IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Hawley Drive, WEST MALLING, ME19 5FL

This house and many buildings in the grounds (extending to 270 acres) were a mental hospital for some 1200 residential patients. The hospital opened in 1936 and closed in 1996. The buildings have stood derelict since then, but demolition of most (and restoration of the Grange as flats) has just begun. New housing will be built on the rest of the site.

These are three of the many derelict villas within Leybourne Grange Hospital. The hospital was a residential home to some 1200 patients with mental disorders, but closed in 1996. Now, demolition of the entire site has begun, with plans for 700 new homes to be built.

These decaying villas (mental hospital wards) at Leybourne Grange have stood derelict for more than ten years. The site has been so peaceful. But demolition has begun - new homes are to be built.

This tower is visible (as a glimpse) from the M20 motorway, but please don't be looking for it while you are driving! The tower, the stables around it, and Leybourne Grange itself are currently being restored to become the centrepiece in a new development of some 700 homes on the site of the former Leybourne Grange Hospital.

Leybourne Grange opened in 1936 and it once covered an extensive 270 acres and was once home to 1200 patients with various degrees of mental disability. Patients lived in a total of 27 villas which split them into male, female and children. Leybourne Grange was designed to be completely self sufficient with its own farm, industrial laundry huge boiler house with enormous water tanks, a kitchen garden and workshops. There were houses for married staff and a large nurses block too. In 1992 Leybourne Grange began to implement closure with patients gradually leaving until total closure in 1996. Demolition has already started to accommodate a total of 722 homes, comprising 702 new properties and the conversion of the listed manor house into 21 apartments. All of the homes will meet the EcoHomes Excellent standard and 176 will be available for affordable rent or shared ownership, giving more people the opportunity to become homeowners.

Derelict for many years, these buildings are "listed" and are about to be restored along with Leybourne Grange itself.

Leybourne Grange is the site of a large Manor house (Leybourne Grange), in whose grounds was built a mental hospital (opened 1936 closed 1996) and a special needs school (also closed). The site is presently being redeveloped as a large housing estate (Birling Grange).