Fairmile Hospital, Berkshire

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  Lynne, January 21, 2020 @ 15:29

  Hi Jayne, nice to hear from you xx
  I trained and worked at Fair Mile, in fact the last ward manager to leave there- I had 2 wards to close up. I was really sad to leave there to be honest- we were surrounded by peaceful grounds & a good / close community around us. Certainly can’t say the same when we moved to Reading.

  Still have my key & the ward’s name plate. Just a quick note for the new residents of Fair Mile- the names you have now eg Newlands etc aren’t in the right place; so not helpful if you are researching the place. Claire if you are still living there as want to know anything- I’m happy to help x

  Caroline Saxby!! How are you- you were my ward sister on Lambourne ward xx

  Dennis Smith- the archives, including patient details are now held by Reading Archives.

  Jane- I worked with your sister Helen; and was at her wedding. I’d love to be in contact with her again xx
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  Natalie, August 4, 2018 @ 08:38

  My Grandad was a patient on the George Schuster ward in the 60s/70s. It’s sad to hear this was not a good place to be. I have heard horrible things about his electric shock therapy. I wish I knew more about the place but it seems that his records and others around that time just disappeared. Not surprised at all. If anyone else knows any info about what went on in George Schuster I would love to hear!
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  A.woozeer, July 11, 2018 @ 18:48

  I was a student there but I was denied n badly treated by a head tutor named deConder a French lady coz a cadet nurse del fr me . I was innocent on it The tutor demobbed me fr student to pupil as she deliberately failed me my intermediate .I knew I passed it but I was suppressed n voiceless .Today am proud to say I hold a degree in nursing n psychology. Fr UK Iam writing a book on my life plz any body know this tutor get in touch with me. Many thnx n God bless.
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  Ruth Morgan, October 6, 2017 @ 05:03

  Is this where the Autistic Hospital School was, with Basil Grimshaw as Head? Trying to find some images/information. did my teacher training placement there.
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  tumbles, October 19, 2016 @ 20:53

  No
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  lew, October 18, 2016 @ 14:42

  is this building still up for photographing and urban exploring inside? need abandoned places for photography project.
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  Vambo, June 6, 2016 @ 05:15

  I had the misfortune to be a sectioned patient on George Schuster Ward in 1989 and I can assure you it was NOT a pleasant place to be at all. I was wrongly diagnosed and went through hell as a result. I don’t know how anyone could live in such a creepy place, where such evil things went on!
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  dennis smith, May 3, 2016 @ 03:59

  I am now 82, and my mother left home and five kids in Birmingham in 1936/7. no contact since,
  from census tracing we have found her at Fair Mile hospital? they have some records which I hope
  acquire, it’s been something of a shock to know she finished up there,her name was Florence(florrie)
  Smith dob 1902
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  Jane Goodey (nee Austin), April 23, 2016 @ 22:53

  My first job real job was a Fair Mile, after leaving school. My sister (Helen Belton, nee Austin) managed to get me a job as a cleaner for the summer after leaving school, before going to college. A real eye opener to a 16 year old. Despite everything people said about the patients at the hospital, it cateered for many different categories. To the patients it was their home, and they felt secure. It was a real shame when it closed. My sister, who lived on site, in three seperate locations and who met her husband there loved her job, and the people she worked with, they were one big family.
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  Jayne Pratt, April 15, 2016 @ 19:41

  Looking at this took me back – Fairmile was my first job at 18 , I worked as a Nursery Nurse on the George Schuster Ward and in the main hospital from 1980-82 and lived in Brightwell House in the grounds – I was away from home at 18 and the Fairmile family looked after me well , so many happy memories of an amazing place.

  Jayne Pratt ( was Collins)
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  Eula johnson( Pitt), February 28, 2016 @ 02:08

  Thank you.
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  Eula johnson( Pitt), February 28, 2016 @ 02:07

  I was in training at fair mile from 1966-1968,got married and moved to USA.we had some wonderful time there.i lived in one of the homes.livev on thr second floor of the hospital until rooms were available for the new comers.lot of girls from the West Indies.there we three homes for the trainers,and a fourth home for the guys.
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  Steve B, November 28, 2015 @ 01:00

  I worked as a teacher in Fair Mile in the late 80’s. I remember well some of the names on here – great to see some are still around!
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  Claire, September 30, 2015 @ 23:01

  Email is- pointclaire30@yahoo.co.uk
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  Claire, September 30, 2015 @ 23:00

  If anybody that worked in the hospital has some information n would like to get in contact to help us we would be really great full…
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  Claire, September 30, 2015 @ 22:53

  Paul i live in the faringdon block and heard many storys of what the ward actually was for… Me and some of my neighbours are tryin every way we can to find out some info on the hospital but mostly our block… If u could email with any info u have we would be so very great full, thanks 🙂
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  Ruth Emmanuel, September 1, 2015 @ 21:26

  I’ve just seen Fair mile hospital on Midsumer Murder, an thought I’d show my husband where I worked in 1983, which led me to yr site. I worked there for 3 years but was told an interesting facts about the site, apparently the original hospital was underground and the patients used to work the farm land above so it was self sustaining, (as being mentally ill was frowned heavily upon, that’s why patients were all kept underground). I did go down to the old hospital on a tour but bottled out it was very eerie, if this is a true story it’s a sad one. The hospital also had a river, a wood, a train track and a main road, not the best position for suicidal patients.
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  Bill Chappell, November 9, 2014 @ 04:41

  I want to say thank you to all the Doctors and Nurses at Faimaile for caring for my dear Brother John Edward Chappell (now deceased in 2001)
  He was there many years and it was home to him able to visit the local shops and enjoy the grounds as an ex Royal Airforce Soldier he adapted to the authority of the staff easily and we all wish our loved ones who have had some problems could have had a miracle cure the Hospital was a miracle in itself and the staff really were doing Gods Work and may I now looking back I wish them all of my prayers to say God Bless You
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  tumbles, May 19, 2014 @ 17:19

  Would love to see some pictures of the conversion + hall. Usually conversions are done well. It’s just a shame so many buildings elsewhere are lost.
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  Tom Hurst, May 19, 2014 @ 16:33

  I live in one of the apartments inside the former hospital building (Basildon Ward,first floor).It is a fantastic place to live,very peacfull.The building itself has a very calm feel to it and the views down across the cricket field towards the Thames are fantastic.I think the builders did a fantastic job turning the place around.Thanks to the internet there is a massive amount of information and pictures about the place.There is a talk and photos on May 20th in the Great Hall about the history of the place.
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  Caroline Saxby, April 13, 2014 @ 19:26

  Wow so many memories I trained at Fairmaile from 1983. finished at a Ward sister eventually oved on to Oxford. Now in Suffol no longer nursing. Such happy times but how times have changed caring for people with mental health now. Not all good though.
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  Claire, November 29, 2013 @ 22:44

  I live in one of the buildings that has bin converted, it’s a beautiful place and I love walkin round the grounds exploring, it can b a bit creepy at nite outside but I guess that’s just coz of the dark nights n the history of the grounds. I fell very lucky to live on such a beautiful development
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  Tony Spackman, January 31, 2013 @ 12:43

  I worked at Fair Mile (please note it is two separate words) for 33 years. I was there when it closed in 2003 and managed to “rescue” a number of photographs and a few other pieces of it’s history. The redevelpoment of the site is nearing its end now and the main central build is home to luxury apartments. The memories live on though!
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  tumbles, November 18, 2012 @ 16:14

  There were no belongings left, it was stripped inside. For many years it was very secure with an advanced PIR/Alarm system in place. Only around the time of my post was it accessible. There was the least amount of vandalism I’ve seen at a derelict hospital site bar St Mary’s in Stannington.

  The morgue wasn’t in pristine condition, it was trashed and boarded on one side.. all that was left was a metal slab and a child’s coffin sizing instrument.
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  potsy4499, November 18, 2012 @ 15:46

  The Fairmile has now nearly been completed re-development wise. The main building was left completely untouched on the exterior as its a grade II listed building afterall and the housing inside is exquiste. These photos are beautiful and show exactly what the place was like before the developers came in. For those of you questioning what happened to the belongings inside, well vandals. most of the stuff left there was destroyed by them or stolen so all that was left when i went to visit a couple of days ago was the basic structure of the room, its a real shame but i did find out that the morgue itself was in pristine condition and that everythign that was left in it has gone to the nhs to deal with.
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  paul, October 22, 2012 @ 22:53

  I had no idea the hospital was closed,,,very sad to see…pictures are great… i worked there as a very young n\a on farringdon early 90s…my first job when i left Ireland..had great times there and plenty of craic on nights out,,, great memories learned a lot about life and death.It thought me too live and travel lots while you can.thankfully which i still do .hoping all my former workmates are all well…..”christ was it that long ago?…”Wowww!
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  tumbles, November 2, 2011 @ 09:13

  Looking back at these with a smile. It was one very cold day to say the least. -16 on my car read out when we arrived. Brrrr
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  Dave venables, October 9, 2011 @ 17:30

  I have a big interest in rested asylums in the uk, I love photography (hobby) and would love to take some pics in these old buildings…

  my sister’s friend was a resident here some years ago. great shame.
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  paul nightingale, May 25, 2011 @ 17:39

  i trained as a sdtudent nurse here mostly on henley ward in the early 90’s i have fond memories of the building and the grounds. it wass abeautiful building and a shame to see it go to ruin.
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  mairead mcloughlin, January 29, 2011 @ 22:14

  Lol the dreded bath again!

  yeah it’s all fall alot of the equiment could bn sold off
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  Mark B, December 29, 2010 @ 15:20

  I drive past this place every Friday on my way home from
  Berkshire to Lincolnshire. I have done so for almost 4 years and
  only in the last year discovered one of my ancestors was a patient
  here in 1911. Very small world, and now I see it change as the
  developers slowly level the out buildings. The main building seems
  to be untouched so far.
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  Tigger, September 27, 2010 @ 19:48

  Its such a shame to see this building going to rack and ruin, but what disgusts me more is the fact that so much of the stuff inside could have been sold to scrap yards and antique dealers. The NHS could have made some of its money back i see so much waist here when all we hear about is the NHS needs money.
  The images are thought provoking my nan spent some time in there she had Alzheimer’s
  Thanks for sharing the photos though they are great
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  Gavin Richards, March 30, 2010 @ 12:09

  I heard that this has been earmarked for housing. Do you know what state it is in currently?
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  ted, February 23, 2010 @ 14:21

  hi jayne do you remember a patient called charlie herbert if so get in touch plz callaghan311@btinternet.com thanks
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  Jayne Gilbert, November 23, 2009 @ 16:44

  RE: I wonder where those nurses are now?
  Some have retired but several continue to work at the hospital that was built to replace Fairmile, (Prospect Park). I am the ‘Jayne’ written on the white board and have many very happy memories of the hospital where I began as a student and left as a Ward Sister. Many of the staff & patients have a special affection for this beautiful gothic building, its’ fabulous grounds and many of the facinating stories handed down.
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  Mike, November 21, 2009 @ 17:22

  Very thought-provoking. I need to locate this place and pay a visit.
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  Emgee, October 3, 2009 @ 22:02

  What a beautiful place, great panelling. The white board is an interesting touch, wonder where those nurses are now. I love the cold and frosty morning shot.

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