mysterious history of grade ii listed asylum in the west midlands revealed in sinister looking photographs .
st george 's county asylum in stafford was opened in 1818 and once housed nearly 1,000 patients .
dysentery and syphilis said to be widespread , while patients were restrained in chairs and by ` iron handcuffs '
a developer is now looking to transform the haunting structure by building a block of apartments in its place .