I was staying in a hotel near this place, so this wasn’t a planned explore; however I was looking around the area on my Google maps when I noticed the saved pin. I’ve not been exploring since April so this was a welcomed opportunity to have a look around the abandoned hospital.
Lancaster Moor Hospital was Lancashire’s first County Lunatic Asylum. It was formerly known as The County Lunatic Asylum. The decision to build it was taken in 1809, one year after the permissive County Asylums Act, 1808. The hospital opened in 1816 as the County Lunatic Asylum for the County Palatine of Lancaster.
It was only the fourth asylum to be built under the terms of the Act in the country. It was extended in 1824 and 1883, and by 1891 it accommodated 1833 patients. In that year its administration was transferred to the new Lancashire Asylums Board of Lancashire County Council.
Additional buildings, known as Ridge Lea, on the ‘villa’ principle were added in 1907, 1909, 1912, 1916 and 1938. These buildings were chiefly to accommodate private patients.
Ridge Lea finally closed down in 2016 and the nearby Lancaster Moor site and Chapel has now become houses and apartments.
HAUNTED
There is no written documentation to say that Ridge Lea is haunted in fact looking through forums of past patients who have stayed here during the 1960s and 1970s state they never experienced anything of a paranormal nature at all…
Charlene Lowe Kemp
However, I do believe paranormal teams have been here but I can not account for what they claim is here. I would personally take into account what past patients say as a more reliable source since they stayed and lived here at some points for long periods of time…
Charlene Lowe Kemp
My late mother and uncle both had stays in Ridge Lea back in the early / mid-70s, interesting to see the place as it is now. Thank you.
You are very welcome. Thanks for commenting 🙂