Hollywood Lodge, Epsom

My favourite photo of the set I took while trying out urban exploration for the first time.
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Hollywood Lodge is on old derelict building out on the outskirts of Epsom, Surrey. It was built in the late 1700s as a typical aristocratic manor. In the early 1820s the last private owner of the manor was declared insane and the site was sold to the health services. Shortly after being sold, it became an annex for the nearby West Park Asylum. Some time after that, it was converted into an old people’s home before it was retired from service and abandoned. During 2005 it was targeted by arsonists and the top floor, including the roof, was almost completely destroyed.

I also wanted to check out the West Park Asylum itself but I was stopped while walking past a security checkpoint (essentially a small container with windows) set up by building contractors. I couldn’t see the asylum from where I was standing but after looking it up for a bit, it seems that it might have been demolished late last year.