explorations | 2009


This is a handy log of my explorations, ranging of one-off visits to small installations, through to multiple visits to large sprawling areas (the later which forms the basis of the project section of this website). It breaks it all down into handy "Day Trip" activities, a dossier of what can be seen in one day, and fun for all the family.

My diary of urban exploration if you like.

Which brings me onto another point. Some of these sojourns were simply recces, designed to scout potential targets out before attempting infiltration with a team (Severalls and Warley are high on the list to visit). Some were interesting in themselves (such as setting the scene at Cane Hill or discovering what was at Rauceby) but it you wanted the excitement, musty interiors and broken toilets, then you’d be disappointed.

Others were complete and utter disasters. The first return trip to Rauceby was an excellent example of things going completely wrong. I included it here to point out that urban exploration can be a frustrating exercise at times.

So, I’ve implement a handy scale so if you want the get to the fun stuff quickly then you can just select and click:

Recce. Scene setting stuff. No internal explorations.
Limited access but mostly walking around in the rain outside.
Full infiltration. Access all areas.



Stewartby Brickworks 30|01|09 (With Major Tom)
This was once the biggest brickworks in the world. But it couldn't meet the EU directive on sulphur emissions and so closed early 2008. There were bricks everywhere - unfortunately some were originally buildings.



Walthamstow Stadium 21|02|09 (With Major Tom)
This dog track closed at the end of the 2008 with greedy property developers offering far more than punter returns. I was inspired by the original art deco frontage and the promise of something entirely different to explore.



Croxley Green to Watford 21|02|09 (With Major Tom)
How difficult would a walk along a derelict railway lines and through three disused stations be? As it turned out, it was extremely difficult.



Uxbridge Lido 21|02|09 (With Major Tom)
We finished the day with another art deco building; the former lido at Uxbridge. However, we were due a nasty surprise.



Sleaford Maltings 19|09|09 (With Marlon)
After making an almost suicidal choice of routes at Wainford Maltings, I was confident I wouldn't repeat the same error at Sleaford Maltings.



St. John's 19|09|09 (With Marlon)
The return to an asylum I'd barely explored the first time around.



Harston ROC Post 20|09|09 (With Marlon)
After over seven years of urban exploration and running this website, I finally got around to walking into the middle of a lonely field, opening a hatch, and disappearing into the shelter below.