Netherne Mental Asylum

joey: 24th Jun 2006 - 22:33 GMT

looks more like a 'long' forgotten bramble choked field, until you took these photos. now it is never to be forgotten. nice work. do the trees not bloom in this locale? after all it is summertime.

jack: 25th Jun 2006 - 04:22 GMT

i once was lost in a mental asylum and drifted from room to room. i spoke with abe lincoln and rudy valentino, it was by far the most craziest place i've ever been to and the women walk around with hospital gown on and no undies and they dont cover up.

Simon Cornwell: 28th Jun 2006 - 12:51 GMT

These pictures were taken in January hence the sheer bleakness of everything. Even in the midst of winter, the field was choked with brambles and nettles, so who knows if there's more under the undergrowth.

paige: 13th Jan 2007 - 16:31 GMT

i live in netherne and have beenin the grave yard a few times i have thought my house was haunted and still do allthough itis spooky it isnt scary bacause they have caused no harm. the graves in there are weird altoug u can only see 5 graves onthe slabe there is many more

Ian Spencer: 1st Feb 2007 - 13:20 GMT

I trained as a psychiatric nurse at Netherne (Sept. 1979-March 1984 - which included a stint at the nearby Redhill General to to my SRN training).
The Graveyard was in a similar state even then. There were also remnants of the old farms - poultry sheds, orchard. Generally, its a really lovely part of the world. I used to spend many a happy hour wandering quiet country lanes. Then not even all the staff knew where the graveyard was. I was told about it and then found it almost by accident. It was quite a nice place to work - although fairly awful for hundreds of institutionalised patients.

Imelda Pentony: 21st Mar 2007 - 23:51 GMT

Having trained at Netherne as a psychiatric nurse in the late 60s, I too stumbled across the cemetry by accident. i was actually picking blackberries along the hedgerows in Woodplace Lane . There was very little traffic along that lane then and it was a joy to take long rambles around the area of Netherne hospital.I once heard the old cemetry was a favourite place for courting couples after closing time at the Social Club which is nearby.Perhaps it wasnt so overgrown with brambles and nettles then!

Caroline: 27th Mar 2007 - 12:56 GMT

I lived at Woodplace Farm until ten years ago and we always did what we could to protect and respect the burial ground.I believe there are literally hundreds of poor souls interred there, many unrecorded deaths, forgotten people , so much pain. We alwys hoped they found peace in this beautiful corner and were comforted to see on your website that they are still undisturbed. It is a very spiritual place.
We once had to rescue a roe deer that had got hung up on that lovely old gate. Her companion, another hind, waited only yards away. They rested the night in the cemetary, among the brambles and next day they both melted into the woods.

kelly : 20th May 2007 - 17:21 GMT

i live on netherne but have no idea where this area is? wouldnt it be a nice idea to tidy it up?

Sharon: 22nd May 2007 - 15:35 GMT

I too live in Netherne and do not know where this cemetary is. Could someone please enlighten me. Many thanks.

Sam: 15th Jun 2007 - 23:42 GMT

Sharon,

The cemetary is well hidden away between the old tree nursery and the football pitch on Woodplace Lane. Take a look at the attached map, which should get you there in one piece.

Sam

Steve: 22nd Jul 2007 - 06:49 GMT

Sam,

Having just spent a day trying to find this cemetry without success I could really use some help. How can I view the "attached map" you refer to. I found Woodplace lane and the football pitch but no sign of atree nursery.

Steve.

Dev Ramdas: 25th Nov 2007 - 19:57 GMT

I trained at Netherne as a psychiatric nurse from 1979 to 1981 and did not know anything about the cemetery. It was a nice place to work and I have some fantastic memories of my time there.

susan anne hitch: 30th Dec 2007 - 16:38 GMT

ive just discovered my aunt spent some time here after she was sectioned,was hopeing some one whode worked there could tell me what it would have been like for the patience,
many thx in advance

Alan Ingram: 31st Dec 2007 - 18:42 GMT

My wife is trying to find any info about her uncle, Derek Arthur Bateman, who died in Netherne in May 1978. Any leads as to why he was there or any memories would help us to find a sadly forgotten member of our family.

Lucy Hart: 29th Jan 2008 - 19:12 GMT

I grew up in Netherne Lane as my father worked at Netherne,we used to go down to the graveyard by crossing over the farmers field stating from Park Lane.Netherne was a great place to grow up,the orchid,the woods and fields were all around us,and not once were we afraid to go out.I remember days of going out on my push bike and not coming home till late,and everyone knew everyone else.
The social club would take the estate kids up to Wembley every year to see the ice show,we would have sport days down 'the club',a bonfire every year...it was a great place to be brought up.

Deborah Kemp 30th Jan 2008: 31st Jan 2008 - 20:53 GMT

Like Lucy Hart I grew up in Netherne Lane also as my father worked at Netherne, we spent many a day on the estate playing in and around the hospital, in Boxers wood (end of Park Lane, to your left). Our parents never worried about us as we never wandered far. I remember the hospital xmas parties put on for staff and families followed by the pantomines, holiday on ice organised by the social club was a great one to. I moved back here two years ago and still live in the house I was brought up in. Alot has changed but when I walk around the village I smile to myself and think about the good old days. It's ashame the grave yard was never looked after there are only a few of us that remember it clearly.

Dinny Laufenboeck: 10th Feb 2008 - 08:17 GMT

I recently learnt that a Great-Uncle died at Netherne Asylum in 1916 after having been there for 3 years (admitted after a "normal" and productive life). In searching for more information about the institution, I came across this website. Thankyou Simon Cornwell and all who have commented on his article so sympathetically.

donna saunders: 24th Apr 2008 - 12:24 GMT

after recently doing some family history research, i discovered that my great uncle, Ernest Osman born 1908 died at netherne aged only 12 years old. I am trying to find out who to contact so i can see how the asylum would have looked when it first opened in 1907.

Sue Hadingham:24th April 2008 -19:50 GMT: 24th Apr 2008 - 19:03 GMT

My Grandfather was the senior administrator at Netherne for many years and similarly my Grandmother worked on the wards as a nurse. My fondest memories were also visiting the pantomime and staying at my Grandparents in Woodplace Lane. I loved my Grandads garden with huge vegetables and rhubarb that backed on to the downs and loved many walks around the hospital, grounds and surrounding area. I too am interested in finding archive images, and historic information as many people in my adult life weirdly seem to have been associated with Netherne at some time in their lives. We have found a common interest through working with mental health patients and people with learning disabilities now living in the community. I have two teenage children with learning disabilities, and recently been involved in a campaign with Michael Gove M.P. to keep my local residential care home open, where people with disabilities and mental health problems have lived for many years.

I always remember Netherne being a happy place,the patients seemed happy and i know my Grandparents loved working there.For memories sake i would like to find that information for something to keep and show my family friends and my children

Sue Hadingham:24th April 2008 -19:50 GMT: 24th Apr 2008 - 19:28 GMT

P.S., thought the photos are great. As an artist i might take a few of my own and post. Haven't been back to Netherne since my Grandad retired in about 1980.

Lucy Hart: 13th May 2008 - 14:23 GMT

Hi,there is a book that was written and photos taken by a guy called Goerge Foggerty(i think thats his name).Just after the hospital closed he sold these to the remaining workers at Netherne..i will see if i can get his phone number and he might be able to help you with any info you might like.

alan : 19th Jun 2008 - 13:57 GMT

Hi ALL,I LIVE IN NETHERNE NOW,THR OLD MALE CONVERSLESENCE WARD,I ALSO HAVE THE BOOK PEOPLE MENTIONED I WILL DIG IT OUT,VERY INTERESTING READING.