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London County Asylum

Long Grove Hospital

Date founded: 1903

Date opened: June1907

Date closed: 1992

Location: West side of Horton Lane , Horton, nr. Epsom, Surrey .

Architect(s): George Thomas Hine FRIBA, Consulting Architect to the Commissioners in Lunacy.

Layout: Compact arrow with villas. Female blocks on west side.

The third asylum (excluding the Epileptic Colony) to be constructed on the Horton Estate and to the west of the Horton asylum. Long Grove was named after a nearby area of woodland located on the former Horton estate and close to the asylum. The Long Grove light railway was constructed in order to convey materials to the site of the asylum during its construction, and following completion was purchased by the County of London, and renamed the Horton Light Railway to be used to supply the hospital with goods traffic, as well as the neighbouring Central pumping and power station and West Park site. Long Grove provided no local health services, as the catchment area covered parts of central London

The Long Grove asylum was the third and to follow the Bexley asylum plan for accommodation for 2,000 patients. This re-use of this plan enabled the London County Council to pass the plans through the development stage and approval by the Commissioners in Lunacy quicker than a new plan could. The improved financial situation of the council allowed the use of red brick and marginally more embellishment as opposed to yellow stock brick at Horton and Bexley sites. Other alterations included the siting of the three storey administration block to the south front, eight male and eight female blocks on each side of the main complex. These ward blocks were typical of Hine's style, in red brick with courses of yellow stock brick banding and concrete lintels above sash windows. Villas and other detached buildings differed with the use of pebbledash on the walls of the upper floor. Grey slate was used for roofing.

The central axis of service buildings included the administration block, recreation hall with flanking male and female staff blocks, kitchens and main store. As usual gender specific workplaces such as laundry, workshops and boiler house were located on the side relating to their respective workforces. The large semi circular corridor, open to one side initially, linked all wards, with spur corridors making the entire main complex easily accessible. The water tower was simple in design, similar to those at Horton and Bexley, with peaked cap roof behind a stone capped parapet. Parole and infirmary blocks were situated within the grounds, as was a detached chapel, senior staff and official's housing and an isolation hospital.

Later additions included a nurses home (c.1910) almost identical to those added at Bexley and Horton but situated north of the laundry. As at Horton, Bexley and West Park few other major additions took place until late in the life of the hospital such as social and occupational facilities.

Administration, sick and infirm and acute/recent blocks, both detached parole villas, private villa and a senior staff residence survive as residential conversions. The porter's lodge and gatehouse are in private residential use Isolation hospital stands derelict. Chapel was destroyed by fire following an attack by arsonists. All other buildings cleared for new residential development. The grounds have been partially preserved. (2005)

Link to Aerial Photographs

Gatehouse and Porter's Lodge

 

     

Administration Block

 

   

Female Sick and Infirm Block

 

   

Female Acute and Recent Block

 

   

 

 

 

Female Acute/Recent Blocks

Male Acute/Recent Blocks

 

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© 2005 Pete Cracknell