Walked over to the grounds of the Kingston Psychiatric Hospital this afternoon. Still operating in a 1960's facility up by King Street, the original Victoria facility - built in 1859 to 1870 and called the Rockwood Lunatic Asylum - is still there a few hundred yards nearer Lake Ontario. Some early history here. It is one of the largest of the City's Victorian public institutional sites but - compared to Fort Henry, Queens University, the Martellos, City Hall or Royal Military College - quite hidden on a large estate, the grounds of which are maintained as a public park.
Out front of the centre block of the Hospital, there is this oval fountain from 1895. I wonder which one of the brethren deserved the honour of having the basin named after him or her?
Below, the wall of windows is pretty ominous.
Below is the view from the lake-side walking path of the back of the same buildings set in the lawns.
Comments
Alan - March 29, 2004 11:11 AM
ALl I could think of is movie set. Attention Ian Williams! Canadian dollar still at 74 cents.
Robin Tippett - July 1, 2005 4:43 PM
Hi! I know this is an old post, I just stumbled across it while looking for information on the Rockwood Lunatic Asylum. Last week I went for a walk with my friend and a security guard told us we couldn't even walk around there because it's private property, though we didn't see a sign. Dunno, just curious to see if you have any information about it being public grounds. It used to be my favourite place to go at night and drink coffee.
Thank you for your time :)
Penny - July 12, 2005 3:13 PM
Hi There! My husband and some co-workers just did the roof of this old relic and said that the basement was so freaky that they wouldn't even go down there again. The hair was standing up on the back of their necks and have witnesses to say the place is definately haunted. There are old shackles and chains on the walls and the morge was in the basement. It was built in the 1800's and they said when they were just about finished a movie crew was there shooting a movie. Interesting Trivia for you?
Alan - July 12, 2005 5:50 PM
Very neato, Penny.
Laura - October 31, 2010 2:02 PM
I know it's probably way too late to put a comment on here, but I thought you might find it interesting to know that my great grandmother was a nurse at Rockwood. Matter of fact, I actually have a picture of her when she graduated with her friends and they're standing in front of Rockwood. I remember by mom telling me that my great grandmother and all the nurses would take straight pins and line the backs of their skirts with them so if an inmate grabbed the back of the skirt, they would let go immediately with a hand studded with pins. Thought you might be interested in that little bit of info.