Huddersfield’s ‘urban explorer’ Daniel Sims has taken a peek inside a long-abandoned local property hidden away in woodland.
The explorer, who goes by the name Bearded Reality on YouTube, said he had for many years wanted to explore the site in the grounds of the former Storthes Hall Asylum, a psychiatric hospital in Huddersfield that operated from 1904 until it closure in 1991.
The asylum, later renamed Storthes Hall Hospital, was originally an 18th century mansion.
Daniel describes the site as ‘mysterious and chilling’ and with a history of rumoured hauntings. He thinks the building he explored may have been staff accommodation in the past. But it has been abandoned for many years and there are few clues inside the property about its past use.
He said: “This place has been on my radar for quite a while, many years, I’ve just not done it. It’s a crazy old house which I think is part of the old Storthes Hall Asylum. It might be a staff house, I am not entirely sure.”
He says the ruined building, which is full of graffiti, is ‘creepy and awesome’ and falling apart, with trees growing from it and a floor missing. It is also full of spiders and spider webs, with mysterious messages on the walls and hand prints.
The boarded-up property appears to date back to Victorian times, he thinks, although there are some more modern fittings inside such as plastic light switches and an electric fire.
He said: “It’s a huge, massive building. This has been left 40 or 50 years now.” Adding: “I like coming to visit places in my home town that are left and abandoned, especially as long as this.”
The video contains a warning as urban exploring is dangerous and does involve trespassing. The warning says: “What you are about to see can be dangerous. Do not attempt to copy any actions at risk to your own health.”
Outline plans for housing were submitted in 2023 for up to 261 homes at the Student Village which closed earlier this year.
Abandoned property in the grounds of Storthes Hall, Huddersfield
(Image: Bearded Reality/YouTube)
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