Cain Hill ( Dream Location 2 )

Cane Hill (Asylum)

Cane Hill has become an almost legendary place with those who are interesed in abandoned places in the UK. Arson and natural decay of the last 13 years have not been kind and I felt I was due a visit to this unique place before it became impossible.


Cane Hill Was completed in 1882 and at its peak held a maximum of 2000 patents. It was considered at the time to be a prime example for the treatment of the mentally ill. Largely unchanged this imposing Victorian asylum continued to serve the Surrey area for the next century.


The care In the community act of 1980 marked an end to society's widespread use of Asylums for the treatment of those suffering form mental illness. By the end of the decade Cane Hill was in decline finally closing its doors to patents in late 1991.


         The years that followed have seen Cane Hill slowly begin to deteriorate. Arson has hit hard with a series of attacks in various wards, corridors, outbuildings and even the main entrance. The result of which has been improved security and a very serious looking fence topped with razor wire surrounding the entire site.

What is it about disused hospitals that’s so interesting? I mean, I’m assuming it’s not just me who gets a strange sort of thrill out of nosing through old hospital records and inspecting questionable machinery?

Well, thanks to the wonders of the internet, it is no longer necessary for you and I to go sneaking around boarded up buildings whilst attempting to dodge security guards wielding angry Alsatians because… you can always find someone who’s already done all the dangerous stuff for you – urban explorers are worth their weight in gold! (Health & Safety bit – I am in no way suggesting that you all go out and invade your nearest derelict hospital armed with torches and ski masks. Urban Exploration can be a very hazardous turnout and is best left to the experts… No, really, it is.)

One place that grabs my undivided attention with both hands is Cane Hill, an old psychiatric hospital in Coulsdon. It opened in 1882 and was capable of holding over 2,000 patients (apparently in 1953 they had about 2,400 people stuffed in there). Cane Hill finally shut up shop in 1991. Sadly, once it closed, the hospital suffered terribly at the hands of arsonists and those who just fuck everything up once there hands touch anything" dick heads" and a general lack of maintenance, so many of the floors soon fell through or were so spongy you took your life in your hands if you walked on them but Cane Hill still remained an incredible place. Sadly, demolition of the vast hospital began in March 2008 and was due to have been completed in January 2010, leaving only a couple of the original buildings standing. I guess all good things have to come to an end and some point.

Both Michael Caine and David Bowie had half brothers who attended Cane Hill and Charlie Chaplin’s mother also went there until Charlie could afford private care for her. Treatments dished out at Cane Hill varied from electroshock therapy to hydrotherapy and as time passed they even cracked out some light and art therapy, too. I know which ones I would opt for…

Cane Hill was, of course, a ghost hunter magnet for arm chair whanna bes. How could it not be with its deserted corridors and spooky old chapel. There are stories of security men patrolling the site with their hard-as-nails dogs, only to have the animals run away whimpering from a figure seen wandering amongst the trees. Upon further investigation, the grave of Cane Hill’s first superintendent was discovered amongst the undergrowth.

One of my favourite urban explorer, Simon Cornwell, documented Cane Hill over the years so I highly recommend a visit to his website to see the photos (link below). During a visit to the enormous chapel they have on site, Simon came away with some interesting ‘spectral mist’ but sadly I not be adding them as I think its breath more than a ghost trying to shows its self. So I not be adding that to this page" thank god"

To be honest, I don’t think Cane Hill needs reams of ghost stories to enforce the fact it was a brilliant place and haunted. As you will see from this page and links I have added on this post, and if you visit other Urban Explorer websites (from whence some of this information came from , thanks guys for that), it’s clear just how enigmatic and intriguing the place was but again sadly has to go down as one of my all time dream locations. I have no real pictures to post with regards to any ghostly activity but who knows, maybe YOU might have some!!!