Monday 4 December 2023

Friday 1 September 2023

State Cinema, Grays

History

The State Cinema is a Grade II* Listed building in Grays, Essex. Designed by F. G. M. Chancellor under Matcham & Co., it opened in 1938 as one of the most modern cinemas of its type at the time with seating for 2200 people. As a cinema, it closed in 1988 but has held numerous events and been used for various purposes since. Historic England describe the cinema as being "one of the best preserved of the super cinemas of the late 1930s."

Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Cinema

Esoteric Eric












Saturday 8 July 2023

Cefn Coed Hospital, Swansea

History

The hospital was designed by George Thomas Hine and Hallam Carter-Pegg using a compact arrow layout, and was officially opened by the Princess Royal as Swansea Mental Hospital in 1932. It was used as a casualty hospital during the Second World War.

In 2002, the University of Wales Swansea reported that the hospital had to lock up patients due to understaffing.

Work started in 2009 to build modern replacement mental-health accommodation and facilities, including Ysbryd y Coed, which is purpose-built for patients with dementia, in the grounds of Cefn Coed . Other new-builds in the Cefn Coed grounds are the 18-bed Gwelfor Rehabilitation Unit, a pub featuring non-alcoholic beer called “The Derwen Arms”, and two supported houses for recovering patients preparing to move back home.

In March 2015, the health board's new low-secure mental-health unit, Taith Newydd, opened in Bridgend, replacing some of the old wards at Cefn Coed. Other new mental-health builds include the ARC Centre and Angelton Clinic in Bridgend, and Ty Einon in Swansea. In 2015, the NHS announced that the phased closure of Cefn Coed Hospital would continue for the next three to five years, with several decommissioned wards planned for demolition that year.

Source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cefn_Coed_Hospital

Esoteric Eric















Friday 7 July 2023

Barking Power Station 33kv Switch House, London

History 

Barking Power Station refers to a series of power stations at various sites within the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham in east London. The original power station site, of the coal-fired A, B and C stations, was at River Road, Creekmouth, on the north bank of the River Thames. These stations were decommissioned by 1981 and were subsequently demolished.

Source:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barking_Power_Station

Esoteric Eric 




























Belsize Park Deep Level Shelter, London

History

Belsize Park is one of eight London Underground stations which have deep-level air-raid shelters underneath them. The shelter was constructed in World War II to provide safe accommodation for service personnel.

Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belsize_Park_tube_station

Esoteric Eric