Leave only footprints....

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Wrench

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After our little play out in the brickworks earlier in the day we had gone in search of food in Sheffield, indeed we found some but it was horrid so then we went in search of derp, but the derp we were after was sealed up like a good'un

However, whilst looking round said sealed thing we found a sight for sore eyes, a half wrecked building. It seems the demo crew had stopped for baby Jesus, aww.
There was a light on in't little cabin but no sign of anyone and a crawl sized gap under't fence so it would have been rude not to!


We fully expected to be caught at any moment with this being city centre and right next to a posh car showroom but with fading light we went in took a few pics and left whilst our luck was still in. Upon getting home and looking at my pics I had that "unfinished business" feeling that all explorers have from time to time, and we just can't let it lie can we?
2days later I'm back in the car on the way to meet Mr Snapt for another bite of this one and we were in once again this time before daylight, we were having a proper go this time.

History (stolen from 'tinternet)

Historic Footprint Tools is closing with the loss of 50 jobs after being hit by a combination of declining demand and the rising cost of essential equipment for its new plant in Sheffield's Upper Don Valley.
The 134 year old, family-owned company, which rode out the recession of the mid-1980s and 90s, decided to call it a day while it was still in a position to pay its staff and all its debts in full, and complete existing orders.

"It's really sad andADVERTISEMENTwe are desperately sorry that it has come to this," said Footprint's managing director and Past Master Cutler, Christopher Jewitt.

"We believed we should act with a degree of dignity and in a controlled manner that looks after the interests of our customers, our suppliers and, as best we can, our former employees."Footprint has taken what is the uncommon step of seeking a Members' Voluntary Liquidation, which can only occur if a company has sufficient assets to pay everyone in full, as opposed to a Creditors Voluntary Liquidation or administration, which occurs when assets are insufficient to pay creditors in full.

The decision comes months after Footprint had been looking forward to a bright future, following a move from its ageing, multi-storey factory in Hollis Croft, in Sheffield city centre, to more modern facilities, close to Owlerton Stadium.

An essential part of the relocation plan involved major investment in a German forging machine which would have opened up opportunities to move into hi-tech markets.

But, the recession dealt Footprint a double blow.

While the collapse of the pound pushed the cost of the vital machine up by 25 per cent, demand for Footprint's top quality, Made in Sheffield tradesmen's tools from its main markets in the UK, North America and Australasia, fell by up to 50 per cent. To make matters worse, Footprint had tied cash up in building up stocks to ensure as seamless a switch from Hollis Croft to Owlerton as possible.

"Bridging the financial gap became unaffordable. It's not the plan that was wrong, or the business model, it was a series of events coming at the wrong time, when we were most vulnerable," said Mr Jewitt.

Footprint looked at a number of options in a bid to keep the company going, including a merger or sale, but came to the conclusion that without the new forging machine, it would not be viable.

"Without a forge, it isn't a business," said Mr Jewitt. "We looked at buying forgings in from other people, but we would not have controlled the quality or the price and it would have taken investment in getting our tooling to fit their machines."


As far as we can tell no-one has been in here for years, the last reports I found were from 2009 and there is no graff anywhere, oh lady luck was smiling on Team Weasel for once.

On with some pics me thinks

We waited for sunrise from our peepy hole
31159557254_d13a658e0e_b.jpgDawn by T Bolt, on Flickr

Entry was a bit tricky but being the pro's we are we managed it!
31838161482_3e85b0f551_b.jpgout by T Bolt, on Flickr

31961409266_4165294a25_b.jpg001_2276 by T Bolt, on Flickr

31796725052_e1c9fe4563_b.jpg001_2262 by T Bolt, on Flickr

31624281560_e46600004f_b.jpg
wall
by T Bolt, on Flickr

31948876096_d98c73a119_b.jpgtime by T Bolt, on Flickr

31176928113_a14c614851_b.jpg
window
by T Bolt, on Flickr

Not a lot of privacy here
31612392080_dcfc2a3921_b.jpgtoilet by T Bolt, on Flickr


31158254944_4b17e1d831_b.jpgsafe by T Bolt, on Flickr

31612413400_6c913542ec_b.jpg
stairs
by T Bolt, on Flickr

31146071114_3928bd3a61_b.jpgsun by T Bolt, on Flickr


31612390590_8d1b3ca7a0_b.jpg4 by T Bolt, on Flickr


31944050505_ac93afe79c_b.jpg001_2238 by T Bolt, on Flickr


31796728522_1359e341e9_b.jpg001_2258 by T Bolt, on Flickr

How rude after coming all this way!!
31948909406_601d0d36de_b.jpg
no admittance
by T Bolt, on Flickr


31869359011_af38c835ae_b.jpgjunction by T Bolt, on Flickr


31612389770_fe21059bcb_b.jpgsamples by T Bolt, on Flickr

31986121015_7912197ae8_b.jpg
call me
by T Bolt, on Flickr

31986097085_f26879ce43_b.jpg
hellhole
by T Bolt, on Flickr


31176997743_ca0cbf6297_b.jpg
corridor
by T Bolt, on Flickr


31177003603_bd1af9d9a0_b.jpgcolours by T Bolt, on Flickr

31838206512_6fccd57bc2_b.jpgclock by T Bolt, on Flickr

Then Snapt said he wanted to go to the other side of the building across the street. I did not want to go over there because
1, IT LOOKED LIKE IT WANTED TO KILL ME or at least squash my head or break my legs and very possibly all three at once!!!
2, It looked like it wanted to get me caught

but oh my god am I glad we did, the light and the reflections were amazing.

31612402780_1a14269089_b.jpgsunshade by T Bolt, on Flickr

31176940313_934308cba6_b.jpgthree by T Bolt, on Flickr

31176931003_ba06f181a5_b.jpg1 by T Bolt, on Flickr

31838150442_599dd3ac47_b.jpgsit by T Bolt, on Flickr

31146116994_9d97281550_b.jpgreflect by T Bolt, on Flickr

Whilst in here I noticed a shadow pass by the front of the little hutty thing on the site, from the direction of the sun the owner of that shadow had to be in the compound but we were packing up so all was not lost but the fence is right in front of the hutty thing! eek. Time to go and say hello.
As we walked towards the demo'd front of the building and plain sight we noticed a fire escape on the corner of the rear wall and knowing it couldn't be that easy we tried it anyway....as it opened up in front of 2 young ladies who barely even cared we were only about 100 yards from the car but I insisted on walking past the secca guy just beacuse we could.

This was one of my fave ever explores I think because it was all just so unexpected..
9/10 from on this one.
thanks for looking and I hope you enjoyed it.
 
Last edited:
Seriously stunning, Can't beat a bit of industrial! Thanks for posting them up!
 
Bravo sir... Bravo!!! Abso-bloody-lootely marvellous that squire. Most impressive pics, loving the reflective window shots.
 
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