opened in 1818 , the asylum once housed nearly 1,000 patients and expands over 350 metres in length overlooking the town of stafford in the west midlands .
it closed in 1995 but is now set to have new life breathed into it after planning permission was granted to build 102 apartments in its place .
shattered doors , overturned bathtubs and crumbling floors dominate the grade ii listed st george 's county asylum where patients were restrained by means of ` the leather muff , ' ` iron handcuffs ' and ` restraint chair ' that