The History
There is surprisingly little information to be found on the place other than
it's entry on listed buildings website.
Brick with terracotta it was built in the 1880's and designed by Alfred Waterhouse.
It was originally an Assurance firm and later divided into smaller offices occupied
by various businesses. There was also a nightclub in the basement.
One of the Dambuster airmen, after a short stint working as a greengrocer, worked in
this building on leaving the air force up until his retirement.
The Explore
I have looked at this building several times over the years and very recently was made
aware of it being accessible. I contacted a few of my regular fellow trespassers advising
I was going to be paying it a visit early on a Sunday morn. A few couldn't make it, but on the
morning in question I received a text from the one known only as .... Zero81 saying he'd be
there and was leaving in 5 minutes.
We arrived and parked up at 07:34 on the Sunday morning. To our dismay the car park that
overlooks the access point had 3 or 4 porta cabins on it that were buzzing with workmen.
WTF ? it's 07:34 on a Sunday morning - why are there so many workmen milling around.
So we had to hang around and wait for an opportunity to gain entry, playing dodge the
workman. After around 20 Minutes our opportunity was there and in we went.
The building is stripped but has some nice original features including some rather
lovely fire places. After a while I came to a short staircase and started heading down
it to see beautiful glazed tiles all around me. Well this was the "money shot" area.
I carried on and before me was a sight that made the afore mentioned staircase area
seem shabby - my reaction was the same as Mr 81's, he was just a few seconds behind
me, there was only really one valid response ... " F U C K M E !!!" You will see why
we reacted in such fashion.
The Photos
As usual Canon 650D with tamron 17-50 (what a wonderful lens) and canon 10-22
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There is surprisingly little information to be found on the place other than
it's entry on listed buildings website.
Brick with terracotta it was built in the 1880's and designed by Alfred Waterhouse.
It was originally an Assurance firm and later divided into smaller offices occupied
by various businesses. There was also a nightclub in the basement.
One of the Dambuster airmen, after a short stint working as a greengrocer, worked in
this building on leaving the air force up until his retirement.
The Explore
I have looked at this building several times over the years and very recently was made
aware of it being accessible. I contacted a few of my regular fellow trespassers advising
I was going to be paying it a visit early on a Sunday morn. A few couldn't make it, but on the
morning in question I received a text from the one known only as .... Zero81 saying he'd be
there and was leaving in 5 minutes.
We arrived and parked up at 07:34 on the Sunday morning. To our dismay the car park that
overlooks the access point had 3 or 4 porta cabins on it that were buzzing with workmen.
WTF ? it's 07:34 on a Sunday morning - why are there so many workmen milling around.
So we had to hang around and wait for an opportunity to gain entry, playing dodge the
workman. After around 20 Minutes our opportunity was there and in we went.
The building is stripped but has some nice original features including some rather
lovely fire places. After a while I came to a short staircase and started heading down
it to see beautiful glazed tiles all around me. Well this was the "money shot" area.
I carried on and before me was a sight that made the afore mentioned staircase area
seem shabby - my reaction was the same as Mr 81's, he was just a few seconds behind
me, there was only really one valid response ... " F U C K M E !!!" You will see why
we reacted in such fashion.
The Photos
As usual Canon 650D with tamron 17-50 (what a wonderful lens) and canon 10-22
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.