Visit “Ashecliffe Hospital”

Visit “Ashecliffe Hospital”

Medfield State Hospital served as the backdrop to Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island (2010) starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo. It was called “Ashecliffe,” the fictional mental facility where DiCaprio’s character, Edward “Teddy” Daniels and his new partner “Chuck Aule” are summoned less than 24 hours after the disappearance of “Rachel Solando,” a mentally ill patient. The movie was based off Dennis Lehane’s successful novel of the same name. In reality, Ashecliffe was formerly known as Medfield Insane Asylum.

Shutter Island follows US Marshall Teddy Daniels’ missing person investigation and his heading out into the Boston Harbor heading toward Peddocks Island and Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane. The year is 1954. The film is a fantastic period thriller. It was incredibly successful, grossing over $294 million worldwide with $128 million in the US alone. It’s now streaming on Amazon Prime. If you haven’t seen it, check it out! Now you can visit the actual filming location.

The Medfield Hospital is hauntingly gorgeous and a popular walking tour. It was designed and constructed during a construction boom where municipalities were trying to find ways to house the mentally ill. Construction commenced in 1892. The hospital opened in May of 1896. Over the years, the hospital complex covered 900 acres with 58 buildings. At its peak during the 1930-40s, the hospital housed 2,300 patients. Staff also resided on the grounds.

The complex was designed to follow the “Cotton Plan,” whereby individual buildings were built to resemble private homes. Built in the Greek Revival, Queen Anne, and Beaux Arts architectural styles, the complex is quite eclectic. The name changed to Medfield State Hospital in 1914 to reflect a shift in stigma. A lot of hospitals changed their names.

At a time, an average of 4 people died per week; therefore, in 1918, the facility opened the Medfield State Hospital Cemetery. Burials continued until 1988. The hospital closed for good on April 3, 2003.

Although the buildings are abandoned and inaccessible, you’re able to walk the grounds. The buildings are owned and maintained by the National Parks Service. The main entrance is 45 Hospital Road, Medfield, MA 02052.

Lesia Schnur