By Cover Of Darkness

Understandably, many of my visits to the site were during daylight hours. On several occasions though, we were intrepid enough to risk exploration under the cover of night. There were many reasons for doing this, perhaps the most obvious of which was that age old notion of "spooking" ourselves out. In the same way that people get their adrenalin rush on a theme park roller- coaster, we loved the thrill of searching the unknown, forbidden ruins by moonlight. It also proved to be the perfect location for a photo-shoot of our doom-metal band National Disorder. On such excursions, which occasionally proved an effective way of frightening the girls, we left the car in its usual spot in the Feathers Inn car park. The ½ a kilometre or so of wanderings on foot down the dark winding Berry Hill Road, entombed beneath ancient foliage, brought an enhanced air of apprehension by night. You knew where you were heading, and you knew that, regardless of how nervous the walk was making you, once the hospital walls themselves came into sight in the dim torchlight, you would become infinitely more uneasy. I guess it was a bit like being a condemned prisoner being led to the execution. Once you are commmited to the walk, there's little you can do about it but try to contain the nerves as much as possible.

The group assembles at the base of the wall, just to the left of the boarded-up entrance gates. "Warning - Group 4 Security - Trespassers Will Be Prosecuted" - What, with their record? Contrary to what the warning signs might say, experienced hospital adventurers will tell you that there is no evidence whatsoever for the place being patrolled by day or night - no guard dogs like we were promised. The fact that it has been abandoned for over fifteen years now would make such an endeavour unjustifiably costly. On a couple of daytime occasions, we have witnessed workmen of some description within the site (which is very common sight today in 2001, now that the "redevelopment" plans are underway). Due to the enormous scope of the site, we always managed to tiptoe unseen around them. No, there's isn't a danger of running into "officials" at night. But this assured lonliness only serves to make you even jumpier. After scaling the crumbling brick wall, trying hard not to shred your hands on the glass shards embedded into its top, the only entity to contend with is that of the hospital itself. And, believe me, it seems to be watching your every move. Perhaps that's just paranoia. Or perhaps it's because I've been given good reason to be apprehensive. Very good reason...