[JB] Former County Lunatic Asylum. By F. Whitmore and W.H. Town, 1910-13. In the Queen Anne style with Art Nouveau elements. Mainly red brick, with some render. Various buildings, including large central hall, wards and administrative offices connected by walkways to detached villa-style wards set in park-like grounds. Asymmetrically placed water tower, and separate chapel with lancet windows. Later additions include nurses' home, 1928, and four ward blocks, 1937. A major and, until its closure in 1997, largely unaltered example of a mental hospital laid out on the echelon plan characteristic of early 20th century asylums. The future of the hospital has been been in doubt since its closure and it has been the subject of a campaign to preserve the principal buildings and the overall layout. The grounds have been listed Grade II on the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens. [JB] All but the first photograph for this entry were taken by Josephine Grinham© in 1997 when the hospital finally closed. The last image is part of a set of photographs of a series of murals painted by patients in hospital corridors. For other photographs in the set see: Old postcards (upper, 1912??) by kind permission of J Jephcott. Large parts of the former hospital have been demolished in 2017, some buildings converted, as part of residential redevelopment (CBC planning application 160611).