they Have a body on site!!! It's going to happen sooner or later, thats fact, I just hope it isn't a young lad or girl who thought it would be clever to follow the trend and go see for themselves!
Hey people !
I contacted Flubbera87 about getting some help, and he emailed me a map with the entrance, best route, locations of security huts and routes of their patrols.
I can say that it worked for me a TREAT ! THANK YOU soo much !, got in no fuss or hassle !, all i can say is that i had to forward him my place of work. (as i dont think he will hand it out if you just ask him to ), he called the number to check if i work there (which he asked my permission first to check), I didnt mind as i can understand that he doesnt want security to get hold of the map.
Yeah pretty rubs that it's sounding a lot harder to get in now that, i assume, work has started. As someone asked earlier, if anyone knows about anything similar in the sussex area could you pop me an email at monstersexist at gmail.com by chance?
cheers
xpt
Guys, word of warning ! please no longer discuss on here on ways to get into the old girl as i have heard that the guards nose on this site now. ! !
If you would like anu help PM me on afdawson@tiscali.co.uk and i will try to help.
Thanks for reading !
Well I tried to get into see the ole girl for myself last night to see her for myself and say a final goobye to this marvellous piece of architecture, finally managing to fumble my way across the field at the back only to be greeted by reinforced fencing and the sound of the security approaching, I wasn't going to hang around to be caught and interogated and I certainly wasn't going top wait around to see what was making the mad barking sounds that were accompanying the oncoming guards. Needless to say I was out of breath when I finally got to a safe distance and away from the dog handlers!! Although I did manage to drive past the security on the main driveway for a closer look at the front of the main enterance, on the way back down I did see the owner of the mad barking sounds from earlier, I was glad I didn't hang around to find out as I saw the ugliest and biggest German shepherd standing with it's handler at the security hut!!!!! You can imagine the thoughts going through my head at the sight of it, Don't fancy it's teeth in my ass. I'll be sorry to see this grand old lady bought to the ground, but at least there are guys who have manged to get photo's of her in the past, for those of you planning to go up there to look for yourselfs, I wouldn't, unless you really fancy meeting the security and the dogs that patrol alongside them.
My GF and I managed to sneak in there Sunday lunchtime. It was our first visit and it took us a couple of hours to work out how to get close, then get in! We ended up parking in a small car park called ‘Parkwood’ we then headed along a wooded path and then into the car park in the main complex. This seemed to be still operational and there were people outside the buildings….some looked like patients! We just kept walking, bold as brass past the building, past a small football field, then bolted over a fence…kept low and edged closer to the main building. This is obviously not the way to get in as we could have been spotted several times but we could not find the other route. At this point we were very close to the fence, concealed in the under growth looking for a gap in the fence. We decided to go for it and just walk on the path until we saw a gap…if we got spotted then so be it! Then we spotted the burnt out car a few hundred yards on our left in field. This gave me some idea where to go now and I heard there was a gap nearby. We spotted a bit of the fence that had been bent, it was also next to a tree, this where the gap was as the fence stopped. Nice!...round the fence then into the building…someone had kindly put a cushion on the floor to help our landing!...cheers whomever that was….we were IN!!!.....question is where do we go now!!...we carefully wondered round until we stumbled into the theatre area…that was cool…so much to see…really need to go back now with someone who knows the place. After an hour and a half we had to leave it was getting late and we had not torches etc. We got out no problems..no guards, police etc…they must have been watching Chelsea V Liverpool!
Well, what can i say ? took a couple of hours to get there parked in villiage and walked up to the old girl. From what I saw it looked very impressive !, but thats where it stops. Security (guy in volkswagen estate) then collered me outside the fenced area and started to give me abuse about people like "us" thinking that we can do what we want ect ect. (he was being quite agressive and threw open his door as to try to scare me back, but failed) Told me to f off. So walked back down the road and turned right by the main road at which point the other guy ( In a black Vauxhall corsa followed me ) I decided to turn back around to try another way but as i passed to main road to the place a police car came screaming up behind me. Anyway fact is i got stopped they searched me and had a look at my photos that i had taken (while the 2 security guards stood there) and told me i had to delete the pics, but the good ol cops said that they had a look and there were no photos on there and said i had allready deleted them ???? (huh) TBH if anybody is going back up there soon could you PM me on afdawson@tiscali.co.uk as id like to get into the place and it is a long ways to travel.
Cheers for all you info btw.
I have just got back from there and managed to gain entry to the building on the left had side up the driveway. I parked just past the building on the left hand side. There were quite a few other cars in the area so i think that the area is staffd dury the day on on of the oter nearby buildings. Got some good shots. When i came out, i got nabbed by a couple of security guys who asked me to leave (and delete my pictures... yeah right!!!). I drove off then later parked up in new road at the rear (just south) of the area and the security car slowed down as it passed me. I think they know my face and car, so will porbabl leave it a few days before i giv it another go.
I first went to Hellingly abot 8 years ago when i first started photography. I have my 35mm Pentax SLR, but now i have goe digital i have wanted to return for some time and after reading this blog i realised i'd better do it sooner rather than later. Th first time i went i g some crackin shots, i foun myself in a small corridor and found a white ice skating boot without a scratch on it, just sitting on top of a pile of debris, very surreal. I also found pieces of jigsaw puzzle pieces scattered all over the floor in another room, almost as if a patient was halfway through completing it and was then sent elsewhere, never being able to return top finish it.
Reply to Mr A Crowley... Another great place to visit is the Steyning cement works off the A27 between Brighton and Shoreham, i got some great shots there a few years ago, but went back last week and it looks like they are refurbing it. There were contractors on the gate who didnt like the idea of me coming in when i asked them (i thought what do i have to lose!).
re comments below about the police being called. You could say i have a little knowledge on the subject and can say that it would be unlikely that the police would attend at this point in time. The reason being is that tresspass is a civil matter, not a criminal one (that is unless damage was being caused) and many officers from various areas are being kept busy with the labour party conference in brighton at the moment and i dont think that photographers wandering around wasteland would be high on their priority list.
Hi,
I am so gutted I have only just found out about this place and its to be knocked down!!
Can anyone recommend any other plaves in Sussex?
Cheers
Hellingly has been sold for housing development, and plans have been confirmed to start building... theres been enough warning on here to grab your chance to see it, YOU DONT HAVE LONG!
Flubbera87 :
The best way to get in is the back, park your car within the village, and follow the dirt track which heads towards the asylum, you can find this on www.bingmaps.com or google maps etc... at the end of the dirt track there is a path follow the path up till you reach a fence, pass through the tight gap and head up along the path, your know when your close when you bump into a burnt out vauxhall frontera, carry on up the path and when you reach the fence go right and follow it along till you find a gap... by this time the shere size of hellingly is apparent. and you can the choose which way you'd like to get in ... just make sure you can remember the route back once your in =]
ocassionally you may bump into people who know the place like myself so probs better to tag along with them, if its ur first visit
dont go there during the day though its pointless, doesn't have its atmosphere then
head up as its starting to get dark, keeep your tourches low till your in the building
See you there !
There are No mentally ill people on the site of hellingly just making that quite clear, there could be ghost 's or spirits if you beleive that type of stuff... and there probably is deffo in the rooms where the restraining beds are !
Great pictures & enjoyed reading everyones comments, for anyone that is interested I found a website that has video footage of inside Hellingly, posted a month ago. www.vimeo.com
elo people my name is andrew i have been in hellingly lods of time but the construction has started on the building and i will be gone in 3 weeks time so they are keeping there security up 2 ship shape if u do go up there do not go up at day time cause there is so many people up there night is the best but even then there is people there there are new cctv that goes straight to the police and they walk around with police dogs all they time i know this cause i went up there 2 days ago and got stopped the guy that stopped us was well all right but they are really on the look out cause of halloween they said they where going to have somthing like 50 units there on that night cause of what happened there last year if u would like to know any thing else add me on msn scobbydoo5@hotmail.com and i will tell u more cause i know my way round that place in pitch black without a tourch cause we have run off to scare are mates lol
just add me if u wanna know more thanks for reading
Can i just clarify what is the best way to get in at the moment ?, If anybody knows it would help alot . Im hoping to get there around 5is sat afternoon. Ive only got one friend comming as the other chickend out ?..(Maybe because of the experience we had a few weeks ago else where)
Its going to be my first time going to this place as it is a little way for me to go, so would like to be able to get in ?
Help me please !
CHEERS
me and a few friends whent alomg to hellingly asylum on monday evening. we drove along the drive and instantly got spotted by security who followed us in their car. we were able to get into one building by treking through the park wood but this was a bit difficult due to the holly bushes. the building we found had a big skip outside and a load of broken tv's and fridges. not sure what this building was used for but found a common room and upstairs there seemed to be some bedrooms. as it was getting dark we didn't stay long but my friend took some photo's. would love to explore again before it gets knocked down and would really like to see some of the other buildings but not sure how to access these other than going along The Drive.
p.s the site is still used to house and treat forensic patients and so the are is busy during working hours.
Hey Slaughts.
Me and a couple of friends may be joining you as we are hoping to be there sometime this weekend. Not sure when as traveling from Hampshire. Cant wait.
May see you there !
Would love to do a paranormal investigation at Hellingly asylum but from what I have read here, it doesn't look like that will happen. Does anyone know who I might be able to contact, hopefully before the demolition begins, as to wether we can get permission do do a vigil? Please, please someone must know
Havn't got long left guys! Latest from "CAMHS" (Child and adultlesent mental health service of East Sussex) this is the company that use to run hellingly... the building is soon going to be knocked down, and either be sold on by CAMHS to housing development, or become the new headquaters for CAMHS....
Do not miss out on your last chance, we will be there friday, saturday and/maybe sunday night ( 11- 3am), feel free to join us explore the water tower, the basement tunnels, the great hall and much more...DONT forget a tourch though
those that plan on going then or before, the BACK route through the woods is the best way to get in...
Thanks Joe, Chris, Ell ...
a couple of days ago me and a couple of people trecked it all the way through the woods and across the field as when i first came to see the asylum me and a friend got follwed by the security guard and dog in our car and were told to get permission ,on second attempt(the back way) we managed to get in no problem !the fencing around it was open at the back and we just slipped in through a window, we came across some other people taking photos wich defently scared us until we realsied they wernt security!or anyone els what an amazing place for photograpghy! would have liekd to stay longer but was getting dark so left,but defently going to try and go back and search teh whole place as its too big for only a couple of hours exploring!
hellooo peeps i went to the hellingly aslym yesterday and there was one security bloke there with no dogs! he wudnt let us in the building because of our saftey. but he sed you can but as soon as u cross the fence he wud call the ol bill. he did say he wud go in and take pitures for us but tht aint the same. so we found a way in thu the wood but the bloke herd us and put the fence back up and he drove towards the hospital too look for us but we wasnt in there thn we ran out. he also sed its getting knocked down 2day shame realy. took some gr8 pictures frm the out side tho but freaky loads of orbs and one on of the pictures had 666 across it strange it was all in lights. take a look urself link to the picture - www.facebook.com would of liked to go inside.
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