Barming Heath: Former Oakwood Hospital now St Andrew's House (2)

Image: © Nigel Cox Taken: 25 Jun 2015

This is the rear of the main west wing of the former Oakwood Hospital that was originally built as the Kent County Lunatic Asylum in 1833. It is now a residential apartment block. The building is Grade II Listed and the English Heritage website describes it thus:- "1833. Architect John Whichcord. 3 storeys ashlar. A long building with a projecting centre and 2 flanking wings. Stringcourses above ground and 1st floors. Cornice and parapet. The latter is slightly higher over the centre of the wings. Behind these higher portions are octagonal turrets on the centre of the roof. Pediment over the centre block with a clock face in the tympanum. 2-storey portico in front of this block with square columns, 3 arches on both floors in the front, those on the ground floor round-headed, those on the 1st floor square-headed, the sides of the ground floor solid, but of the 1st floor open with square-headed arches. Cornice over the whole portico. Glazing bars intact throughout the whole front and also iron grilles over the windows. Large recessed wings of 25 windows each at each end, probably a later addition. They are similar to the main wing, with end projections of 3 windows each." Comparing the current window configuration with that shown in a photograph taken in 2000 when the building was derelict it is evident that all the windows were formerly of the same small size that is visible in a few locations on the wing to the left.

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