Butleigh Hospital, nr Street, Somerset
I first explored Butleigh Hospital in 2008. It had been abandoned for three years but well boarded and while there was a bit of damage to the interior I hadn’t expected to see the hospital in such a state when I explored it in October 2012.
Just over 4 years had passed since I first visited and immediately it was clear that Butleigh has been well and truly forgotten about. The exterior, while boarded up in places, is like a sieve. Windows have collapsed and porches fallen in on themselves. Visiting in 2008, the only way in was a rather clever route through the basement and crawling up inside the main hospital staircase, eventually squeezing through a hole made by previous visitors. Now it’s a case of simply walking in the front door…
The Explore
Walking in to the once grand foyer, with it’s solid staircase was a shock. If the outside was in disarray, the inside was a wreck! Half of the stairs were missing, I’m not sure if that was down to “health & safety” concerns of the upper-level floors or someone just decided to have them away!?
There’s still a nice, creepy feeling to Butleigh Hospital. Even though most indicators that this huge building was even ever a hospital have been removed, if you look closely enough there’s some interesting details.
After a quick scout on the first-floor, it was decided that the flooring was way too fragile to continue. The second-floor flight of stairs were completely removed so we’d have to concentrate on the ground floor.
Butleigh Hospital is like a Tardis. Inside there’s room after room, followed by large wards & day rooms. It’s really surprising when from the outside it looks just like a large manor house. Unfortunately, since my last visit, the wards had been stripped. Beds and dividing curtains all gone and nearly every scrap of metal thieved.
If you like decay and general dereliction then Butleigh Hospital is still a nice little explore, but don’t be expecting anything spectacular.
UPDATE: Sadly, Butleigh Hospital became victim of arson on 5th February 2013 and demolition has begun
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I had my tonsils out in the hospital when I was seven, so that must have been either 1949 or 1950. I remember there was a lovely girl in the next bed and we held hands.
I don’t suppose she’ll be reading this but if she is…
Robin Brett.
I was born there in October 1951 this is the first time I have had a look for it and I was shocked and saddened to see the dereliction that has been allowed to happen. Even more so to read the report that extensive fire damage may have caused it to have been demolished.
I was born here back in 1972, is it true about bats in every room? should have change my career for a life fighting crime
Sorry to see it gone but glad to at least see a picture of the building
Thanks UrbanExplorer :)
It upsets me to see how this beautiful building was just left for many years to decay and then set on fire. I was a nurse there for 9 yrs between 1991-2000. Loved it. A very, very special place with a wonderful work force who clearly loved their jobs. It has since been demolished and there are no signs of what it was. very sad to see this building gone! Now a housing estate!😕
I used to work there on the wards. Loved the hospital and it’s staff whom I worked with. So, so sad that it was left to decay like this and finally a victim of arson. It was a much loved hospital. Sadly missed by all.
I was born in Butleigh Hospital in March 1953, it’s good to see that it hasn’t been forgotten. I live in South London now. I have a booklet about the history of the hospital but it’s at home…otherwise I’d give you the title and publisher… I’m not on the internet at home so rely on my local library which is where I am now.
My library is going through some changes and we are fighting to keep it as a proper Library with Librarians employed instead of volunteers. Street Library was also under threat last time I was there. Keep an eye on it, don’t let them undervalue Librarians!
I’m afraid it has been forgotten as it’s now completely gone and new houses stand where it once did
I still have some artefacts from Butleigh hospital, and I must confess that I did ‘liberate’ some of the beautiful 110 year old pitch pine staircase… but it was preserved as an artefact not wasted, and I’m glad I did, a year later it was all toast.
Now, it’s several large ugly ‘template country-style’ houses, modern, ugly and not a scratch on the beautiful hospital that stood before it.
I agree with you, when it became empty it could have become the village school plenty of parking for parents drop off, and enough ground at the back for play ground etc;
A crying shame
Can you still get in here?
Not a fan of reading then, Urban boi? The report above and several comments state that the place is sadly no longer there.
I can confirm it has been demolished as my Gran lives in the area and it’s where my Mum was born.
Such a shame about Butleigh hospital – great memories of a student nurse placement there, in 1993… Also spent time at Wells cottage hospital too (again, sadly no longer in existence ?)
Wow. I had my tonsils out in the 60s there and I’d forgotten the glass doors. Thanks for the memories.
Hi Bev, my first baby was born in Butleigh Hospital in 1960 and my second one in 1962. Wonderful memories of a beautiful old building. Took my daughter to see where she was born and we were both distressed to see it in ruins, this was before the fire. Thank you for your post.
I was born here on the first of july 1961 spending all my youth in Glastonbury up till Sept 1979 then 38 years in Yeovil now in Essex since my Mum sadly passed away July 2013
Yep, sadly gone.
My brother was born there, and my Gran died there…
There were bats in the delivery room, even back in the mid 70s!
Wow!!! My sons were both born there in 1967 and 1978. In 1968 my daughter was born at home. We mums had 10 days with our feet up, babies mostly in the nursery. I loved it there. They had a walled vegetable garden and grew fresh produce that fed us fabulous home cooked meals. Still remember stuffed marrow. Yummmm. Sooooo very sad it’s gone.
Hey, just wanted to know if this place is still standing :D
would loooovveee to go see there is a group of us that are all so interested in urbexing and met on this website :D
That’s great you all met on my site! I really don’t know what the current state of Butleigh Hospital is or how much destruction the fire caused.
I expect the place has been torn down due to being unstable, but there’s only one way to find out!
Hi, my name is Sue, I was working in Somerset a couple of years ago when they had the floods and I noticed an abandoned house that had notices up outside saying private property keep out, I had a good look around the vast overgrown garden and counted 27 very old cars, vans, a camper van and all sorts of old household items hidden under bushes, you could not see any of the items from the road, the house itself would have also been flooded as was the rest in the village, sadly the house is all boarded up so no access was to be gained, it was also in a bad state of disrepair, after talking to locals I was told the man that owned it died a few years ago but the family cannot find the deeds to prove he owned it so cannot do anything with it. For the life of me I cannot remember the name of the street it was on, I am pretty sure you would love to see this place if only for all the cars buried by Mother Nature and the passage of time.
Hey Susan this place sounds amazing, I was just wondering what village or where abouts it was near to?
Rachel.
Bulding now demolished and replaced by a new nondescript building development.
I know because I only live a few miles away.
It’d be great to see some photos the next time you’re passing, Andy.
How do I get to this place?
You go to Butleigh, basically. Although, if you read the article fully, you’ll see that the building has been demolished as result of a fire.
My daughter was born at Butleigh in 1970. The two weeks before they had had more babies born and a bottom draw was made up for a bed. When it was my turn I was the only mother with baby for ten days!
Unfortunately it has been demolished and houses built on the site.
I certainly will!
Hey, do you know if this place still stands? Stunning pictures, I would love to check it out as im local!
Thanks
I wouldn’t think so. The fire damage was extensive and I believe the entire building was torn down. But if you’re local, go see and update us all! A photo would be appreciated.