Whitchurch Hospital

Introduction

These are the surviving gardens and playing fields of one of the grandest and most important Edwardian Asylums in Wales. The fine tree planting, of horse chestnuts, beech, oak, plane and scots pine and the verandas and garden shelters reflect the therapeutic philosophy of the time. The gardens are now undivided but path layout adjoining the wards were formerly separated from one another by loop-topped iron fencing. The exotic planting in the south-west corner of the site was originally associated with a private house, Velindre, which was acquired by the hospital in 1899.