| Colchester 1970 21:33 - Aug 19 with 1054 views | SparkfilmsTV |
I witnessed something in Colchester - possibly in 1970 that l needed confirmation of from someone who had worked at Essex Hall around that time.
My father was doing some work at Essex Hall and wanted me ( around 17 at the time ) to see with my own eyes.
In a ground floor lounge not far from the main entrance that was on the hill that led up to the south side of North Station were a group of men who were the most physically deformed examples of human life that were in care.
Some had heads that were several feet high with large protruding veins and were held in traction with supporting and custom designed wheelchair configurations. They were reading books, watching television and being fed - some could self feed.
This is an image that had always remained and occasionally resurfaces.
I was told last night that what l saw were the 'final generation' of people kept in care with these conditions.
After having an extensive search online l can see nothing anywhere in the world that illustrates by photography, x-rays or drawings the degree of deformity that was evident in 1970.
The site of the former hospital is flats now but there are still some haunting walks in the vicinity including what l have branded 'The Secret Meadow'.
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| Colchester 1970 on 22:17 - Aug 19 with 1007 views | SparkfilmsTV |
By 1971 l was an Art Student at Colchester School of Art and for that year and the following year's of study l worked throughout the summer holidays as a porter at Severalls - now regarded as a mental institute of some repute throughout Europe and beyond.
Armed with a mop l became most adept at cleaning corridors, lounges, dining rooms and sleeping areas.
I witnessed extraordinary scenes and discussed some of my experiences there last night.
One of the wards at Severalls was called 'Graham Ward' and was like a scene from a horror movie at times - there were padded walls with most of the patients that l came into close contact with in straight jackets.
As an eighteen year old, and there were about twenty of us the same age ( students ) we were exposed to scenes that made 'Silence of The Lambs' look quite tame.
Somehow though l think all of us agreed that this was a life experience that might broaden our outlooks in the future.
Colchester was a town back then - it's supposed to be a city now but it lacks so much of what it once had. [Post edited 19 Aug 22:22]
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| Colchester 1970 on 22:48 - Aug 19 with 983 views | SparkfilmsTV |
During my Art School years l was able to do 'work experience' in London.
I was working for a publisher in Covent Garden and l got friendly with a girl in the design studio.
She lived in Hackney and had only been to London and Margate in her 19 year existence. We used to go for walks at lunchtime and feed the pigeons.
I remember her asking me where l came from and l said Colchester, she had no idea where it was and l invited her down for the weekend.
To my surprise she agreed to visit and l promised a tour of the sights.
We came back on a warm summer evening and as we left the station on the south side the first thing she saw was a naked female patient running out of Essex Hall with several members of staff in pursuit.
This was her induction to Colchester.
There were also quite a few patients scanning the pavements in pyjamas looking for dogends - some of which they would eat.
She wasn't overly impressed with what she was seeing but once l got a couple of drinks into her system in The Albert she warmed to Colchester and was to make many trips thereafter.
Should have married her! | | | |
| Colchester 1970 on 22:58 - Aug 19 with 982 views | wessex_exile |
I'm not entirely sure what's the point you're trying to make, but I'll be honest it feels too much like a 'look at them' finger-pointing at the disabled? Please prove me wrong if I am. Given the timeline, I wouldn't be surprised if what you were seeing was the awful result of the Thalidomide travesty? |  |
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| Colchester 1970 on 08:32 - Aug 20 with 931 views | SparkfilmsTV |
| Colchester 1970 on 22:58 - Aug 19 by wessex_exile |
I'm not entirely sure what's the point you're trying to make, but I'll be honest it feels too much like a 'look at them' finger-pointing at the disabled? Please prove me wrong if I am. Given the timeline, I wouldn't be surprised if what you were seeing was the awful result of the Thalidomide travesty? |
Thalidomide was certainly within that timezone but the people we saw were in their later years so it wasn't the cause.
Neither my father or l would have viewed these individuals from the stance you suggest, but l understand it may appear that way.
Colchester 1970 - it was a very different place back then, thousands of people employed by the hospitals l mention along with an enormous industrial base with the likes of Woods, Mason's, The Lathe, Paxman's and multiple printing companies. The streets were alive with an energy and purpose as people had focus.
The streets are very different now and only yesterday l was in quite a challenging situation in a narrow walkway hidden from public view and walked into a group of individuals who had a few minutes earlier hurled abuse at me because my dog was barking at them.
Even in my final years l will not back off from anyone and the outcome was totally unexpected as they actually apologised - one in particular being terrified of my dog.
I am talking of an area where people are carrying weapons on a frightening scale. This is a walkway from Colchester North Station that leads to the Skateboard Park and surrounding area that is occupied by county lines drug dealers.
Just a few weeks ago machete's were discarded by a similar ( or possibly the same group? ) in a police chase and thrown into hedgerows.
We didn't have to deal with that kind of activity until around the last decade.
It is commonly known that some of these kids are carrying guns and l was shot by one last October in Colchester High Street. It was only a replica pellet gun but it left a mark below my eye for several days.
I suppose the point l am making is that Colchester is a very challenging place live in post modern Britain. | | | |
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