The heart of Cane Hill, the chapel, looms above the buildings around it. You can
just see the stained glass windows behind the bush in the center of the picture.
I've been in the chapel and it's still in excellent condition.
Behind the chapel, which you can't see in this picture, is the Main Hall, an even bigger building,
which, sadly,
has been totally destroyed.
Architecturally, Cane Hill is very different to Netherene, the other asylum built five miles
down the road. Netherene was more spread out with separate water town and chapel. And as
the site is redeveloped, these buildings can be converted for new uses.
Alas, for Cane Hill is very compact by comparison, and everything is forced together
in one uniform lump. Great for urban exploration, but for re-use, or conversion,
then it’s a difficult proposition.
Giving names to faces, from left to right, we have the Admin offices and
the Patients Library. Then there's the gap, by the chapel, where patients were
admitted (they didn't go in through the front door). After the gap, we
have the Social Workers' hang-out and then Olave/Queens starts.
