Urban explorer captures eerie remains of Broadmoor
A brave urban explorer has crept inside the crumbling, eerie remains of Broadmoor, Britain's most feared and infamous high-security psychiatric hospital. Haunting new images have laid bare the abandoned wards, secure cells and treatment rooms where the country's most notorious monsters were once locked away. The site in Crowthorne, Berkshire, was previously home to serial killer Peter Sutcliffe, known as the Yorkshire Ripper, and Charles Bronson, often called the UK's most violent prisoner.
Spine-tingling photos show endless pitch-black corridors stretching into the dark, decaying rooms with peeling paint and water-damaged walls. Heavy secure doors and rusted bars remain firmly in place alongside old fixtures and intact treatment rooms. While the historic building is falling apart, its terrifying past is still written into every brick.
Explorer Claire documents forgotten places
The incredible shots were captured by 48-year-old business owner Claire, from Hampshire, who documents forgotten places under the name Abandoned Echoes. Claire, who has amassed 13,000 followers on Facebook in just five months, managed to slip inside the secure site through an already open access point. She explored the original grim Victorian building, which has stood completely frozen in time since patients were moved to a new state-of-the-art facility on the same site in 2019.
Claire said: "Knowing some of the people connected to the hospital's history made me stop and think about what had happened there over the decades. It gave the explore a very different feeling compared with other abandoned places. Walking inside felt like stepping back in time." She added: "It was incredibly quiet, with long empty corridors and rooms that still hinted at their former purpose. There was a heavy atmosphere, not because of anything paranormal, but because of the history the building holds."
Most unsettling moments in old cells
The most unsettling moments came in the old cells and secure areas. She said: "Standing in those spaces and imagining the people who had once been there was a strange feeling and probably the most memorable part of the explore." Claire has been urban exploring for several years but only recently began sharing her work online. She said: "Urban exploring isn't about thrill-seeking or causing damage. It's about documenting history through photography, respecting these forgotten places and allowing people to see buildings they may never otherwise get the chance to experience."
She spent two hours inside, navigating the silence and intensity of the location. Claire said: "There were moments where the silence and atmosphere felt quite intense, but I always remained aware of my surroundings and left safely." She noted: "I'd been wanting to visit here for years and years. Exploring Broadmoor reminded me that places like this are part of Britain's history and tell important stories about how mental health care and secure institutions have changed over time."
Preserving historically important buildings
For Claire, the visit stands apart from everything else she has documented. She said: "Broadmoor is definitely the most amazing explore I've ever done. I think historically important buildings should be preserved where possible." She added: "I didn't force entry, damage anything or remove anything from the site. I was aware of security measures and wasn't seen or questioned on my two-hour visit, treating the location with respect."
