Drone footage has shown an abandoned East Lothian hospital, after plans for a new ‘village for the elderly’ on its land were unveiled.
Herdmanflat Hospital on the outskirts of Haddington opened back in 1866, and operated for just over 150 years. Initially known as Haddington District Asylum, it diversified over time.
The building has been empty since the hospital closed down in 2020. A clip uploaded to YouTube from Droneman Scotland shows a birds-eye view of the structure.
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The video tells us: “The hospital opened in November 1866, as the Haddington District Asylum.
“It housed just nine patients when it opened, five male and four female. This grew to around 70 patients in 1876.
“The year after it opened, inspectors were very happy that each patient was bathed once a fortnight.”
The hospital had a central admin block, a kitchen and rec hall, and single rooms and day rooms. There was a dining room added in 1890.
There was also a washhouse and workshops. By 1900, it grew to 138 patients.
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The video continues: “In Haddington District Asylum, we know there was evening entertainment, dancing and a library.
“There were even excursions.”
In 1970, services were transferred from Eden Hall Hospital in Musselburgh. In 1983, the hospital diversified. By 1994, the main hospital was reduced to 100 beds across five wards.
The video continues: “In 2014, NHS Lothian proposed the creation of a new community hospital.
“This resulted in Herdmanflat Hospital closing its doors in 2020, and the land was sold to East Lothian Council.
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In December, housing plans for a ‘village’ for older residents on the land were unveiled. New housing will be aimed at residents aged 55 and over and designed to allow them to adapt their home as they age, to ensure they can live independently for longer.
A council spokesperson said the application followed three years of detailed surveys, initial design work and a three month community consultation period. They said: “The plans reflect and support the identified, urgent need formore affordable housing for older people across the county.
“The site will deliver a high quality, adaptable and sustainable housing development, while respecting the existing heritage, landscape character, green space and significantly enhancing access arrangements to and through the site.”