Topping Out ceremony for new facility, The Kingfisher

A Topping Out ceremony was held this week, to mark the structural completion of The Kingfisher at Blackberry Hill Hospital.

The new £20m specialist mental health facility for people with a learning disability and autistic people, has now reached the highest point of the building, and the ceremony is traditionally carried out to ensure there are no evil spirits trapped in the building when the envelope is sealed.

This week, representatives from AWP, as well as people with lived experience who have been involved in the development of the project, along with individuals from construction firm, Willmott Dixon; Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board, who are lead commissioners for the building; as well as other partner firms, gathered to mark the moment.

Dominic Hardisty, AWP Chief Executive, said: “Reaching this stage is a landmark moment, and provides us with the opportunity to step back and consider what we’ve achieved so far. The hard work and dedication of many people has got us to this point, and while there’s a long way to go, it’s a good chance to take stock of all the work that has gone into the construction.

“The Kingfisher is a very distinctive bird that represents hope, healing, and vibrancy, and the image and symbolism of this unique creature aligns with our vision for a service which is creative, connected to the environment and which promotes independence.”

The ‘topping out’ is an ancient ceremony that goes back to Saxon times and is performed to ensure there are no evil spirits trapped in the building when the envelope is sealed, and that prosperity and good luck for the future will ensue. It’s a good moment for clients, design teams, contractors and the workforce to toast the success of the building.

In days past, a yew tree branch was placed on the uppermost part of the building. This originates from the roof gardens that were popular thousands of years ago in Persia and were the last point of the building to be constructed. The trees were essential for shade and so were regarded as a symbol that the building was complete and ready for occupation. Wine, oil, corn and salt were sprinkled on the roof once the tree was planted. The wine symbolised fertility and wisdom; the oil – liberty and prosperity; the corn – to ripen and grow prosperity into abundance; and the salt – purity and hospitality.

Building work on the new facility started last summer, and The Kingfisher is expected to open early next year.

It is designed specifically to care for individuals across the South West with a learning disability and autistic people, who would benefit from specialist mental health treatment in a hospital, when needs cannot be met in a mainstream mental health hospital or at home. The Kingfisher will help reduce the need for long-distance placements for this cohort of patients, making life better both for individuals who need hospital treatment, and for their families, friends, and carers.