History -Hospital Timeline 3 - Severalls Hospital
Severalls Hospital
Hospital Timeline ~1997 to 2009~
Severalls Mental Hospital
Second Essex County Asylum
...past...present...future...
•1997 onwards –A “ring of steel” is erected around the entire site, consisting of 2.7m high galvanised steel spike-topped Paliside fencing –somewhat more cold and threatening than the Hospital’s original oak fencing of 1913. Around the time of closure, the following Buildings were in use, some still in use at the time of writing (2009): -The North East Essex Mental Health N.H.S. Trust moves its’ Headquarters into Birchwood; one of the former Satellite Villas. The War Memorial is also moved here from its’ original position in front of the Administration Building. The Assertive Outreach Team are also based here. -Severalls House, originally home for the Medical Superintendent, remains open to care for a small number of Patients with mental difficulties, and is known as the Rehabilitation inpatient unit for adults. -Chestnut Villa remains open for Pathology Services; Clinical Biochemistry, Histopathology & Cytopathology. -Headway House is opened; a Charity Centre offering support to people who suffer head / brain injuries, (located between Myland Court & Chestnut Villa). -Maplehurst Villa (later re-named Willow House & Cedar Court), remains open as Low-Secure Mental Health Units, also known as Cedar & Maple Units. -Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) Service at Rowan Ward. -Rivendell remains open as the Occupational Therapies Team for adult rehabilitation. -Former Staff Houses; Avon Dene & Oak House are sold, as is The Lodge; formerly the Gate House. •2000 – Permanent 24 hour Security is removed from the Hospital site. Security from now-on is more of an occasional visitation basis. •2002 – Severalls Hospital suffers what is believed to be its’ first arson attack. The Eastern Wards (Elim & Rose) are set alight with significant damage caused. •2003 – The North East Essex Mental Health N.H.S. Trust removes the stained glass windows from the Main Hall, to save them from vandalism. •2003 – Plans to sell-off Severalls Hospital and the Grounds is reported. •2005 – English Partnerships (the National Government Re-development Agency), acquires the Hospital and about one half of the surrounding Grounds, as part of the “Hospital Sites” programme. E.P. later becomes part of the Homes & Communities Agency (H.C.A.). •2005 & 2006 –Parts of Severalls Hospital are targeted by Arsonists, and tragically, the Main Recreation Hall is destroyed, along with part of the Southern Wards, Assistant Medical Officers’ Residence & Social Club. •2006 –Orchard Cottage, the former Farm Workers’ Cottage located next to Orchard Villa, is destroyed by fire, and again, it is treated as an act of Arson. •2007 –Severalls Hospital and the Grounds are put up for sale on the open market. •2007 –Ivy & Orchard Villas, two of the Satellite Buildings, are badly damaged by Arsonists. After the Building is made unsafe by fire, a security fence is erected. •2006 to 2008 –Colchester United's new Community Stadium is built on the former Hospital Farm; known as Cuckoo Farm. •2008 –The sale of the Hospital and Grounds falls through, due to the down-turn in the Economy & Construction Industry. •2009 –A new fence is erected outside the main security fence, which encloses Ivy Villa & Orchard Villa.
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