Water Research Centre - Medmenham - pic heavy!

Derelict Places

Help Support Derelict Places:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

J_a_t_33

Well-known member
Supporting Member
Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 28, 2009
Messages
633
Reaction score
718
Location
Henley on Thames or Ibiza
Water Research Centre - Medmenham - Revisit 28-11-09

Hi guys,

This is my first decent find and exploration, must admit I am still buzzing as I have been wanting to explore this place for weeks!! - Hence how many pics I posted... sorry... it's a little easier on the internet connection now!

A little history of the WRc:


1898 A United Kingdom Royal Commission was appointed to investigate methods for sewage treatment and disposal.

1915 The Royal Commission recommended setting up a body to promote and supervise water pollution research.

1940 The Water Pollution Research Laboratory (WPRL) was set up in the UK. During the Second World War, varied research projects included effluent problems of munitions plants and development of a field kit for RAF life rafts that rendered seawater drinkable.

1961 WRA moves to its headquarters in Medmenham.

1963 The UK Government to set up the Water Resources Board (WRB).

1970s The WRA, WPRL and WRB were combined into one central research establishment - the Water Research Centre (WRC) with an additional facility in Swindon.

2004 Testing of materials for water contact moved from Medmenham to the Evaluation and Testing Centre in Oakdale, creating a single laboratory for all testing of water fittings.

2006 The Chemical analysis and Consultancy Groups move from Medmenham to new laboratories in Reading.

The site was closed to aspestos and unsatisfactory condition of the building and moved to Slough.

More here:
http://www.wrcnsf.com/history.htm


This is the view from above in 2004 from Google earth:

Googleearth.jpg


Googleearthzoomed.jpg



The site is pretty big so once we were in we thought we would be undisturbed... We were soon proven wrong we walked past a mirrored window to be greeted by loud banging on a window, clearly aimed to scare us away... turns out someone has made this place their home.

But nevertheless... we ventured on!!

My apologies for the amateur photography, I can't afford a proper camera yet.


DSC03411.jpg


DSC03413.jpg


My friend
DSC03425.jpg


DSC03429.jpg


The invisible footpath
DSC03455.jpg


The window we heard the banging on - Just up and right of the 10mph sign with mirrored tints so we couldn't see in
DSC03463.jpg


Speed bump
DSC03434.jpg


DSC03475.jpg


fire damage
DSC03477.jpg


DSC03493.jpg


Walk through
DSC03496.jpg


LPG tank and old car park area - as seen on the left in the Google earth pics full of cars
DSC03497.jpg


Some big-ass machine
DSC03520.jpg


upstairs - (corner building - bottom left of google earth picture)
DSC03526.jpg


Bit of a state - Water leaking in
DSC03527.jpg


Office room
DSC03528.jpg


Looking out into the courtyard seeing the burnt out part
DSC03529.jpg


Kitchen
DSC03531.jpg


Stairway
DSC03533.jpg


Another burnt out area
DSC03537.jpg


We saw lots of fresh footsteps inside the building by windows where the chap living there had been watching us and seeing the sun go own, we decided to end our internal explore there... until next time!
DSC03539.jpg


Looking back from the car park
DSC03541.jpg


Walking back - building falling away
DSC03551.jpg


Nearing the exit - Caretakers house?
DSC03570.jpg


DSC03579.jpg


Thanks for viewing,
 
Last edited:
very unusual site - and nice pics.

Water Research? you wonder whether they ran out of things to do!
 
Ahh, now this is interesting because I unexpectedly ran into a water research establishment...on an island between the canal and the River Exe just outside Exeter, late evening on Midsummer's day (very bizarre day!!! :lol: ). I'd never heard of them before. That one's still in use and is heavily fenced off, so I just took a few pics from the path.
Nice to see your pics and read the info about it. Cheers for that, J_a_t. :)
 
Water Research centre - Medmenham - Revisit 28/11/09

Went back yesterday for a proper look round

1.jpg


2.jpg


The Ladies
3.jpg


Pioson key
4.jpg


Trashed
5.jpg


Skylight - glass broken
6.jpg


7.jpg


The labs
8.jpg


9.jpg


Gas taps
10.jpg


Male changing rooms & toilet for the labs
11.jpg


The fire damage
12.jpg


Lol!!
13.jpg


Inside the 2 windows you can see from outside burnt:
14.jpg


15.jpg


16.jpg


165.jpg


Roof
17.jpg


Hmmmm... doesn't look like there is any way we're getting in there fellas!!!!
18.jpg


oh... the side door's unlocked
19.jpg


Empty
20.jpg


WTF is Piesel??
21.jpg



Thanks guys
 
Thanks for these pictures, I used to work here in the late 90’s. I was devastated when I saw one day that the site had been flattened

The caretakers house photo is where I had my interview. My first office job interview ever.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top