Entrance to Maindiff Court Hospital, Abergavenny

Image: © Jeremy Bolwell Taken: 24 Mar 2013

Abergavenny was once home to two large mental health hospitals, of which this one, the smaller, survives. Maindiff Court was built in 1877 by the South Wales ironmaster, Crawshay Bailey II as a country house. In 1924 the estate was presented to Monmouthshire Asylum Committee becoming Maindiff Court Hospital. Maindiff Court became a military hospital during World War II and also housed and treated POW's, the most notable being Rudolf Hess, Hitler's deputy, who was held at Maindiff Court from June 1942 until the Nuremberg Trials at which he was sentenced to incarceration in Spandau Prison. Poor old Hess was kept here for debriefing, assessment and observation, having his own room but he was guarded by MP's (Military Police) at all times. He was allowed a high degree of freedom given his erstwhile status, often being driven about the local countryside by his redcap minders. His favourite places locally were the Sugar Loaf, White Castle and Coed y Bwnydd wooded hillfort, a beauty spot in spring. Hess also liked to speak with children and seemed glad to be out of the Nazi regime and in British hands. As we all know, I hope, mental illness is more widespread than some people would believe and Maindiff Court provides a vital service over many years with four wards which lie within beautifully kept gardens and grounds. Ty Skirrid, a 12-bedded ward for forensic rehabilitation which caters for men and women who have a mental disorder and have offended or are at risk of offending and provides on-going psychiatric treatment, Lindisfarne, a 3-bedded un-staffed unit which is overseen by staff from Ty Skirrid which provides unsupervised semi-independent living prior to discharge, Hiraeth Day Hospital provides 12 places a day for 5 days a week for the Abergavenny and rural communities. The ECT department provides electro-convulsive therapy treatment facilities for serious disorders and the Gwent Specialist Substance Misuse Service. Good luck to all former patients and future ones.

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