explorations | 2007


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.



St. Lawrence's 13|01|07 (With Marlon, Jaff and Major Tom)
Busted.



Mount Wellington 13|01|07 (With Marlon, Jaff and Major Tom)
Always start the new year with something different... and how about an old Cornish tin mine?



Wheal Jane 13|01|07 (With Marlon, Jaff and Major Tom)
And another old Cornish tin mine.



Pyestock 03|03|07 (With Major Tom)
We headed back to Pyestock determined to get further into the site and to see what everyone else was finding.
Pyestock 24|03|07 (With Marlon)
My third visit and Marlon's first. This time we tackled the site from a different direction and filled in more of the jigsaw.
Pyestock 31|03|07 (With Major Tom and Marlon)
Our next visit to Pyestock involved discovering more of the site, running into other explorers and and unexpected encounter with a black helicopter.
Pyestock 21|04|07 (With Alex, Major Tom, Marlon and Strangely Brown)
We moved slowly around Pyestock in a large group. Whilst we discovered more of the site, we also ran into other explorers and almost had a run-in with security.
Pyestock 05|05|07 (With Major Tom)
It was a visit of more drama, particularly when the machinery in a pumping house suddenly fired up. We tried to expore more of the enormous site and finished off the day by revisting Cell 3.
Pyestock 23|05|07 (With Major Tom)
The last visit (to date) included the first exploration of the mysterious Admiralty Test House as we pushed the boundaries of Pyestock still further.
Graylingwell 03|09|07 (With Leda)
Sometimes it's worth trying to blag entry but it leaves you in a poor position if refused. My first visit to Graylingwell was not as eventful as hoped, but it allowed an exploration of the exteriors.
RAF Wyton Photographic Factory 18|10|07 (Solo)
I discovered one of the first explorations on this site was of a unique cold war structure. So, I wanted to go back and take some better photographs of it. Two trips were made: one was a solo outing in October 2007, whilst the other was with Major Tom in March 2008.

This is the first of two write-ups: the original tour but with comparison photographs taken six years later.
Cane Hill 19|12|07 (Marlon) Mostly demolished between 2008-2009
I asked Marlon if I could publish these pictures of his exploration of the legendary Cane Hill as he concentrated on many previously unphotographed areas of the complex. Little did we know that this would be his last trip before demolition began.