The Old Royal (for those that never saw it) was a fine collection of grand Georgian and Victorian buildings mixed in with porta-cabins and pre-fabricated
huts.
Sadly (?) the hospital was closed down. So before we left and after all the
patients had gone, some brave soles crept around the empty wards collecting equipment
and playing at silly buggers with the abandoned hospital equipment.
(Click a picture to see a bigger version. Select 'Back' after viewing the picture.)
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The lifts were right in the middle of the stairwells.
This meant you walked around a lift as it went up and down - just like
the old 1950's films. |
The guys sneaked into the abandoned hospital to wander
around. |
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The metal-work around the lifts was extraordinarily ornate. |
Craig shows us a typical patient visitor pose while testing
the still working headphones. |
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Every ward had a balcony area where the patients had some
of the most beautiful views in Edinburgh. When they build houses here
these views will cost big money! |
Amazingly these operating theatre lights were still wired
and working. Here Craig shows off his 'Nurse, I'm ready' pose. |
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Hidden in the corridors were control panels for controlling
radio output. These were still in good condition after many years of use. |
This was the 'secret' road to get to the studio. It was
supposed to be one-way but often cars would come around the blind corner,
surprised to see you coming the other way. |
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Here you can see the amazing wiring required to route
the radio signal around every ward. Apart from a few cobwebs the fire
hazard was minimal. |
Looking towards the shop and main route you would have
had to walk down when visiting patients. |
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Another picture of the 'old' wiring. |
A very sad picture. Here you see a beautiful cherry blossom
blooming for the last time. |
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Which way to ward 52? Who knows? The signs never ever
pointed to real places. |
Towers of concrete. |
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Malcolm and others take back some of the speakers from
the ward day rooms. |
When this was built it must have looked stunning. Now
time and misuse have had their toll. |
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"Is it the blue or red wire to stop the bomb?"
The walk tall was to remind the maternity patients. Apparently it helps
build up your pelvic floor muscles. |
More trees whose days were numbered. |
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Tommy - superstar. |
This building looked like something you might find some
50's horror film. Very brown! |
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We also broadcast through the chapel. This was the 'god'
switch. The resident priest could flip between radio and chapel output. |
Brown and beige outside and inside. |
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Tommy has a relapse. Luckily he has Red Dot Radio to help
him through the pain. |
Another building that will not be missed. |
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All through the Royal there were plaques and plates noting
the worthy people who supported the hospital. Clear conscience through
money? |
Hidden amongst brown and beige were a few stunning examples
of Georgian and Victorian magnificence |
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An empty ward with the nurses station still in place.
This is the infamous ward 27 - our best ward from requests. |
Sometimes when the sun caught the buildings just right
the brown and beige almost looked right. |
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Car parking was always a nightmare but we all had our
little secret places. |
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