Moorhaven Village is a well kept residential area based around the Victorian hospital that was built here.
The original hospital was built by the Plymouth City Corporation to fulfil its obligation to the mentally ill people of the city under the new Lunacy Act of 1890. Originally named the Blackadon Lunatic Asylum, it was opened by the Mayor of Plymouth on October 16th 1891.
Originally built for 200 patients, the hospital quickly became too small for its remit, and was greatly extended over the years, with new wings and additional buildings being constructed.
In 1947 it was decided to change the name of the hospital, and a poll of the staff working there came up with the name “Moorhaven”, which has been in use since.
The hospital was eventually closed, as services for the mentally ill underwent an overhaul in the early 1990’s, and the last patient left the unit on February 23rd 1993.
The 65 acre site has been sympathetically converted to residential use, but its origins are still clearly visible today.