Explorer Kyle Urbex took photos of the inside of Moorfield Lodge care home in Moortown, Leeds, which dates back to the early 1800s. The care home was once home to an illegal drugs operation, with evidence of its use still visible in the dilapidated building. Photos show the remains of an illegal growing operation worth around £500,000, with ducting and insulation ripped out, food left to rot, and even smiling staff portraits still hanging on a noticeboard. The manager of the care home, Allison Bulmer, made headlines in 2019 for using residents’ bank cards to buy designer clothes, leading to her conviction and sentencing.
The care home, which was formerly a small country house owned by a mill owner, was transformed into a 48-room care home with a dark history. In addition to Bulmer’s crimes, she also forged invoices to scam the care home out of money. These scandals eventually led to the permanent closure of the care home, but criminal activity continued to haunt the property. In 2023, police raided Moorfield Lodge and discovered a large cannabis operation worth almost half a million pounds. The property was left to rot after the discovery, with the remnants of the illegal operation still visible inside the building.
The abandoned care home was a scene of eerie decay and criminal activity, with rooms once used for caring for residents repurposed for growing illegal drugs. Urbex described the strong smell of cannabis lingering in the building, with most rooms being utilized for the illicit operation. Despite the dark history of the care home, Urbex also found a beautiful stained glass window that made the exploration worth the risks. The sale of Moorfield Lodge in 2023 did not erase the memories of its criminal past, and the abandoned building remains as a haunting reminder of its troubled history.
The scandalous events at Moorfield Lodge, including the abuse of residents’ bank cards and the discovery of a massive cannabis operation, shed light on the darker side of care homes and the vulnerabilities of the elderly. Bulmer’s actions and subsequent legal proceedings highlighted the need for stricter regulations and oversight in care facilities to protect residents from exploitation. The abandoned state of the care home serves as a cautionary tale of what can happen when greed and criminal intentions take over a place meant for care and compassion.
Urban exploration of abandoned buildings like Moorfield Lodge reveals hidden histories and secrets that would otherwise remain unknown. The juxtaposition of a once grand care home turned illegal drug operation showcases the complexities of human behavior and the consequences of unchecked criminal activities. Urbex’s photos capture the eerie atmosphere of the abandoned care home, with remnants of its troubled past still visible. The story of Moorfield Lodge serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct in all aspects of care facilities to prevent such tragedies from recurring.
