The Wycliffe Centre, Stokenchurch Sept 2017

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mookster

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The Wycliffe Centre was a former Christian Conference Centre located just outside Stokenchurch. Its doors closed for good in 2013 after the organisation could no longer afford the upkeep of the aging buildings.

I found this place by accident whilst looking for something totally different a couple of months ago. I marked it on my map but really didn't hold out much hope of it still being around but me and my friend swung by on our way home just to go and have a look. To my complete surprise it was still standing! Approaching the main gate we immediately became aware that there was a groundskeeper on site, a couple of cars, plus a very 'lived in' looking bungalow and the door to the security office was open. After a quick chat with the groundsman and then the security guard (who it turns out lives on site in the bungalow), we were allowed to go for a wander.

That's where the good fortune ended though - every building is locked down securely. No windows are open, no doors are unlocked. Which was a little frustrating, but looking through the windows of the buildings they all looked totally empty with absolutely nothing left inside at all. The buildings are a strange mix of large old wooden cabins and 1970s ugliness, there is also an outdoor pool - the gate to which was locked! - and an outdoor beach volleyball court.

While walking around we noticed that there were numerous windows and doors that had been completely removed and then had the holes sealed up with doors from inside the buildings. This confused us until we spoke to the groundskeeper who explained that less than a year before the place closed they had installed a number of brand new double glazed windows and doors, these were then taken out and sold after closure.

I wouldn't normally put up an 'externals only' report, but to my knowledge nobody has covered this location before so it may be of interest to some.

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Thanks for looking :)
 
What a gentleman to let you go and have a little look around! Shame he couldn't unlock a few buildings for you to go in and get some pictures! Still a good little explore mook, enjoyed it!
 
The Wycliffe Centre was a former Christian Conference Centre located just outside Stokenchurch. Its doors closed for good in 2013 after the organisation could no longer afford the upkeep of the aging buildings.

I found this place by accident whilst looking for something totally different a couple of months ago. I marked it on my map but really didn't hold out much hope of it still being around but me and my friend swung by on our way home just to go and have a look. To my complete surprise it was still standing! Approaching the main gate we immediately became aware that there was a groundskeeper on site, a couple of cars, plus a very 'lived in' looking bungalow and the door to the security office was open. After a quick chat with the groundsman and then the security guard (who it turns out lives on site in the bungalow), we were allowed to go for a wander.

That's where the good fortune ended though - every building is locked down securely. No windows are open, no doors are unlocked. Which was a little frustrating, but looking through the windows of the buildings they all looked totally empty with absolutely nothing left inside at all. The buildings are a strange mix of large old wooden cabins and 1970s ugliness, there is also an outdoor pool - the gate to which was locked! - and an outdoor beach volleyball court.

While walking around we noticed that there were numerous windows and doors that had been completely removed and then had the holes sealed up with doors from inside the buildings. This confused us until we spoke to the groundskeeper who explained that less than a year before the place closed they had installed a number of brand new double glazed windows and doors, these were then taken out and sold after closure.

I wouldn't normally put up an 'externals only' report, but to my knowledge nobody has covered this location before so it may be of interest to some.

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Thanks for looking :)
Sadly if you look on Google Earth and street view now this site has been completely cleared and all traces seem to have been grubbed out. The roads etc are all there but the gatehouse etc are all gone now. The bungalow on the approach road are all still existing. I would think it is prime residential estate land and has been bought by some local developer for redevelopment imminently. Cracking site for that though and it certainly deserves to be turned into a quality residential area for this striving village near to the M40 and High Wycombe (where I live). It still strikes me as very odd that such a facility existed for Lancashire so far away in deepest Buckinghamshire. I do vaguely remember it becoming the Christian Conference Centre for a short time which didn't of course last very long and must have looked to the locals as a bit 'cultish' back in those times!
 

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