Opened in 1903, the East Sussex County Asylum (later named Hellingly Hospital) was designed by notable asylum architect G.T. Hine. It was closed in 1994, and has been falling into disrepair and decay ever since. As of 2011, demolition is now thoroughly underway, and over half of the asylum has already gone - new houses are already built on the land. Many of the photographs in this set have been post-produced in Photoshop, to exaggerate the lighting in an attempt to capture the drama, and to an extent, the horror of the place. Having been working on these pictures for days now, I am "deeply immersed in Hellingly" at the present time, and as I look closely at the details of the decay feel a deep sense of sadness that such a beautiful building has ended its days smashed up and unloved, prior to being bulldozed into the ground. Although not the intention when I was taking the photographs of Hellingly, I now see these images as a visual tribute to a place that must hold within its walls some truly terrible memories, but also to a place that was once the pride of its architect - an amazing building. More photos on my other blog: http://vivaciousvphotography.blogspot.com/2012/03/last-days-of-hellingly.html

The psychiatric hospital was designed by William C Clifford-Smith (architect to the London County Council), and was mostly completed by 1917, but opening of the hospital was postponed by WW1 until 1923. By 2003 most of the hospital was closed and derelict, although parts of it are still used today for psychiatric treatment.

Places visited during Urban Exploration outings, in addition to those such as West Park Asylum and Hellingly Asylum which have their own galleries