The confinement cells reveal perhaps the saddest feature of the entire hospital.

 

Undoubtedly, these walls will have confined the terrorised and suffering associated with the demons of delusion and paranoia.

 

Warding off the ghosts of High Royds

 

From the Telegraph & Argus, first published Thursday 7th Aug 2003.

 

Wharfedale’s wish to see High Royds become a hospital again is a reality – but only on film.

 

Filming is now under way at the 110-year-old former psychiatric hospital in Menston for a Channel Four comedy series called No Angels, which focuses on the lives of four out-going nurses.

 

A nightclub, pub, flats, staff room and a 12-bed ward have been built inside the hospital for the production. Viewers will now know High Royds as St Margaret’s Hospital.

 

All the ward signs have been put back up and for the first time High Royds has an X-ray and accident and emergency department.

 

But things have literally been going bump in the night for some cast members.

 

There have been ghostly goings on in the eerie corridors of High Royds hospital with spooky voices being heard.

 

Actors Kaye Wragg and Derek Riddell heard a ghostly voice whilst filming a sex scene in one of the old wards.

 

Kaye, who plays Kate in the series, said: “Some of us have seen ghosts, I was told to get out of a ward by one.

 

“I was doing a bed scene, it was near midnight and during the take I heard this voice whisper in my ear `get out of here’.

 

“Derek heard it too, I thought someone was playing a joke on us but there was no one there. It was really scary.

 

“We had to lay on the bed together for the next scene and it collapsed and nearly crushed one of the other actors.

 

“It is scary walking down the corridors at lunch time.”

 

Actress Louise Delamere, who plays Lia in the production, said it had been enjoyable, but there were some occupational hazards.

 

“It is hard work being stuck in a mental hospital for six months. Some people have seen ghosts and the security guards don’t like it here at night.

 

“People keep seeing and hearing things. There have been some of the old patients turning up thinking it is open again.”

 

She added: “I want to see the cells before I leave.”

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