Cherry Knowle

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About Cherry Knowle

esigned by the Architect: George Thomas Hine Sunderland County Borough began construction of its own Asylum during 1893 and completed and opened for use from 1895.

The site chosen consisted of sloping land, outside the village of Ryhope, with views across to the North Sea. George Hine was chosen as Architect and produced a compact arrow layout consisting of six blocks of wards and the usual facilities including combined recreation hall and chapel.

Other accomodation included a Porters Lodge, Staff Cottages, Superintendents House (to which a staff block was added circa 1920), Isolation Hospital, and a further infirmiry block added in 1902.

The Administration block is unusual for triangular plan, and motto of Sunderland County Borough above the door 'Nil Desperandum Auspice Deo' - Do not. despair, have faith in God .

Further developments took place during the 1930's and after with the construction of an admissions hospital and the wartime Emergency Medical Service Huts, which has since become Ryhope General Hospital.

The rest of the site became Cherry Knowle Hospital and became part of the National Health Service from its formation in 1948. As Community Care replaced Long Stay provision, contraction and closure took place in the north western portion of the site, containing the asylum block (later known as Laurels Building)and other early buildings.

The original buildings are now disused and derelict (closed in Date Closed: 1998 ), with later buildings and staff accomodation still in NHS use. Plans for redevelopment of the entire site are to include reprovision of existing mental health facilities, reconstruction of Ryhope General Hospital, with remaining land and open space to be used for housing, which will retain and convert the main Asylum buildings.

The aim of this group is to documen & photographing, the Old Cherry Knowle building that is currently pending demolition