West Park
West Park was the last of the “Epsom Cluster” of hospitals to be built, designed by William C Clifford Smith and originally due to be opened not to long after Long Grove, WWI delayed things a little and West Park was finally opened on the 20 June 1924 and provided for a total of 2096 patients.
The other hospitals within the Epsom Cluster were (in build order); Manor (1899), Horton (1902), St Ebba’s (1903) and Long Grove (1907)
The architectural construction of West Park was based on ‘colony’ principles but on an echelon plan; wards were grouped together within the same building. Each building had its own communal integrity but was linked to the others by long, connecting corridors that stretched out across the site.
By 1970, with advances in mental healthcare patient numbers fell to 1500 and fallen again in 1979 to little more than half at 1200. The site closed for good in 2003, sadly the Main Hall burnt down a year later. As of 2015 the main hospital wards have been converted and the central services demolished. The Water Tower still stands.
The other hospitals within the Epsom Cluster were (in build order); Manor (1899), Horton (1902), St Ebba’s (1903) and Long Grove (1907)
The architectural construction of West Park was based on ‘colony’ principles but on an echelon plan; wards were grouped together within the same building. Each building had its own communal integrity but was linked to the others by long, connecting corridors that stretched out across the site.
By 1970, with advances in mental healthcare patient numbers fell to 1500 and fallen again in 1979 to little more than half at 1200. The site closed for good in 2003, sadly the Main Hall burnt down a year later. As of 2015 the main hospital wards have been converted and the central services demolished. The Water Tower still stands.
