Netherne Hospital

Netherne Hospital opened in 1909 as a progressive “colony” style psychiatric facility, designed to be self-sufficient with its own farm, chapel, and recreational facilities. At its peak, it housed over 2,000 patients and was considered a model institution. The hospital operated for 88 years before closing in 1997, during which time it witnessed the full evolution of psychiatric treatment from Victorian restraint methods through to modern therapies. While much of the site has been redeveloped, the remaining abandoned structures and the land itself continue to generate reports of intense paranormal activity.

The most common reports involve sightings of former patients in hospital gowns wandering the grounds and appearing in windows of abandoned buildings. These apparitions often seem confused or distressed, repeating the same movements over and over. Shadow figures have been seen moving through corridors and between buildings, and many witnesses report the sensation of being followed when exploring the site. The sounds of screaming, crying, and anguished moaning echo from empty structures, particularly at night. Visitors frequently describe feeling sudden overwhelming sadness or anxiety when entering certain areas.

The hospital’s chapel, water tower, and the buildings that housed the most severely ill patients are considered paranormal hotspots. Investigators have documented unexplained voices, footsteps, and the sound of medical equipment that no longer exists. The former electroshock therapy rooms and isolation cells are said to be particularly active, with reports of violent temperature drops, equipment malfunctions, and physical sensations of being touched or grabbed. EVP recordings have captured what appear to be patients calling out, asking where they are, or pleading for help. The underground tunnels connecting various buildings are regarded as especially oppressive, with multiple reports of malevolent presences.