Lovely Black and whites Stu. What sort of kit were you using back then?
GDZ
GDZ
1st time explores
- Thread starter nivlac
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The first pic was taken using a Halena Elektra 35mm,the second pic taken on a Mamiya slr,but my first camera was the legendary Polaroid.I used all my pocket money on taking pics of all old places in my village..funnily enough most have all been knocked down including the old Bakery below.
Dick`s Bakery in Wroughton taken in 1973 or 74
Dick`s Bakery in Wroughton taken in 1973 or 74
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First place I ever explored was a derelict Chemist in my village. I was 6 and not sposed to be there. 
can still remember a gorgeous old massive gold coloured till, with the carvings/scrolls and patterns on it. (i've seen one the same at Blists Hill museum at Ironbridge since). Told mum hours later, and she went with me, needless to say, the till had gone by the time we'd got back there. Old chemist bottles in there as well.
Did other various places through the years, but the biggest I did (and remember) was Butlin's site at Filey, when the chalets were still there with furniture still in, and the gaiety theatre, with the seats all still there. Everything was still there when we first started going, went 3 times a year and stayed over the fence at Primrose Valley. Watched the place get more and more wrecked as the years went by. There's nothing left there now,
Done loads of other things since then.
can still remember a gorgeous old massive gold coloured till, with the carvings/scrolls and patterns on it. (i've seen one the same at Blists Hill museum at Ironbridge since). Told mum hours later, and she went with me, needless to say, the till had gone by the time we'd got back there. Old chemist bottles in there as well.Did other various places through the years, but the biggest I did (and remember) was Butlin's site at Filey, when the chalets were still there with furniture still in, and the gaiety theatre, with the seats all still there. Everything was still there when we first started going, went 3 times a year and stayed over the fence at Primrose Valley. Watched the place get more and more wrecked as the years went by. There's nothing left there now,
Done loads of other things since then.
Zebra
Member
My first was a little café called motor chef. Anyone who lives around Coventry would know it- it's still there as well, which I'm surprised about, though now up for sale. I remember going in with my handy torch, and finding 'help me' written on the walls, with a stool and rope next to it. I've got a photo somewhere, just where is the question.
The little fear I had didn't last for long- I came across a rather long snake instead, plus I figured it was prolly a 12yr old trying to get a kick out of scaring peeps ineffectively.
The little fear I had didn't last for long- I came across a rather long snake instead, plus I figured it was prolly a 12yr old trying to get a kick out of scaring peeps ineffectively.
Lazarus
Active member
My first was RAF Sculthorpe in norfolk. When I and a friend were in the tower a car appeared on the airfield and did three or four circuits as if they were looking for something. We hid in the tower for about thirty minutes before making a break for it when the car was on the other side of the airfield. Two minutes later we skidded under a gate, dived into my car and made a very fast exit.
Tell me that's not corduroys and hush puppies you're wearing there mate and I'll be able to sleep without the light on again.
I'm still trying to forget the Oxford bags and platforms I wore at school.Fantastic that you have these old photos though and a treat to see the 'Moggie'.
Who were the other people with you, were they relatives? I've learnt through experience that it's not a good idea to take your Mum on an explore.
Many thanks for the comments..yes it was cords I have to admit,the moggy actually went like s*** off a hot shovel and the guy on my right is indeed my dad who was younger than I am now!!
ps,yes I did wear Puppies too...Look guys n gals,this is about urbex first times ok,not our faux pas fashion sense!!Love this thread too
Another Moggy shot
Same place but me in front of the butts
ps,yes I did wear Puppies too...Look guys n gals,this is about urbex first times ok,not our faux pas fashion sense!!Love this thread too
Another Moggy shot
Same place but me in front of the butts
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Loving the shots of the Moggy! My first explores were tagging along with my Dad as a small child; I thought it was what everyone did! Early days we'd be sat on cushions in the back of a Moggy van!! When my little brother arrived we upgraded to a Woody... loved that car I'd not heard of the term 'urban exploration' until quite recently, I've always mooched around old buildings, ruins, castles etc but just put it down to my nosey nature inherited from my Dad! My first 'proper explore' was actually a date, we explored a derelict farm
I'd not heard of the term 'urban exploration' until quite recently, I've always mooched around old buildings, ruins, castles etc but just put it down to my nosey nature inherited from my Dad! My first 'proper explore' was actually a date, we explored a derelict farm
Loving the shots of the Moggy! My first explores were tagging along with my Dad as a small child; I thought it was what everyone did! Early days we'd be sat on cushions in the back of a Moggy van!! When my little brother arrived we upgraded to a Woody... loved that car
Moggies had a smell of their own didnt they..such a simple car mechanically but at least it had a heater.Love your signature Lizzy,I presume you are a fan of the man?
Like loads of others, I explored and played in derelict places when quite small...farmhouse remains, old water mills (the mill ponds in the middle of woods were so spooky, though), graduating to a railway goods yard, a wonderful arts & craft house when at art college, then a whole town when it was being demolished for a new town.
Sort of forgot all that whilst doing the grown up thing, lol, then started up again when I went to Uni in the early 90's, visiting old cemetries and quarries, etc. Then discovered online urbex around five years ago and eventually made my first explore specifically for online posting, which was Racal Electronics in Seaton.
Sort of forgot all that whilst doing the grown up thing, lol, then started up again when I went to Uni in the early 90's, visiting old cemetries and quarries, etc. Then discovered online urbex around five years ago and eventually made my first explore specifically for online posting, which was Racal Electronics in Seaton.
tunnel vision
1st exploration would probably have been the disused railway station and tunnel at Crystal Palace in south London. It was called the High Level station, the lower level one is still in use. The upper station - a terminus - closed in the mid 50's. Me and my mates somehow scrambled over and under layers of precarious corrugated sheeting and tottering fences to gain entrance to the old platforms, at the far end of which was a dark, dank gaping tunnel, long since secured against exploration of the curious. In those days it was open to all comers and in we went. The tunnel curved for about ... 1/4 mile i suppose, so you couldn't see the light at the end when you went in, only a wall of impenetrable darkness and the sound of dripping water from the cavernous Victorian brick ceiling, and the echoing crunch, crunch, crunch of the flints underfoot. The rails and sleepers had all been taken out. At the far end was a fixed steel portcullis that you had to scramble the flints away from at the base, in order to squeeze beneath and gain the full daylight of the tunnel's end. I think you came out in somebody's back garden and had to leg it fast. My only regret is that I didn't carry a camera in those days - with no awareness that the surroundings that we took so much for granted were passing into oblivion even then
http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/u/upper_sydenham/index50.shtml
1st exploration would probably have been the disused railway station and tunnel at Crystal Palace in south London. It was called the High Level station, the lower level one is still in use. The upper station - a terminus - closed in the mid 50's. Me and my mates somehow scrambled over and under layers of precarious corrugated sheeting and tottering fences to gain entrance to the old platforms, at the far end of which was a dark, dank gaping tunnel, long since secured against exploration of the curious. In those days it was open to all comers and in we went. The tunnel curved for about ... 1/4 mile i suppose, so you couldn't see the light at the end when you went in, only a wall of impenetrable darkness and the sound of dripping water from the cavernous Victorian brick ceiling, and the echoing crunch, crunch, crunch of the flints underfoot. The rails and sleepers had all been taken out. At the far end was a fixed steel portcullis that you had to scramble the flints away from at the base, in order to squeeze beneath and gain the full daylight of the tunnel's end. I think you came out in somebody's back garden and had to leg it fast. My only regret is that I didn't carry a camera in those days - with no awareness that the surroundings that we took so much for granted were passing into oblivion even then
http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/u/upper_sydenham/index50.shtml
Lady Grey
Well-known member
Who were the other people with you, were they relatives? I've learnt through experience that it's not a good idea to take your Mum on an explore.
Ena Sharples (Violet Carson from Coronation Street) never looked lovelier - a really atmospheric photo.
cue music
Ena & Minnie brooding over a barley wine in the Rover's Return by gum - if there's one thing to twist my intestines into knots it's the theme tune to Coronation Street :icon_evil
Ric
Ena & Minnie brooding over a barley wine in the Rover's Return by gum - if there's one thing to twist my intestines into knots it's the theme tune to Coronation Street :icon_evil
Ric
Lady Grey
Well-known member
Hee Hee.
I was still in primary school at the time when I explored "the cave", actually the entrance to a long-disused mine, along with some other boys from my school. It was very small: just one largish chamber, a smaller one at the back, and a passage at the side you had to crawl through which didn't go anywhere interesting. But it did feel like we were explorers at the time, though.
My first proper exploration, with a camera, and an awareness of UE, was of Thornton Fever Hospital just over three years ago. I had carefully selected it for easy accessibility, but still worried there might be some sort of security. I spotted someone in the grounds, who was showing a couple around. I asked him if it was OK if I took some photographs of the buildings. He didn't mind, but said he didn't own the place, and it was at my own risk. It was late and getting dark, I had to use flash, and the photos weren't very good. But it meant that if I could explore there, I could explore other places too. I went back two years later and took better pictures.
My first proper exploration, with a camera, and an awareness of UE, was of Thornton Fever Hospital just over three years ago. I had carefully selected it for easy accessibility, but still worried there might be some sort of security. I spotted someone in the grounds, who was showing a couple around. I asked him if it was OK if I took some photographs of the buildings. He didn't mind, but said he didn't own the place, and it was at my own risk. It was late and getting dark, I had to use flash, and the photos weren't very good. But it meant that if I could explore there, I could explore other places too. I went back two years later and took better pictures.
C
Captain-Slow
Guest
First explore was Barlands Quarry, Swansea. Must have been about 1994.
One of my first was the Torpedo Shed at Worthy Down Airfield which has since been demolished. Rather annoying as I took a load of shots which I now cant find
I suppose this would have been mine. Its fate was typical of mansion type houses. The last of the original family owners ended up living in one room and the kitchen while the rest of it crumbled, they died, there were a couple of half-arsed attempts to make it into a hotel and eventually it was demolished to make way for some Lego houses.
It was empty from the mid 70s until the early 90s.
It was empty from the mid 70s until the early 90s.
DubbedNavigator
Well-known member
My first with a good friend of mine to a working quarry in Essex, not an urbex as such but it still got me very very interested
One day we were talking about it and he started coming out with horror stories about him and some mates crawling through the tunnels of a really creepy mental asylum and how massive it was - this fascinated me so i asked him to take me there
The next day i went on my first explore of Severalls Asylum..!
The funny thing is that he thinks now that i do it on a regular basis, im crazy and insane and hasnt done anything similar again!
One day we were talking about it and he started coming out with horror stories about him and some mates crawling through the tunnels of a really creepy mental asylum and how massive it was - this fascinated me so i asked him to take me there
The next day i went on my first explore of Severalls Asylum..!
The funny thing is that he thinks now that i do it on a regular basis, im crazy and insane and hasnt done anything similar again!
