St. Athan Boys Village – October 2011
I know that this has been covered many many many times in the past, even by myself but having a little play around with a few things and feel the place deserves a full thread rather than just part of one like I did last time. Please let me know what you think of the pics, honestly as I am playing around big time! Sorry if this ends up a little pic heavy but hope you like them either way!
About the Boys Village
Some of the information is provided by Wikipedia.
The Boys Village opened on August 8th 1925 as a summer camp for the sons from families in the South Wales Coalfield, it offered them a place to play and be free, as well as being close to the nearby beach. Over the ages its usage developed (but not necessarily changed) to be used as a camp for youths and apprenticeships, etc., as well.
The buildings included a dining hall, dormitories, a gym, swimming pool and a church. There was also a full-sized cricket pitch and pavilion. The site also includes a war memorial and there are rumours about Boys Village being haunted or plagued by a troubled past.
The site declined in line with the decline in coal mining in the Welsh valleys and without the money put in by the miners, it no longer had the finances to operate and subsequently closed in the late 1960s.
I have also been told that the boys village used to be hired out to clubs and organisations such as gymnastic clubs. This would have been around 40 years ago now.
The village today
After a family renting the property moved out in 2008, it has been taken over by graffiti artists and vandals who feed their habbit by damaging this once amazing place. Several buildings have been demolished since 2008 due to fire damage, including the Sir Maynard Jenour building which was build in the 1980’s, the recreation building and a few residential and admin buildings.
The site was sold at auction during 2010 for around £670,000 but not much seems to be happening in terms of protecting and restoring the site. I have been made aware by a trusted source which I can not name that the site is due to be demolished in November and turned into 12 houses (which not a lot of people will be able to afford!)
If visiting after dark, you are guaranteed to run into a group of youths causing damage to the site, risking their lives by walking around with no torch or other form of lighting.
About my explore
I have only recently found out about this site and already I am addicted to it! I parked my car up directly outside the village and began kitting myself up with my camera, back up camera, tripod, grip gloves, radio, torches and anything else I had to hand – including my drink!
As I started walking through, I could hear the wind howling through the broken buildings that remain, I could see drips of water coming through the collapsing roof and as I entered the first building, evidence of a very recent fire struck me.
I recently witnessed people damaging the already barely standing gym building and knew that I had to keep my guard up as local police and forestry security now check on this site daily.
Anyway, with my bag on, camera on tripod and in hand, this is my take on the St. Athan’s Boys Village in West Aberthaw.
The Photographs
After visiting the village for the 4th time in the space of a month, it is very clear that people still go there to vandalise it daily! It's shocking that the owners have made no attempt of securing this fantastic place which holds a very proud standing war memorial. I must add that I have disclosed my identity to a local MP to provide assistance in his attempt to have the war memorial restored and relocated.
I hope you enjoyed these pictures and my report.
Urbex-SW
