First of all:
PLEASE DO NOT TURN THIS INTO A THREAD ARGUING ABOUT YOUR OPINION ON SQUATTERS!!!
So, last week I read a story in the local paper about a group of “Squatters, Anarchists, and Social Misfits” that had moved into a bingo hall in the centre of Cambridge. (Original article here: http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_news_cambridge/displayarticle.asp?id=433684)
I knew the building well.
It started life as an art-deco cinema, built in the late 1920’s playing all the latest moving pictures as well as playing recent sporting events (apparently Setanta didn’t exist then). In the late 70’s cinema’s changed, and moved into more modern, larger buildings. Incidentally the ‘newer’ cinema building a few hundred yards away has now been converted into the biggest pub in Europe.
It was converted into a bingo hall, where it remained in use right up until May this year.
Apologies for the heavy use of watermarks, the local media is desperate for some free pics inside to accompany their story!
I was desperate to see inside, and I knew the only way was to befriend the squatters and hope they’d let me in to take some pics. With a deep breath I rang the doorbell.
Once inside the doors were firmly locked behind me. Following a heavy-handed attempt from the Police earlier that day to evict them, I understood why.
Their anti capitalist banners:
The main hall:
“Scott” who you will recognise from the article emerged from a small hatch to greet me
Further up, into the original upper tiers:
My guides ask if I want to see the roof.
“Is Mc Donald’s a bad thing?” I reply, in an attempt to be witty.
Up on the roof a couple of the group sit casually reading and chatting, their feet dangling unconcerned at the six storey drop below.
Interesting sounding book:
I lean over the edge cautiously to see a bus careering down Hobson Street.
I only noticed afterwards the leg in the top right of the frame.
Straight down:
Christs College
Cambridge Roofscape:
Back inside I catch a sneaky self-portrait:
Couple of details:
Ironic:
After I while I thank my hosts for letting me photograph their home, and with the promise that I’ll bring them a CD of images the next day, I make my excuses and exit.
Unfortunately, hours after my visit the Police successfully evicted the group on the grounds that the building wouldn’t be safe in the event of a fire (all of the exits were padlocked). Article here:
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_news_home/displayarticle.asp?id=434402
I hope you enjoyed my encounter with this friendly group as much as I did.
PLEASE DO NOT TURN THIS INTO A THREAD ARGUING ABOUT YOUR OPINION ON SQUATTERS!!!
So, last week I read a story in the local paper about a group of “Squatters, Anarchists, and Social Misfits” that had moved into a bingo hall in the centre of Cambridge. (Original article here: http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_news_cambridge/displayarticle.asp?id=433684)
I knew the building well.
It started life as an art-deco cinema, built in the late 1920’s playing all the latest moving pictures as well as playing recent sporting events (apparently Setanta didn’t exist then). In the late 70’s cinema’s changed, and moved into more modern, larger buildings. Incidentally the ‘newer’ cinema building a few hundred yards away has now been converted into the biggest pub in Europe.
It was converted into a bingo hall, where it remained in use right up until May this year.
Apologies for the heavy use of watermarks, the local media is desperate for some free pics inside to accompany their story!
I was desperate to see inside, and I knew the only way was to befriend the squatters and hope they’d let me in to take some pics. With a deep breath I rang the doorbell.
Once inside the doors were firmly locked behind me. Following a heavy-handed attempt from the Police earlier that day to evict them, I understood why.
Their anti capitalist banners:
The main hall:
“Scott” who you will recognise from the article emerged from a small hatch to greet me
Further up, into the original upper tiers:
My guides ask if I want to see the roof.
“Is Mc Donald’s a bad thing?” I reply, in an attempt to be witty.
Up on the roof a couple of the group sit casually reading and chatting, their feet dangling unconcerned at the six storey drop below.
Interesting sounding book:
I lean over the edge cautiously to see a bus careering down Hobson Street.
I only noticed afterwards the leg in the top right of the frame.
Straight down:
Christs College
Cambridge Roofscape:
Back inside I catch a sneaky self-portrait:
Couple of details:
Ironic:
After I while I thank my hosts for letting me photograph their home, and with the promise that I’ll bring them a CD of images the next day, I make my excuses and exit.
Unfortunately, hours after my visit the Police successfully evicted the group on the grounds that the building wouldn’t be safe in the event of a fire (all of the exits were padlocked). Article here:
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_news_home/displayarticle.asp?id=434402
I hope you enjoyed my encounter with this friendly group as much as I did.
and the carpet was pretty much the same. the only thing different is the walls used to be olive green and brown stained with tobacco.
