Your Urbex Stories

[Zotez]

Through a discussion with a friend we thought this would be a good idea for a thread.

I love it when people put a story about their trip on their reports and I enjoy reading about other peoples experiences so I thought we should have a place to share those moments where something has gone wrong, or something funny has happened, or any urbex stories that you have which you would like to post.

I'll start off with one from one of our West Park visits, this was actually a "consolation" visit once we had failed to get into NGTE Pyestock and the Cambridge Military Hospital - we decided to take a different way into the asylum as opposed to the entrance everyone used (you all know about it but i'll stick to the rules and not mention access) anyway, we were walking along a path that ran beside the hospital which also passed the morgue and we heard some very obvious vandals/"chavs" trying to break their way into it, on further inspection (well, looking over the fence) we could make out the usual suspect tracksuits and white trianers with some odd language whilst they were trying to kick the door in, we decided to leave them and find our own way through the fence.

We got into the asylum eventually and while walking one of the corridors I noticed the vandals seemed to be following us at a distance, I didnt mention it to the group because there were many explorers there at the time (this was during the time where everyone visited west park), our next decision was to venture into the service tunnels (which, I may add are horrible, I wouldnt reccomend it unless you like massive dead spiders, live electricity and asbestos), we were about to climb under the hospital through a vent and I could see one of the undesirables climbing out the same window we did through the corridors that linked the wards, he looked over at what we were doing with a shocked expression and quickly hopped back over the window and started walking away from us at the quickest speed possible! Goes to prove some people really do have limits!

But after my rather unfunny story, does anyone have any better ones to share? Any memories, stories, anything that would be of interest to this thread? I'd love to read it.

Thanks!

 

[RedDave]

My story also involves an encounter with chavs, in Belgium.

It wasn't long since I entered Hasard Cheratte. I had already taken some photos inside an adit, and also in the tower over puit 1, which I was just leaving, when I saw four youths walking past. They didn't notice me. I heard some banging in the building they had entered and concluded they were up to no good. I tried to keep away from them as long as I could, still taking photographs, but eventually had to hide inside a small building. One of them entered it, and would have found me. So I shone my big LED torch in his eyes, and he ran off screaming. I heard no more of him nor any of his friends, so presumed they had left the site. I stayed around for a while, but was so discombobulated by the experience that I forgot to enter the rest of the main building. I left the site, and took the bus to Liege, so that I could explore La Chartreuse, where I stayed until it got dark, before taking the train back to Brussels.

 

[mookster]

Ahh I've got a few entertaining tales (at least to me!)

First (and probably best one) was from my trip to West Park with UKMayhem and co. We'd had a good quiet day exploring, and had stopped for a spot of lunch in Huxley ward (near the live stuff) and it's here the day took a strange twist...As we're sat quietly discussing stuff, we hear an alarm go off in the live section quite near us. We think it must be idiots trying to urbex the live buildings but the alarm doesn't stop, it's hard to tell where it's coming from as it's echoing everywhere, but eventually it stops and we make our way downstairs. Passing the door that looks out onto the live road section we see a police car drive past. So we move ourselves away from that area and finish our day in the morgue. As we make our exit back onto the main road we start to walk back to the nature reserve where we'd parked. A police Jeep screams past us, and seconds later a police car follows, but slows down almost to a stop beside us before continuing and turning into the car park. "Oh ****" we think to ourselves, but when we get to the carpark we see the officers out of the car searching for something in the woods. As we're gathered around the cars talking about the weird events of the day the officers get into the car and leave. A minute or so passes, and the silence is broken by a man running out of the woods dressed in only a womans vest top and red lacy underwear, diving into his car and speeding out of the carpark! A few seconds went by whilst we processed what had just happened, before we all fell about in hysterical laughter...

The other most interesting occurance on an explore was at Pyestock. The explore started terribly - we chose the worst possible moment to make our way from the main fence to the heras, resulting in one of us being collared (by the worlds nicest security guard) and me and my girlfriend legging it all the way around the south end of the site, and hiding in an old electrical transformer building. A few frantic phone calls and texts followed, and eventually we regrouped and started the explore. Now we'd heard rumours of security having a new Jeep toy, but nothing had been confirmed so it was only in the very backs of our minds. The actual explore was uneventful until we came to leave. We emerged from Cell 4, and were standing on the bit of tarmac between the raised Weir Road and Cell 4 when we heard the unmistakeable low growl of a diesel engine headed along Weir Road. We choose to try and hide ourselves behind the Photography building in between the tarmac and the road but to no avail, we realise we'll be seen. So we dive under the raised section of the road as the Jeep comes towards us, no way they didn't see us. It stops above us and honks it's horn. We think they'll come down and nab us but they don't - instead we hear it reverse back down the road. So thinking 'wtf' we clamber out from under the road only to hear it heading our way again! So we dive back under cover, and it stops above us and honks louder and longer. We stay put, and once again the Jeep reverses off! We clamber out and I can hear it's gone a fair way away, so I tell my companions 'now, we RUN' and we made it to the fence, and got out relatively unscathed.

Other than those 2 tales, nearly being eaten alive by brambles on my way to Hellingly, my embarassingly undignified escape from Pyestock on another visit and being chased by guard dogs inside Wispers School, and the trip I took in June where absolutely nothing went right at all rank pretty high on my list, but I'll save them for another time.

 

[Lauren444]

Thanks for putting you're stories up I have really enjoyed Reading them, WTF was he doing running around a derelict building in nothing but lacy underwear hahaha
oddball lol!

 

[tom83]

Think my funniest story happened late last year, my exploring friend had heard about a disused rail tunnel near Uppermill in Saddleworth Moor, so one Saturday afternoon we decided to go and have a look for it, now my friend is all for exploring, but his planning leaves nothing to the imagination. After an hour of Driving we arrive at a little car park to what looks like a nature trail, get our bags and head off through the bushes in search of the Portal. Its about 7pm in December, its pitch black and its been raining, so its very boggy. Like I said earlier my mate doesnt do planning an explore, so we got completely lost walking around the Moors, after an hour, and using my Phones Sat nav to recover the path we had lost, we decided end our search and call it a night and make our way back to the car.

As we approached the Car Park, through the tree's we could see a few cars parked up, and with it being a saturday night we though the local Chavs were having a bit of a cruise...............WRONG. As we emerged through the bushes into the head light lit car park, we realised we had parked in a very active and very busy dogging spot. With looks of suprise on everybodies face, theres and ours, we made our way between the cars, trying not to make eye contact, got in our car and drove off.

It was a very disapointing and strange night, and to make it worse, when we got back home, we realised we had parked in the completely wrong place, and was absolutely nowhere near where we should have been.

 

[tom46]

Not a particularly interesting one from me but it was quite nice at the time. Me and Kent-urbex were at the Klinger factory in Sidcup. After hopping over the wall from the main road, we had a little look at a caravan parked outside. Nothing unusual there, so we had a pretty good explore. On the way out, KU went to get a picture of the caravan (for some reason) and out popped a rather bemused security guard, who had evidently not noticed that we were there despite jumping over the wall right next to his caravan and walking past it several times. He asked what we were doing, we said (sweet as anything), 'Oh, just taking photos, but we've finsihed now'. Ok, he says, I'll just open the main gates for you so you don't have to jump over. Opened the big old main gates, we shook his hand, and he went back to his cup of tea/bed/Razzle Always nice when you get a nice one like that.

 

[TK421]

Good stories, especially the dogging one!

I was exploring a local live quarry early on a Sunday, theres a public right of way through it, but the bits I was interested in were off the right of way. I had been all round the quarry, and was making my way out when I hear a car draw up. I froze, and gave serious thought to legging it for fear of an encounter with a security guard or the police. I was just about to climb over a wall, when a blokes voice shouted 'excuse me', slowly I turned around, and stood there was a fella with a rifle, 'I'm ******' I thought, and then the whole scene from Deliverance went through my mind quickly, "squeal piggy"... you get the drift.

I then had what I can only describe as a 'moment of clarity; 'Sod this', I thought and decided to front it out, 'yes chief' says I, the bloke takes a step back (after all, I'm not a small fella), "Oh" he says, "do you happen to know where the gun club is mate?"

I carried on walking past, "not a fooking clue me old fella" says I "good day"......sharp walk to car for change of underpants


Final one from me from when I was a lot younger and cameraless. A mate and I had been exploring the grounds of a retirement home (grand old place, once someones posh house), and in the woods was an old summer house that had fallen into disrepair. As we approached we heard something strange, and decided to creep round whatever it was and take a closer look, the route took us past an old clapboard fence. As we peeked through a small hole, there was the caretaker of the place, pants down, porn mag in front of him, having a good old open air "J Arthur Rank" One has to do the decent thing of course when confronted with such sights, we shook the fence and made a gutteral shouting 'aarrgrgrgrgrh' sound, he nearly **** himself, whilst of course we beat a respectful retreat by legging it Some days its a good thing you dont have a camera, now where's the eye bleach?

 

[Anthillmob74]

our most recent visit to west park a good few months back. kindly professor frink gave some valuable info and we found our way in via laundry, **** ourselves at the pigeons a few hundred times, tried out the ancient exercise equipment and failed to find any doors that were open to take us through to the next part of the hospital.

made our way back out, re-covered the entry point and wandered round to where the corridoors are on the outside loking for a way in.

stopped for a drink and a *** behind a massive tree but were spotted by security who came over and started patronising us, telling us about ghosts, monsters and snakes as big as his thighs and insisted in escorting us back to our a via the long route right way round the hospital [parked in car park 7] and trying to get us to exit the grounds via a large hole out onto the busy bypass where we argued with him because we didnt enter that way but he insisted we did and way very rude to us making threats until i counteracted his threats of police with me calling them and having him for harrassment as i have been told before by one of the site owners [have his phon number though not sure if he still has anything to do with WP] that we had permission to be outside provided we didnt enter.

anyway, i think what probably pissed him off the most was that 'urbex peg', my cousins little patterdale terrier that always comes on explores with us, she dont take kindly to people in high vis vests/jackets and when he tried to shoo her away from him she bit him. not hard, just a warning nip.

ooops.

anyways we refused to get in our car until he had pissed off as we didnt want him taking a note of the reg.


another time there when me and me cousin and the dog got inside when it was like swiss cheese last year, we came down a flight of stairs and found one door which opened into an abyss that i very nearly blindly stepped into. no floor at all, it was only the dogs hesitation that stopped me. thus meaning i failed the golden rule ;test the floor first'

other than those 2 we've not really had any bother, just look like a couple of dog walkers though we did have an epic fail after a 2 hour drive to hellingly and got nabbed walking up the driveway by security. i had more luck walking the perimeter there when i took the kids for a reccee. we hadnt helped matters that day by walking straight into some blokes garden, think he must have called security.

im going to a party at my aunts in polegate in october/november and hellingly is right nearby but no one wants a night time prowl with me lol [my cousin is on the opposite side of the family]

 

[Anthillmob74]

also since discovering/partaking in UE ive become a bit distracted when driving/pain in the arse as a car passenger as i am constantly looking around me when in the car. the driving whilst looking bit had distracted me a bit too much, am now trying my hand at concentrating on the road and looking at maps in the safety of my living room instead.

 

[tommo]

was down in a quarry at the begining of the year looking round, its still a live site next door, but some "travellers" had got in at some point in the last week and started to strip all the cable, so was looking up the slope shaft to see 5 "travellers" open the door and come down, the heart started to race and i turned my headlamp off, with my quick thinking or down right stupidity i turned my light back on and started to walk up the slope shaft, they shouted down to me, to which i responded "i am security from the company next door" shinning my light in there eyes so they couldnt see me with an exchange of words for 10 mintues i managed to trick them in to turning round and leaving to which i ran to the top and locked the door from the inside with 3 big metal bars, i could hear them kick it in, trying to get in and then finially they lock the door from there side with a bar thinking they had locked me in

we dont use they entrance they where using so it didnt bother us, shame though they got back in about a week later and the place is a right mess now even down to the lights of the quarry ceiling which is about 40ft up, being dragged down and the cable stripped

it was a very nice quarry up until then, then they decided to break in to the said company next door which is "special site" the whole place got locked down for along time

 

[mookster]

I think mine, Landie Man and TBM's fraught trip to the Millenium Mills site in London deserves a post...

The day again started badly - I overslept meaning we left about an hour and a half late from Aylesbury, at 11.30am ish. We made good progress down the M40 despite a small jam, and made it to the M25 on Junction 16. All was good, until the dreaded signs flashed up 'congestion Junctions 27-30', when we needed to come off at Junction 29. After crawling along in the traffic for about an hour we make it to our junction, and pull into Thurrock services at about 2.30pm for some lunch. Lunch was devoured, and as Landie started the Landie up it makes an awful noise. So we waste 2 and a half hours waiting for the RAC, and get going again at about 5, finally arriving at our destination at about 5.30, a full 6 hours after we left Aylesbury.

By this point we had considered giving up and going home, but we were there and weren't gonna waste the explore. So throwing caution to the wind we meandered our way down the gravel paths towards the looming hulk of the mills. Finding the access we entered Rank Hovis and had an uneventful explore apart from TBM nearly falling through a floor. On exiting though we found our access point sealed, and as we walked across the palisade over the front of the mill, I saw nothing but both Landie and TBM started running saying they'd seen the security Jeep. We hid in a bush for about 15 minutes before we walked to the end of the building and got met by security who were perfectly pleasant although warned us not to come back and get caught again. They followed us down the dirt track out of there as they wanted to see where we got in, luckily they assumed we'd climbed over the gate so didn't find our real access point. And on the way back down the M25 we nearly crashed!

 

[Lauren444]

My only story from an eventful explore is from when I was 17, It's not a great story but ill post it anyway to contribute lol.

Me and my sister where in the old Seddon Atkinson building's just off Shaw Road, we where in one of the back buildings when my sister saw someone run past the window, so we went out to look who was around, only to find two men in Fatigue's with some kind of air rifle, ducking and doing army roll's on the floor.
me and my sister were terrified, a mess, convinced we were going to die.
anyway we kept on walking as they ran around us, I think they were only trying to scare us, but they bloody did that!!
we made a last dash for the exit, but they didn't follow us out, we ran all the way home lol Idiots!

 

[scrappy]

i was on a explore with my mate Over in doing a hotel rooftop, it took us 5 mins to find a way to the top. to are delight there was a window open to get on to the roof it was the size of a small person! we both managed to get out on the roof and started setting are cameras up and a guy walks around the corner(obviously doing some work up there) and he just stood next to us not doing anything! we got are pics and he went back around the corner he came from on the phone so we thought lets get back through that window as with it being so small it was not a dainty affair get through!

another one was at a mill we had explored it and most of the out buildings, the biggest of the out buildings had not been explored from what we know about. after an age of free climbing to access we dropped in and set off walking only to find a security guard with his feet up watching tv, dont know who was more shocked him or me! he open door and told us to go away.

last one now, i was on my own looking at a old hospital up north that has not been done really, iturned up and every window and door was boarded as well as every drain pipe being removed! i thought thats why its not been done much! i then saw a un boarded window that was open and i hurried over thinking im in, i stuck my chest upwards through the window without looking in first only to be right in front of my face a security guard and dog both fast asleep! you can just imagine my face!! i quickly left without disturbing either of them!

 

[Lamb Phall]

This Summer.

1 Entered a room full of what looked like fresh blood everywhere, pools of the stuff on the floor and splashed up all the walls. Didn't find a body though.

2 Entered a 3 story bulding which I thought was empty, but on a previouse visit got disturbed and had to make a run for it. So I enter the building and do a quick check of the ground floor all clear, quick check of the second floor all clear, runs up to the 3rd floor opens the door to the main corridor I turn around and there in the middle of the corridor is this big candle burning away, thinking back its now funny, but at the time it was one of those WTF moments.

3 Was out on a reccy and got bit by a dog, trip to A&E and 3 stiches.

4 Got locked in a multi storey car park.

Anybody in the Plymouth area want to hook up

 

[nij4829]

This story is about Kook and myself.

We were on the hunt and recce for a few places in the morning, and decided before a spot of lunch to go into a old folks home.
I had seen a report on this place on another forum. After a mini recce, Kook decides that the best entry is through a cellar window, where as I decide the front door looks promising. As in we go (through the unlocked front door), the place has been lived in (hobo style) but was empty at that moment in-time.
Our plan was to start at the top and work our way down - we climb the stairs and enter into one of the res bed rooms, lining up a shot we hear a banging noise (possibly wind) so cautiously carry on.
The next minute, it sounds like someone is knocking ten bells out of a door with a sledge hammer. SO we quickly pack our cameras away and make a swift exit (wasnt gonna mess with anyone with big tools).
Kook thinks that they were inside the building - either way I wasnt gonna go back in to find out.

 

[leanneh123]

yes Lauren i remember that.... bloody scary !!! has Seddon Atkinson gone now ?? Ahhh, it was a great explore

 

[Zotez]

One hell of a story from today!

Pyestock - my now official bad luck charm.

Today was the third trip after two failed attempts at Pyestock, there was a fairly dreary atmosphere due to everyone being slightly uncertain about getting in etc, and the fact I had my girlfriend with me and her safety was my main concern. It started out like any normal explore, a bit of a laugh and a joke on the way up there, we stopped for lunch a bit before, we finally got to the Pyestock fence and me and my other half were stood at the top as look out while a mate was trying to find a way in, I searched my bag for the rest of my food when at the bottom ( I generally leave my bag with a torch in it) I had some side cutters and long nose pliers (I must add these were and have NOT been used to enter any derelict place - I have them for use with my interest in banger racing and the bag I took is taken everywhere). I didnt want to discard them becuase they were a rather expensive set but I was talked into leaving the cutters behind and hiding them near a tree, the long nose pliers I kept (although these had a small cutter on them they were nowhere near powerful enough to cut a fence, I only used them for stripping wires).

We stayed lookout until we saw the security guard drive up - they are said to patrol every 90 minutes so we just hid and thought they would go (we were outside the grounds anyway but it was obvious what we were doing), a few minutes later we checked again, he saw us, took a picture then sounded his horn, at the time I was getting more and more annoyed because it was my third trip and I was determined to enter that day. We stopped for a rest for a while and went back to the entrance point we had found, entered and continued into Pyestock - exited that we had finally found our way into the place, especially myself because I had been trying for nearly a year. We spent a few minutes getting our bearings and taking photos etc, as you do.

Things then took a turn for the worst - we were climbing some steps and one of my companions pointed out a German Shepard that was running towards us, moments later we heard shouting "POLICE POLICE THATS A POLICE DOG GET DOWN FROM THERE AND COME HERE", our instincts were to run but when the shouts turned into "its trained to bite!" we stopped and made our way to the owner - we didnt want any trouble especially from the police. We were told that security already knew where we were and that we were tresspassing, that we had cut the fence open (which we hadnt at all) and some other things that I dont recall, we were brought back to were the dog carrier vehicle was situated and told to wait, I contemplated running but didnt want to leave my friends behind, shortly two police cars arrived and our bags were searched and names and addresses taken, one of the officers asked to see the pliers ( Iadmitted to having them but claimed that they were not powerful enough to cut the fence - which they werent). I was informed that he was going to try them on the fence and if he can cut it then I will be arrested and taken to the police station, my girlfriend was told to be prepared to leave me in the police car and not to interfere, I was told that it was likely that I would be arrested, I thought it was scare mongering because one of the women talking to us seemed to think we were wasting her time.

The policeman returned, informed me that he had not managed to cut the fence but still asked why I had the pliers, I explained my motor racing enthusiasm and after a brief discussion about stripping wires and the Aldershot banger track not far from Pyestock, a few jokes were spared between us and the officers and they ended on the statment "Look lads, we know its fun but these guards have nothing else to do except catch you, so dont come back", and we were escorted out and left.

If I had been caught with something worse than the pliers i'd have been in deep deep trouble, the moral of the story is dont go tooled up even if its not intentional - make sure you cooperate with anyone of authority and realise that no matter your opinion of these people, they are just doing a job they are paid to do - they dont want a hard time, and neither do you.

 

[krela]

One hell of a story from today!

Pyestock - my now official bad luck charm.

Today was the third trip after two failed attempts at Pyestock, there was a fairly dreary atmosphere due to everyone being slightly uncertain about getting in etc, and the fact I had my girlfriend with me and her safety was my main concern. It started out like any normal explore, a bit of a laugh and a joke on the way up there, we stopped for lunch a bit before, we finally got to the Pyestock fence and me and my other half were stood at the top as look out while a mate was trying to find a way in, I searched my bag for the rest of my food when at the bottom ( I generally leave my bag with a torch in it) I had some side cutters and long nose pliers (I must add these were and have NOT been used to enter any derelict place - I have them for use with my interest in banger racing and the bag I took is taken everywhere). I didnt want to discard them becuase they were a rather expensive set but I was talked into leaving the cutters behind and hiding them near a tree, the long nose pliers I kept (although these had a small cutter on them they were nowhere near powerful enough to cut a fence, I only used them for stripping wires).

We stayed lookout until we saw the security guard drive up - they are said to patrol every 90 minutes so we just hid and thought they would go (we were outside the grounds anyway but it was obvious what we were doing), a few minutes later we checked again, he saw us, took a picture then sounded his horn, at the time I was getting more and more annoyed because it was my third trip and I was determined to enter that day. We stopped for a rest for a while and went back to the entrance point we had found, entered and continued into Pyestock - exited that we had finally found our way into the place, especially myself because I had been trying for nearly a year. We spent a few minutes getting our bearings and taking photos etc, as you do.

Things then took a turn for the worst - we were climbing some steps and one of my companions pointed out a German Shepard that was running towards us, moments later we heard shouting "POLICE POLICE THATS A POLICE DOG GET DOWN FROM THERE AND COME HERE", our instincts were to run but when the shouts turned into "its trained to bite!" we stopped and made our way to the owner - we didnt want any trouble especially from the police. We were told that security already knew where we were and that we were tresspassing, that we had cut the fence open (which we hadnt at all) and some other things that I dont recall, we were brought back to were the dog carrier vehicle was situated and told to wait, I contemplated running but didnt want to leave my friends behind, shortly two police cars arrived and our bags were searched and names and addresses taken, one of the officers asked to see the pliers ( Iadmitted to having them but claimed that they were not powerful enough to cut the fence - which they werent). I was informed that he was going to try them on the fence and if he can cut it then I will be arrested and taken to the police station, my girlfriend was told to be prepared to leave me in the police car and not to interfere, I was told that it was likely that I would be arrested, I thought it was scare mongering because one of the women talking to us seemed to think we were wasting her time.

The policeman returned, informed me that he had not managed to cut the fence but still asked why I had the pliers, I explained my motor racing enthusiasm and after a brief discussion about stripping wires and the Aldershot banger track not far from Pyestock, a few jokes were spared between us and the officers and they ended on the statment "Look lads, we know its fun but these guards have nothing else to do except catch you, so dont come back", and we were escorted out and left.

If I had been caught with something worse than the pliers i'd have been in deep deep trouble, the moral of the story is dont go tooled up even if its not intentional - make sure you cooperate with anyone of authority and realise that no matter your opinion of these people, they are just doing a job they are paid to do - they dont want a hard time, and neither do you.

 

[Zotez]

What exactly has made you unsure?

 

[KooK.]

Ha, yeah that was pretty freaky nij, as was the small hobo man living in a closet in Midland Mill (British Mohair).

I have a story about when 5 of us spent a day around Leeds and Bradford. Our 1st proper explore of the day was at Denso Marstons. Squirrell found crazy access along with Sol and Kitty, but then found a nice fire exit to let Bug and myself in. Bug and I had scoped the site before entering and seen on site security, but he was in a little outhouse thing and there were no windows, so we carried on regardless. After being there for a good while we decided to try the offices, as we were wandering around them Squiz noticed PIRs, so we decided to leave the offices alone and keep looking. Sol, Bug and Kitty were in one part of the factory whilst Squiz and I were trying to find a way outside to an older looking part. Once we found one he went to tell them, but as he was coming out of the corridor into the area where they were the security guard was stood across the way and just turning round but Squiz ran just in time, whisper shouted "RUN!" at me and we pegged it for the fire exit.

There was a police car parked outside, so we just walked away from the site, gathered our composure and went and sat in a cafe over the road with a good view of the factory. After a while the other 3 emerged, escorted by the police and security. Squiz and I were almost finished with our sarnies when they walked into the cafe and Kitty clocked us saying "You set of ba*tards!". Lovely. They recounted to us that they had been threatened with arrest and were made to delete their photos and then made to show them their access point. It was a window high up a wall, but it led them right past the fire exit we'd run out of. They were asking them where the rest of our group was, all the while them insisting that there were only 3 of them with the fire exit door banging in the wind behind them.