Britain’s most dangerous criminals enjoyed playing with a giant train set ‘costing tens of thousands of pounds’ while housed at high-security Broadmoor
- Broadmoor Hospital, Crowthorne, Berkshire, laid out model railway for patients
- Former inmates have included Yorkshire Ripper, Charles Bronson, Ronnie Kray
- The train set was believed to offer therapeutic benefits to many of the convicts
Dangerous criminals at Britain’s high-security hospital enjoyed playing with a model railway that cost ‘tens of thousands’ of pounds.
Staff at the psychiatric Broadmoor Hospital in Crowthorne, Berkshire, laid out a ‘gigantic and intricately built train set’ for patients.
Former inmates have included the Yorkshire Ripper, Charles Bronson named the ‘most violent prisoner in Britain’ and the late gangster Ronnie Kray.
The 150-year-old Victorian Broadmoor Hospital building in Crowthorne, Berkshire, laid out a ‘gigantic and intricately built train set’ for patients
Former inmates have included the Yorkshire Ripper, Charles Bronson at the high-security hospiatl
Jonathan Levi co-wrote the book, Inside Broadmoor, which detailed the revelations of visiting the hospital during his time making a documentary.
The train set was believed to offer therapeutic benefits to many of the convicts that suffer from severe mental illnesses and personality disorders, according to The Daily Star.
The book described the model set as ‘breathtaking in construction and attention to detail’ when it was on display in 2009.
It is believed the set cost ‘tens of thousands of pounds’ and included ‘Points, bridges, little figures with flags, hills, stations and open countryside’.
East End gangsters Ronnie and Reggie Kray (left) Ronnie was housed at Broadmoor Hospital. Peter Sutcliffe known as the Yorkshire Ripper (right)
The train set was believed to offer therapeutic benefits to many of the inmates that suffer from severe mental illnesses and personality disorders
The model railway set as ‘breathtaking in construction and attention to detail’ when it was on display in 2009 (file image)
The book describes how the train set had a lasting impact on Jonathan after it was ‘so cleverly and so beautifully put together’.
However on a follow-up visit to the hospital in 2018 the train set had disappeared without explanation.
Earlier this month patients and staff moved to the new £250million building which stands next to the former 150-year-old Victorian home.
Patients and staff moved to the new £250million building which stands next to the former 150-year-old Victorian home earlier this month
The hospital now features three new wards, a garden and a shared space where patients can take part in activities
The building had faced delays since 2017 but now features three new wards, a garden and a shared space where patients can take part in activities.
The updated Broadmoor Hospital provides treatment for up to 210 men so they become less of a risk to themselves and others.
The former Victorian building is set to be put up for sale which represented the oldest of three high-security psychiatric hospitals in England.
The former Victorian building is set to be put up for sale which represented the oldest of three high-security psychiatric hospitals in England