corridor ec1: view east
This corridor traversed the entire length of the eastern wing, terminating at double-doors at the end of the buildings.
Normally it would’ve been totally dark (as most of the windows in the adjoining rooms were blackened) but open doors and smashed windows
allowed the light to stream in.
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room e1: view west
Rooms E1-E3 and their associated darkrooms (D12-D15) were probably designed to some form of photographic process with film development either
taking a clockwise or anti-clockwise route through each of the areas.
These rooms were later used by a photographic club (who were responsible for the room’s decoration). This room (E1) was probably a
receiving room of some description: the lack of tiling suggested little chemical work occurred in this room.
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room e1: view north
A wide double door led into the similar sized room E2. However it was covered in white tiles and was obviously concerned
with some part of the development process.
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room e2: view west
The walls and tiling patterns were the only clues to former fixtures and fittings (much like the rest of the building).
More dot-matrix "TOP SECRET" computer paper could be found here, although it was likely dragged in by vandals from the store room
(which was close by).
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room e2: view east
The other end of the room wasn’t tiled but the drains in the floor suggested that chemical processing took place here.
It was interesting to note how the radiator had survived the scrap-metal thieves. They’d obviously missed it as this room was pitch dark.
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dark room corridor: view east
The four darkrooms in this northern part of the building occupied an extruded area at the front of the photographic factory.
The corridor linking each of the rooms was extremely narrow and only allowed the passage of one person at a time.
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dark room: north
The darkrooms were extremely small (in comparison with the other darkrooms in the building) and lacked dog-legged entrances
(as the corridor and rooms to access them were similarly dark). All that remained in each room were the tiling and metal struts which
originally supported a sink.
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dark room corridor: view west
This shot gives a much better indication of the narrow nature of this corridor. Ducting above sucked the fumes of the photographic
chemicals away whilst indicator lights were mounted above each room to show whether they were occupied or not.
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room e3: view north
Room E3 was the last room in this little complex of rooms. Its large window suggested that it was not used
for film development so its use is unknown.
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room e3: view south-west
Nothing remained to suggest any use for this room. The large blue section of wall (with raised sections of tiled floor either side)
also remains a mystery.
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lecture room: view south-east
The remaining carpet and the blackboard suggested the "Lecture Room" was used as a teaching room or briefing room.
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lecture room: view north-west
Again there was little remaining of any other fixtures but a door to the east suggests its neighbouring room (E4) was perhaps
used as a teaching darkroom.
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room e4: view north
Room E4 was probably used as a darkroom given its blackened out window. However it was much larger than the other darkrooms
in the building. Given that it had a connecting door with the "Lecture Room" then it may have been a teaching darkroom.
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room d16: view north-west
The eastern-most portion of the building was occupied by the now familiar cluster of darkrooms. D16 was unique as
it had its own window with blackout blind.
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room e5: view north
The communal area of this cluster of darkrooms was room E5. Four darkrooms led off this room, each with
the familiar indicator light above the door.
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room e6: view east
The southern part of the eastern wing was occupied by three large rooms of unknown use.
The eastern room (E6) featured a raised area and individual directional spot-lights.
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room e6: view west
The windows originally had blackout blinds (now ripped down) and curtains above connecting doors. A sink in the
corner of the room suggested that chemicals were handled in here, but the rooms lacks the piping and extractor ducts of
the main darkrooms (the sink has since been topped and smashed as can be seen in this photograph).
Development did take place here as the room was blackened out and the connecting door was shielded by a curtain.
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dogleg corridor between e6 and e7: view north
The connecting door had further provision against the intrusion of light as a dog-legged corridor was built
between it and the next room. This was painted matt-black.
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room e7: view east
The "green room" (as room E7 became known) was of unknown function. The windows were not painted black
so it was probably not used for photograph development.
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room e7: view west
The other half of the room was similar. Both doors retained the remains of curtain rails so the corridors
to the dark rooms could be shielded from the light.
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dogleg corridor between e7 and e8: view north
Again room E7 and room E8 add extra protection against the light by a dog-legged corridor painted black.
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room e8: view west
Room E8 was a mirror of room E6 complete with its own raised area. The blackout blinds were still in the windows
but all other features had been stripped.
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