Great video Allan. I worked there in the 5 years before it closed tragic to see what has happened to all those beautiful grounds and care in the community as we feared is a farce.
I worked for a company back in 1983 that carried out the refurbishment of two wards at Friern, there was a lady there called Kathy that would come to the window of the ward and ask for cigarettes', every day she would say she was leaving today, she was packed and Albert was picking her up at 3 o'clock. when we spoke to the orderlies they said she had been in their her entire life. Her family had her sectioned her, rather than admit she was pregnant with Albert's child. Albert had been killed in 1918, fighting in France. Just the saddest story I have ever heard.
My Mum and Dad used to work there as ward orderlys until December 1970. I remember the mile long corridor and some of the wards when they'd take me there on the odd occasion especially when they'd be on alternate shifts. I remember the patients too, mostly elderly. I am not impressed that the complex has been turned into luxury apartments and houses at the cost of turfing out patients under the dubious notion of 'care in the community' being the new approach. Shame that rotten Thatcher wasn't thrown in one of the labyrinthine parts of the hospital and left there to perish after its closure.
@@Thenormalguy_real_one The place fascinated me as a child ... my nanny used to take me with her to visit her husband who sadly suffered brain damage from a fall at his place of work How lucky you are to live there I was glad to see it repurposed same as St Pancras Station both buildings were occupied by pigeons for a long time Architecture has always fascinated me My dad was an architect and engineer Buildings and engineering of all kinds from the past especially ancient technology has so much to teach us I think we went backwards I think we used to live in unity and sympathy with mother earth without destroying this beautiful world with ugliness and monstrosities that we do now Hope your home gives you the resonance of peace and tranquility that I feel it was designed to do ✨️
I used to work the (OT) in the 80s -ward 35 then ward 16 - I remember the fire (ward 15). The patients really suffered with the impending 'care in the community' - especially recidivists as, technically Friern was their safe place...their home.
I stand 100% with the feelings and sentiment portrayed here. YES, care in the community was/is/will be forever the antithesis of what the phrase suggests and YES, so very very sad to see places built to care for the needy and downtrodden being sold out from under them to cater to the ephemeral desires of 'the haves'.
I've been researching the schizophrenia vs shaman concept which lead to unfortunate closure. Just watch those who live in those luxury apartments. Some will no doubt suffer psychosis of some sort in future due to some upset entities from the original hospital grounds. Shame on That-Char.
Surely this beautiful Victorian structure must have fallen into the Grade I or II listed category ? .... Why did they demolish it, although at least some parts have been saved from the wrecking ball !! .... What a shame, but I guess the past history might be a factor to its demise ? ... A great post, and an insight into the former Colney Heath Lunatic Asylum - later renamed the Friern Barnet Hospital.
One of the biggest sexual abuse scandals ever .. It was a "Open house" for men to pay to enter and abuse (In some cases brutal and almost to the point of death) many of the vunerable patients .Many local people would go to the fences and offer "treats" in exchange for sexual touching etc .Years ago, the deaths there did not have to be recorded or explained . This came to good use for many of the abusers. 37 years ago Local taxi drivers where all talking about it and how they would be dropping off and collecting the perverts .
Great video Allan. I worked there in the 5 years before it closed tragic to see what has happened to all those beautiful grounds and care in the community as we feared is a farce.
I worked for a company back in 1983 that carried out the refurbishment of two wards at Friern, there was a lady there called Kathy that would come to the window of the ward and ask for cigarettes', every day she would say she was leaving today, she was packed and Albert was picking her up at 3 o'clock. when we spoke to the orderlies they said she had been in their her entire life.
Her family had her sectioned her, rather than admit she was pregnant with Albert's child. Albert had been killed in 1918, fighting in France. Just the saddest story I have ever heard.
Lovely video thank you 😊 🙏
Very touching! Sad to see hospital closed down.
My Mum and Dad used to work there as ward orderlys until December 1970. I remember the mile long corridor and some of the wards when they'd take me there on the odd occasion especially when they'd be on alternate shifts. I remember the patients too, mostly elderly. I am not impressed that the complex has been turned into luxury apartments and houses at the cost of turfing out patients under the dubious notion of 'care in the community' being the new approach. Shame that rotten Thatcher wasn't thrown in one of the labyrinthine parts of the hospital and left there to perish after its closure.
Little Sweetie guess what I live there now
@@Thenormalguy_real_one
The place fascinated me as a child ... my nanny used to take me with her to visit her husband who sadly suffered brain damage from a fall at his place of work
How lucky you are to live there I was glad to see it repurposed same as St Pancras Station both buildings were occupied by pigeons for a long time
Architecture has always fascinated me
My dad was an architect and engineer
Buildings and engineering of all kinds from the past especially ancient technology has so much to teach us
I think we went backwards
I think we used to live in unity and sympathy with mother earth without destroying this beautiful world with ugliness and monstrosities that we do now
Hope your home gives you the resonance of peace and tranquility that I feel it was designed to do ✨️
I was there in 1982>1991 it will be my home i go back to see her sometimes i sit in park and look
I used to work the (OT) in the 80s -ward 35 then ward 16 - I remember the fire (ward 15). The patients really suffered with the impending 'care in the community' - especially recidivists as, technically Friern was their safe place...their home.
Great memories of the summer fetes here
I stand 100% with the feelings and sentiment portrayed here. YES, care in the community was/is/will be forever the antithesis of what the phrase suggests and YES, so very very sad to see places built to care for the needy and downtrodden being sold out from under them to cater to the ephemeral desires of 'the haves'.
I've been researching the schizophrenia vs shaman concept which lead to unfortunate closure. Just watch those who live in those luxury apartments. Some will no doubt suffer psychosis of some sort in future due to some upset entities from the original hospital grounds. Shame on That-Char.
I wouldn't want to live there. 'Empress of the Colney Hatch Palace'.
Surely this beautiful Victorian structure must have fallen into the Grade I or II listed category ? .... Why did they demolish it, although at least some parts have been saved from the wrecking ball !! .... What a shame, but I guess the past history might be a factor to its demise ? ... A great post, and an insight into the former Colney Heath Lunatic Asylum - later renamed the Friern Barnet Hospital.
It's not been demolished it's been converted to flats called Princess Park Manor
One of the biggest sexual abuse scandals ever .. It was a "Open house" for men to pay to enter and abuse (In some cases brutal and almost to the point of death) many of the vunerable patients .Many local people would go to the fences and offer "treats" in exchange for sexual touching etc .Years ago, the deaths there did not have to be recorded or explained . This came to good use for many of the abusers. 37 years ago Local taxi drivers where all talking about it and how they would be dropping off and collecting the perverts .
What a load of rubbish. Worked there from 1974-84 and never witnessed anything you describe. Your post is a work of fiction.
Derick...Maybe you just dont want to feel guilty ?
Mad nonsense
Evidence any of this ever happened or STFU.
Very nice.