Restoration of Finch House completed - see inside the former Old Manor

The former 19th-century Old Manor Hospital, which was previously the UK's largest private asylum, has been brought back to life and prospective buyers have started touring the building.

Developers Affordable Housing and Healthcare Group (AHH), which owns Platinum Skies, exclusively unveiled Finch House to the Journal on Thursday, November 30.

The team acquired the derelict Grade-II listed building as part of the whole site for £4.1m in 2014 and started working on the site in 2015.

Eight years later, Finch House has been converted into 21 luxury apartments for retired residents over the age of 55 which range in price from £199k to £595k.

Finch House has kept the same structure as the Old Manor Hospital. (Image: Spencer Mulholland)

Shared ownership is available for all of the apartments, which includes two studios, fifteen one-beds and four two-beds.

Eight of the homes have access to outdoor space, seven on the ground floor and one on the second floor with a balcony.

A large homeowners lounge has been built on the ground floor and another cosy lounge area can be found on the first floor.

A place for residents and visitors to relax. (Image: Spencer Mulholland)

The finalisation of Finch House was due to take place in the summer but this was delayed to ensure the finish is "as good as it can be".

Senior communications manager Nick Haynes, at Platinum Skies, said Finch House presented challenges which were "all worthwhile" for the end result.

"We wanted to make sure every one of the period details was replicated as accurately as possible," he added.

Apartments are still available but Mr Haynes expects them to go quickly since they are "all really beautiful and unique".

"It's not just an apartment, it's a period building that has been lovingly restored."

A six-foot-tall listed bronze fountain sculpture created by Léon-Joseph Chavalliaud has also been restored and returned to the entrance courtyard.

The original fountain statue has been restored. (Image: Spencer Mulholland)

Restoring the former largest private asylum in the UK has not been entirely straightforward. In 2021 the facades of Finch House had to be pulled down after they were identified as "structurally unsound and in need of demolition".

History of Old Manor

In 1779 William Finch purchased Laverstock House. It was already a madhouse but Mr Finch was not a qualified doctor. However, Laverstock House was taken over by his son, Dr. William Finch, a qualified doctor who also acquired Fisherton House (The Old Manor as it became known later).

It is recorded that the first patients were received at Fisherton House on January 25th 1813. By 1828 there were 76 patients in residence. In 1841 Fisherton House was licensed for 70 pauper patients and 30 private patients. In 1920, Fisherton House changed its name to the Old Manor Hospital.

Fisherton House Asylum was owned and run first by the Finch family, and later by the Chubb family – the two families were related by marriage. Around 1923, a limited company was set up to run the hospital with the Chubb family as shareholders.

The asylum was taken over by the NHS in 1954 but prior to this it was England’s largest private mental hospital with more than 700 beds.