The Hidden Glasgow Forums

Cazzie wrote:Told me they used to hose down the frozen chickens with hot water to defrost them.....and this was a hospital!

Wait! your not supposed to do that?

caine wrote:god, i spent 4 days in there when i was younger with meningitus(sp?) wasnt a fun affair i'll tell you!

Me too, although thankfully i never had meningitus.

Was there when i was around 14 and spent it in my own wee room in a ward in one of the outbuildings. Worst experience ever.

Great pics dazza - thanks for the replies all, once i psych myself up, i might take a wee sneak around.
Looks thoroughly bleak, not surprised if people didnt just drop down dead with all-out dread at the prospect of going there!

Posted By sumac To The System [Jun 26, 2006 at 01:53 PM]
My memories of Ruchill are semi-pleasant. Most of the time I was too young to take in the nice bits, and remember more about the pain, needles, etc. but I remember some Christmases there and those memories are wonderful. Nurses' choirs at midnight to herald Santa's coming, a fantastic day of fun provided by the nurses. And a spell where my mum was banned from visiting because she tried to smuggle me home! We could only wave to each other through the window and me only about 5! Matrons were the bosses in those days.

So... I guess Ruchhill was semi-pleasant!

Chris...

This is one place I've not explored, and I'm fascinated by some of the photos I'm seeing.

I've been there on official business (not health related, thankfully) a number of years ago but have never explored the entire site since its total closure.

Aside from the dilapidated state of the buildings, is there much local wildlife (aka the common ned/jaikie) to encounter? Bilsland Drive/Ruchill is a shitehouse of an area, and I'd imagine that this would be a dangerous exploration on many levels.

Anyone been there recently?

Timchilli wrote:is there much local wildlife (aka the common ned/jaikie) to encounter?

Nah! there's 24/7 security on site to keep them at bay

Timchilli wrote: Bilsland Drive/Ruchill is a shitehouse of an area

Most if not all of the old scheme has been demolished in recent times and new builds in place.
I kinda miss the old Bisland Drive with the Xmas decorations going up inside and out come late September. It's just not the same anymore

Timchilli wrote:I'd imagine that this would be a dangerous exploration on many levels.

Anyone been there recently?

Yeah, it's extremely dangerous - the right side of the enquiry block blew off in the wind! The remaining buildings have floors like cardboard and gable ends that could topple with a nudge.

I see from today's ET that the site is valued at £5m, with up to £80m mneeded to develop it to housing, and 12 compnaies are interested in buying it.

Given that there are listed buildings involved, but they are in poor shape, what hope have we of GCC showing backbone and making them renovate the old buildings and use them for housing (after suitable decontamination etc), or will Ruchill go the same way as the RIE in Edinburgh where the council let the developers knock the old buildings down as they did not fit with the devlopers master plan of offices, penthouses and housing.

What chance of a development of good quality housing, mixed with some shops, play areas, and the old hospital converted into flats - not necessarily penthouses, but a modern use for the old building........

What is actually listed?

So, I open the unlocked gate at the main entrance to the now derelict Ruchill Hospital. Wanders in, and starts snapping away. Had a good old adventure until I spotted a security guards portakabin. Thought I'd better get his attention before i went any further into the grounds.

"Awright mate. You dont mind if I just batter in and get some more photos?"
>>"How did you get in here?"
"Through the main gate"
>>"Naw ye never, thats locked"
"Aye ah did, cause naw it it isnae"
>>"Well, ye still shouldnae be here. It's dangerous"
"Nae worries. I'll just make my way out"
>>"Ye cannae"
"How no?"
>>"You'll need to be escorted off the premises"
"Your joking!! Can I not just walk down the road I just walked up?"
>>"Naw, too dangerous"
"Eh, ok"

So, i was escorted off the premises.........but not before I grabbed some more shots while i waited for the guy to get his keys and jacket.

I think the security guard said it went for £11million. The other problem they are facing now though is that a family of deer have taken up residency in the grounds.

Application to completely demolish 'building 4' - the main reception building.

Link to report

Local councillor says:

''It is not an acceptable solution for the owners to seek to break the original construction agreement on account of failing to fulfil their duty to safeguard the property.''

Planning department says:

''Grant subject to conditions''

news just in.....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/gla ... 176985.stm

Apart from the hideous g;lass triangle at the front (bottom of the picture) I don't think it looks to bad. even the new housing seems to be designed on the straight rows of the old buildings, which gives the plan an almost 'Port Sunlight' look for those who have been.

The large green areas worry me that either a) residents will get upset with people playing football etc on it o b) the developer will list the whole estate as private, and not have the open spaces available for the local populace to use as amenity space - I note the picture shows no fences at the edge of the site, but that could be just for aesthetics. There also seem to eb a lot of wooded areas near the main road through the site, which may be less than ideal given it will be a walking access, although if well lit and thought out they could be more welcoming as opposed to intimidating.

It could be a scale thing, but the 'roads' between some of the housing blocks - especially either side of the main building do not look large enough to get cars down and parked outside each house. Does this mean that there will be car parking areas then walkways between the buildings - this may be a factor - especially in the current weather in people buying them!

Looks like the development is canned.

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/disp ... itched.php