I know there is a thread already about urban exploration, but the last post was written two years ago and I don't really want to bump a 2-yo thread.
You can reply when any photos you have or your urban exploration visits if you like.
So today I went out to explore an old abandoned mental asylum in Thorpe St Andrew, Norwich. Sadly because every single window and door is boarded up, getting in was not really possible and also it would be pitch black inside, so sorry about the lack of inside pics.
The asylum was closed in 1998 I believe, but I think it was used as offices up until a few years ago - apparently the police occasionally use the building as a place to test firearms and so on, so apparently inside there are loads of shells scattered all over the place, as well as of course old furniture and medical equipment. If you want to see some inside pics, I'd suggest taking a look at these two threads here http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/showthread.php?t=13192 and http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/showthread.php?t=17229
The building is obviously Victorian and I was very surprised to see how big it is! It is actually a lot bigger than I thought it was going to be! As I walked round I could see where explorers had ripped boarding off the windows and smashed glass in order in to get in. I couldn't also help but feel as if the asylum would be a perfect place for an ambush - it was a pretty haunting place! I also couldn't help but think that it'd be an awesome place for filming.
Getting to the asylum was pretty easy. There are no fences or anything stopping you from accessing the building, you just literally turn of at a roundabout and drive up a road and you're pretty much there.
If anybody is interested in urban exploration and is visiting the Norwich area of Norfolk, I'd definitely recommend a visit - even if you can't get inside, it's interesting just wondering around the outside. I can give you the exact location and some other abandoned buildings in Norwich which you can explore if you like. PM me if interested!
Right, enough reading, here are some photos. Sorry they're not the greatest and sorry for all the B&W shots. The weather wasn't the best and B&W shots suit this building anyway.
So above is the main entrance as viewed from the road.
Yeah as the asylum only closed 14 years ago, all the original NHS signs are still in place, including this one by the main entrance (nobody could be bothered to remove them I guess?)
Scary stuff! Dad didn't want his car to get clamped, so as I walked around taking photos, he drove alongside me. There is a road going around the whole building anyway, so it was easy.
Here's the entrance from a different angle.
Entrance tower.
See what I mean by 'every window and door is boarded up'?
There was a car park for staff out round the back as well as this boarded up outhouse.
There's another outhouse.
There's a view from the back.
So there we go! My first real bit of urban exploration. Next time I'll go somewhere where I can get inside, but I thought the asylum would make an interesting visit, especially as my Mum did some work there back when she worked with the NHS.
You can reply when any photos you have or your urban exploration visits if you like.
So today I went out to explore an old abandoned mental asylum in Thorpe St Andrew, Norwich. Sadly because every single window and door is boarded up, getting in was not really possible and also it would be pitch black inside, so sorry about the lack of inside pics.
The asylum was closed in 1998 I believe, but I think it was used as offices up until a few years ago - apparently the police occasionally use the building as a place to test firearms and so on, so apparently inside there are loads of shells scattered all over the place, as well as of course old furniture and medical equipment. If you want to see some inside pics, I'd suggest taking a look at these two threads here http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/showthread.php?t=13192 and http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/showthread.php?t=17229
The building is obviously Victorian and I was very surprised to see how big it is! It is actually a lot bigger than I thought it was going to be! As I walked round I could see where explorers had ripped boarding off the windows and smashed glass in order in to get in. I couldn't also help but feel as if the asylum would be a perfect place for an ambush - it was a pretty haunting place! I also couldn't help but think that it'd be an awesome place for filming.
Getting to the asylum was pretty easy. There are no fences or anything stopping you from accessing the building, you just literally turn of at a roundabout and drive up a road and you're pretty much there.
If anybody is interested in urban exploration and is visiting the Norwich area of Norfolk, I'd definitely recommend a visit - even if you can't get inside, it's interesting just wondering around the outside. I can give you the exact location and some other abandoned buildings in Norwich which you can explore if you like. PM me if interested!
Right, enough reading, here are some photos. Sorry they're not the greatest and sorry for all the B&W shots. The weather wasn't the best and B&W shots suit this building anyway.
So above is the main entrance as viewed from the road.
Yeah as the asylum only closed 14 years ago, all the original NHS signs are still in place, including this one by the main entrance (nobody could be bothered to remove them I guess?)
Scary stuff! Dad didn't want his car to get clamped, so as I walked around taking photos, he drove alongside me. There is a road going around the whole building anyway, so it was easy.
Here's the entrance from a different angle.
Entrance tower.
See what I mean by 'every window and door is boarded up'?
There was a car park for staff out round the back as well as this boarded up outhouse.
There's another outhouse.
There's a view from the back.
So there we go! My first real bit of urban exploration.
Next time I'll go somewhere where I can get inside, but I thought the asylum would make an interesting visit, especially as my Mum did some work there back when she worked with the NHS.
