Barnes Convalescent Hospital, Cheadle.

Barnes Convalescent hospital lies in the middle of a major road interchange near Cheadle.

Building of the hospital was started in 1871 funded by a donation of £26,000 from Robert Barnes.
The building was completed in 1875.

An 11th century preaching cross was found nearby when workmen were excavating clay to make the bricks for the hospital. 

Barnes closed in 1999 due to cost cuts at the Manchester Health Trust.

The estate was sold in 2001 to Reality estates but there are rumours that it was sold again in 2006 to an Arabian who plans to convert the listed building into apartments.

Whilst roaming through the building we saw evidence of this - many of the rooms were marked out in paint on the floor, showing where the different rooms of the apartments would be.
I would love to this this magnificent building restored and in use again, before it is too late, however, the paint markings are very old and other than some of the render being removed from the walls - possible for damp-proofing purposes, I saw no other evidence of work, other than demolition.

The Mortuary and the nurses housing are long gone, being later additions to the estate they were not listed and could be demolished.

Up until a couple of years ago there were still many items in the hospital and the police force used to use it for firearms and dog-training practice.

There was apparently no security on the building when it first closed, having only been on site since around 2006 when the mysterious Arab is rumoured to have bought the site.

Now, the site is stripped bare, whether by workers or thieves I don't know, but there is hardly anything left in the building to show they were ever inhabited.

Wildlife has taken the opportunity to use this safe haven amidst the hustle of the inner city, Rabbits and hares roam the grounds and birds sing contentedly in the trees. It is hard to believe you are trapped on all sides by motorways and major roads, in very close proximity.

I'll keep my fingers crossed that this beautiful building does not end up the way so many other listed building do - left until it is that unsafe that it has to be demo'd for "safety reasons"....
 

Visited 18-03-2009