St Andrew's Asylum, Norwich
It was closed in 1998 after the introduction of the Care in the Community scheme in the early 1980's and its use was in decline. Today just the main building survives after the rest was demolished and converted into housing, and the morgue building to the back of the property.
The main building is currently surrounded by Heras fencing and posts so it was difficult to gain entry. We wandered round the perimeter and found a way in that someone else had created. A window was open so we managed to get inside. I have to say it was a little disappointing once inside as everything had been stripped except the window frames and a few remaining doors. There was no access to the first floor or bell tower as there were no stairs or ladders, so we just had a look in each room on the ground floor. Each had a window and fireplace, typically Victorian, with tall ceilings and a grand front entrance. Every external window and door was boarded up and it was very dark inside but we had our trusty torches! There was just a single corridor which had about 8 rooms leading off, 4 or so either side of the main entrance. After we'd seen it all which took about ten minutes we ventured outside again and I spotted a small building across the grounds hidden amongst trees. It too was boarded up except for a window round the back so we made our way in. It was a single storey, two room building and had a cold creepy feel to it. This was far more interesting than the main building as it still had the original radiators, light switches, electric board and tiles on the walls. It also had nice light inside as there was a skylight in the end room. We chuckled at the "Don't Open Dead Inside" writing as we're both Walking Dead fans! We felt uneasy in this building and didn't stay long. After leaving site we found out this was the morgue. That would explain the creepiness inside! It took us less time to look round this place than it did to drive here, but it's another one off the bucket list!
