rauceby virtual asylum | heather ward
Last update: 14|02|08
rauceby virtual asylum


Heather Ward - Based on the 1902 plan





Heather Ward - Post 1930s plan





As time was running short and we still had many key areas of the hospital to cover, we made the decision to skip the female wards. Our justification was based on the assumption that the female wards would’ve been converted and used in a similar manner to their male counterparts. This decision was made easier by workers from Bloom Demolition actively stripping fittings from Syringa Ward, thus marking it off limits.

However, we elected to quickly photograph Heather Ward before moving north back through the hospital. And I already had pictures from Rosemary Ward during one of my earlier visits to the hospital, so two female wards were documented in the end.

Heather Ward was originally the female Sick And Infirm Ward and the counterpart to Hazel. The extensions made to Hazel were also added to Heather; not only did this maintain the symmetry of the hospital, but showed how additions and extensions were made to both female and male wards.

Heather Individual Rooms #1: East
The single room and attendant's room to the north of the ground floor dormitory had been totally changed. A new corridor to the south partitioned these rooms from the main dormitory and this is the view eastwards, down the new corridor, and towards the bathroom at the end.


Heather Single Room #2: North
The former single room was now tiled and looked like it was now used as an examination room.


Heather Bathroom #3: North
Hine's extra bathroom was still a bathroom. The hoist and lifting apparatus next to the bath confirmed the ward's continuing use as a Sick And Infirm ward.


Heather Attendants Room #4: North
The former attendant's room was now a store room, still fitted with shelving.

Heather Toilet #5: East
The former water closet was still a lavatory.


Heather Dormitory #6: North
This is the view of the former dormitory looking north towards the new corridor partition. The door to the left lead out the ward, the central door lead to the new corridor and the converted rooms beyond, whilst the door to the right lead to the toilets and bathroom.

Whilst the beds had gone, curtain mounts and wall lights indicated that this room was still used as a dormitory for the lifetime of the hospital.


Heather Corridor #7: South East
Moving right, we now took the corridor between the dormitory and the day rooms. The doors to the right lead to former attendants and single rooms.

Heather Day Room #8: South East
Like all the other day rooms, the room had been modernised and redecorated.

Heather Day Room #9: South West
The room still retained its original bay window. The banniser for the new sloping walkway next to the extended day room can be seen through the left hand window.


Heather Day Room #10: South
Like its male counterpart, the second day room of Heather had been extended outwards, doubling the size of the room.


Heather Dormitory #11: South
Likewise, the ward's second dormitory had also been extended during the lifetime of the hospital.


Heather Main Corridor #12: North East
We were now leaving the ward via the main corridor north eastwards.


Heather Kitchen #13: East
Originally an attendant's room was adjacent to the ward, and then the Scullery, but the two had been knocked into one room and was now a sizeable kitchen.

Heather Clinical Room #14: East
One of the former single rooms was now converted into a small clinical room. Some medical equipment and bottles still remained.

Heather Clinical Room #15: Detail
Close-up of a remaining equipment left in the clinical room.




    Return to: Rauceby Virtual Asylum