West Park Mental Asylum, Epsom

Now, I know this is not exactly post related but I got very excited about this.

Yesterday my friend drove me to the derelict shell of West Park Mental Asylum in Epsom as part of her new photography project. As you approach this ominous looking building you become overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the place. It is just like a haunted house found in films.

http://www.abandoned-britain.com/PP/westpark/1.htm

The endless empty corridors, the cavernous floors with gaping holes and the abandoned equipment once used by medics and kitchen staff. The walls are all covered with peeling paint that creates a marvellous shaggy texture throughout.

Treading through the darkness we would often come across dead ends or rooms that were too dangerous to enter. All the time I felt like someone was watching us; it had a very oppressive feeling as you walked down the winding passages.

The spookiest parts were a room in complete darkness with a window of light shining on a solitary wheelchair and the padded cell.

We were only there for a few hours but it is so large that you could easily get lost and spend a good few days documenting the place. I wouldn’t recommend exploring on your own.

Here are some photographs I took on our visit.