High Royds Hospital

File:High Royds Psychiatric Hospital 1.jpg

The {{convert|300|acre|ha|abbr=off|adj=on}} estate on which the asylum was built was purchased by the West Riding Justices for £18,000 in 1885.{{cite news|title=Sale signs finally go up on High-Royds hospital but doubts linger over sell-off|url=http://www.ilkleygazette.co.uk/news/8049252.Sale_signs_finally_go_up_on_High_Royds_hospital_but_doubts_linger_over_sell_off/|accessdate=14 March 2016|work=Ilkley Gazette|date=16 November 2000}} The hospital was designed on the broad arrow plan by architect J. Vickers Edwards{{NHLE|desc=High Royds Hospital|num=1001469|accessdate=14 March 2016}} and the large gothic complex of stone buildings was formally opened as the West Riding Pauper Lunatic Asylum on 8 October 1888.

The administration building, which is Grade II listed, features an Italian mosaic floor in the main corridor{{NHLE|desc=High Royds Hospital|num=1240191|accessdate=14 March 2016}} which is intricately decorated with the Yorkshire Rose and black daisies - the latter of which provided inspiration for the title of Black Daisies, a television screenplay filmed at High Royds which took as its subject the experiences of sufferers of Alzheimer's disease.{{cite web|title=Black Daisies for the Bride|url=http://www.highroydshospital.com/galleries/black-daisies-for-the-bride/|website=High Royds Hospital|accessdate=14 March 2016}}

The hospital was intended to be largely self-sufficient, and had its own library, surgery, dispensary, butchery, dairies, bakery, shop, upholster's and cobbler's workshops and a large estate partly devoted to agriculture and market gardening.{{cite news|title=It's the end of an era as High Royds closes down|url=http://www.ilkleygazette.co.uk/news/8017387.It_s_the_end_of_an_era_as_High_Royds_closes_down/|accessdate=14 March 2016|work=Ilkley Gazette|date=27 February 2003}} The patients lived in wards and if they were able, were expected to work towards their keep either on the farm, in the kitchens or laundry,{{Cite web|url=https://www.ilkleygazette.co.uk/news/18830739.high-royds-hospital-setting-new-film/|title=Teenager shortlisted for film about real life High Royds escape|website=Ilkley Gazette|accessdate=28 September 2021}} or in various handicraft facilities. The hospital was formerly connected to the Wharfedale railway line by its own small railway system, the High Royds Hospital Railway, but this was closed in 1951.The Railways of Wharfedale, Peter E. Baughan (1969) David & Charles (Publishers) Ltd

The report into the abuse committed by Jimmy Savile notes that he had carried out instances of abuse at High Royds Hospital in the 1980s. The report said that the assault was during a fancy dress fun run at the hospital and that the witness was credible and accepted the allegation as true.{{cite news|title=Jimmy Savile's hospital abuse: the full dossier|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/jun/26/jimmy-savile-hospital-abuse-full-dossier|accessdate=14 March 2016|work=The Guardian|date=26 June 2014}}{{cite news|last1=Tate|first1=Chris|title=Police outline allegations against disgraced DJ|url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/10157873.Jimmy_Savile_assaulted_victim_at_High_Royds_Hospital__Menston__finds_investigation/|accessdate=14 March 2016|work=Telegraph and Argus|date=11 January 2013}} It was also alleged that Saville groped not only patients but also staff from the hospital and a porter was asked if there was a room that Savile could go to if "he pulled one of the nurses".{{cite news|title=Savile 'groped women' at High Royds Hospital, report reveals|url=http://www.ilkleygazette.co.uk/news/11303926.Savile___39_groped_women__39__at__High_Royds_Hospital__report_reveals/|accessdate=14 March 2016|work=Ilkley Gazette|date=26 June 2014}}

In its final years of operation, High Royds become outdated and unsuited to modern psychiatric practice. This was acknowledged by the chief executive of Leeds Mental Health in 1999 after complaints from consultants about violence and cramped conditions on the wards.{{cite news|title=Hospital 'at crisis point'|url=http://www.ilkleygazette.co.uk/news/8067527.Hospital__at_crisis_point_/|accessdate=14 March 2016|work=Ilkley Gazette|date=3 March 1999}} After services were transferred to St James' Hospital and the Mount, High Royds Hospital closed in 2003.{{cite news|title=Developers unveil their grand plans for the High Royds hospital site|url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8018216.Developers_unveil_their_grand_plans__for_the_High_Royds_hospital_site/?ref=arc|accessdate=14 March 2016|work=Telegraph and Argus|date=6 February 2003}}

In June 2017 a planning application was submitted to convert the administration block and workshops for residential use.{{cite web|url=https://www.ilkleygazette.co.uk/news/15393922.Controversial_plans_to_further_develop_former_hospital_site/|title=Controversial plans to further develop former hospital site|date=6 July 2017|work=Ilkley Gazette|accessdate=1 October 2018}} The residential development is called Chevin Park. The final stage of redevelopment began in March 2019 with the conversion of the clock tower. The former ballroom is now a residents lounge.{{Cite web|url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/lifestyle/homes-and-gardens/see-inside-transformed-former-leeds-psychiatric-hospital-high-royds-88532|title=See inside the transformed former Leeds psychiatric hospital High Royds|website=www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk|accessdate=28 September 2021}}

Since its closure, the site has been used as a film set for the film Asylum,{{cite web|url=http://www.highroydshospital.com/galleries/asylum-the-movie/|title=Asylum the movie|publisher=High Royds Hospital.com|accessdate=1 October 2018}} as well as for the successful television series No Angels,{{cite web|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8081461.High_Royds_chosen_for_filming_of_TV_drama/|title=High Royds chosen for filming of TV drama|date=11 August 2005|work=Telegraph and Argus|accessdate=1 October 2018}} Bodies,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/leeds/content/articles/2008/07/22/film_leeds_independent_studio_feature.shtml|title= Martin Cook-Lights, Camera, Action|accessdate=4 July 2014}} Fat Friends,{{cite web|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/watch-see-inside-this-haunting-former-asylum-1-8474628|title=Watch: See inside this haunting former asylum|date=4 April 2017|work=Yorkshire Post|accessdate=1 October 2018}} Heartbeat and The Royal.{{cite news|title=High Royds chosen for filming of TV drama|url=http://www.ilkleygazette.co.uk/news/8081461.High_Royds_chosen_for_filming_of_TV_drama/|accessdate=14 March 2016|work=Ilkley Gazette|date=11 August 2005}}

The drama Diamond Geezer starring David Jason which aired on ITV1 in March 2005 was also partly shot at High Royds.

Leeds band Kaiser Chiefs have written a song ("Highroyds") about the former hospital. Three of the band (Nick Hodgson, Nick 'Peanut' Baines and Simon Rix) used to attend St. Mary's Catholic High School, the school that faces High Royds Hospital.

The hospital was the focus of a 2010 Open University documentary about asylums called Mental:A history of the Madhouse.{{cite news|last1=Marcus|first1=Laura|title=Film goes behind the doors of the asylum|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2010/may/12/mental-health-documentary-history-treatment|accessdate=14 March 2016|work=The Guardian|date=12 May 2010}}

Anna Hope's novel The Ballroom is set in the asylum in 1911.{{cite web|url=https://www.ilkleygazette.co.uk/news/15148612.Asylum_story_to_be_made_into_movie/|title=Asylum story to be made into movie|date=10 March 2017|work=Ilkley Gazette|accessdate=1 October 2018}}

Ross Farrally, a local historian from Leeds, published three books that delve into the history of the hospital through personal accounts. All three publications include interviews with former staff, patients and their families. His insight and knowledge offers a glimpse into the former Victorian hospital between 1949 and 2003.{{Cite web |title=Ross Farrally |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ross-Farrally/e/B0B94LDZNC/ref=aufs_dp_fta_dsk |access-date=2023-07-08 |website=www.amazon.co.uk |language=en-gb}}

• Listed buildings in Guiseley and Rawdon

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{{commons category|High Royds Hospital}}

• [http://www.highroydshospital.co.uk/ High Royds Historical Archive]
• [http://www.highroyds.co.uk/ High Royds Village]

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Category:Hospital buildings completed in 1888

Category:1888 establishments in England

Category:2003 disestablishments in England

Category:Buildings and structures in the City of Bradford

Category:Defunct hospitals in England

Category:History of mental health in the United Kingdom

Category:Hospitals in West Yorkshire

Category:Hospitals established in 1888

Category:Former psychiatric hospitals in England