At the top of the stairs was this amazing room which had been used for uniform repairs.
We spent quite some time in there while we ate our sandwiches, it had a lovely atmosphere and the woodwork was terrific.
Eventually we headed out past the still open door on the corridor. We discussed using this door and running past the security but while Spook was quite keen I preferred the leisurely sneaky way out. We exited carefully through the vent and walked toward the corner of the building checking for the security patrolling. I was just about to get my camera out of the bag for some pictures of the outside when I saw the two security guards in a car reversing back out of sight behind the building. They had obviously seen us and were hoping to trap us by the gate.
We sprinted down and over the fence by the gate, jumped in the car and drove off, passing the guards coming the other way but they didn't notice us in the traffic.
Later we went back to the front of the hospital and Spook walked down the drive past the unattended security office to take pictures of the front of the hospital, while I chickened out and walked along the footpath the other side of the fence. Suddenly there was the sound of spinning wheels and the security guards, who had obviously been looking for us shot round the corner and drove straight up to Spook. One guard jumped out and went berserk with Spook for trespassing and taking photographs, so, being Spook, he took a couple more and walked out. I dread to think what that guard would have done if he'd found us inside the hospital, probably exploded.
All together a very interesting and enjoyable trip. To explore a place so recently closed with no vandalism was a privilege. I was pleased with how much of the original building was still there but disappointed with the plain architecture. I suppose being built by the Workhouse for very poor people it wouldn't have had any unnecessary money spent on it.
