A great set of photo’s sent in by Martin Cuthbert. Martin took these photos during a balloon flight on 30th September 2007. They are a fascinating look at the hospital from above. We can see the real size of the maze of wards and corridors that can not be captured in a ground shot photograph.

Read more: Aerial Photography

Step past the refurbished building, the lovely cut grass, the health club and restaurant and you may still find elements of the old place that still survive. Nature is taking them back, but some may still stand.

Part of an old gas works derelict and almost hidden away by trees and bushes:

Read more: Derelict Areas

Below are photographs of the asylum during the very early stages of redevelopment, some courtesy of Peter from www.countyasylums.com.

Read more: Restoration Works - Main Building

Pictures of St Luke's Chapel taken in February 2007. The chapel was finally converted into private living accommodation in 2024.

Read more: Restoration Works - The Chapel

These pictures were taken in 2007 while the site was awaiting redevelopment.

Read more: Restoration Works - The Infirmary

This article and photographs are courtesy of Dave Davies and Chris Allen. The article is about Robey Class E single cylinder fixed engine fitted with Robey patent drop valve gear, No. 24462. built in 1905.

Thursday 26th February 2009 was a red-letter day for the Robey Trust. It was the day when, after 24 years in the care of the Launceston Steam Railway, the trust’s second acquisition (after Stumbles the tandem roller) came home to Tavistock. The last of the trust’s engines to be reunited with the rest of the collection, all of which is now housed in The New Perseverance Ironworks. I will commence this article by referring to an account of the acquisition of this stationary engine, originally published in Rumblings No. 5, Summer 1985:

Its existence first came to my notice in an article in the Stationary Engine Research Group Bulletin Vol. 6, No. 2, Summer 1984, which explained that at Fairfield Hospital, Stotfold, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, there was a disused Robey horizontal single cylinder engine of 1905, No. 24462. The cylinder, 11¾” bore by 2’ stroke is cast integral with the pedestal on which it sits, bolted at floor level to a huge block of stone for a foundation, and continued forward to the main crankshaft bearing that also has its own pedestal.

Read more: Robey Steam Engine

The Three Counties Asylum cemetery is located away from St Luke's chapel and away from the main building. It is located at the western end of Eliot Way. The cemetery covers a very large area, although in some parts you would not know it is there as not many gravestones or markers remain visible.

The cemetery consecration took place in 1864 by the Bishop of Ely. A very elaborate ceremony took place with many of the dignitaries connected with the asylum present. Both patients and staff were buried in the cemetery, and it does seem that staff graves were in general separate from patient's graves.

By 1897 over 2000 people were interred within the cemetery and the area was declared full and additional burial ground space was needed. This was found on a disused piece of land at the rear of the now full cemetery. After permission was granted by the lunacy commissioners and the diocese offices, the new ground was consecrated - although the ceremony was much less elaborate as the original.

Read more: Three Counties Asylum Cemetery