Northern City Line
GO! came the voice from the shadows as a gap in the traffic opened up... I launched myself up and over the gate, into the desolate scrub beyond. Joining my fellow adventurers in the shadows, only Tom remained. We finished our access, on the Northern City Line, just off the end of a brightly lit station.
Turning away from the station, we entered the tunnel. All 5 of us wary of what might lay ahead...
Filthy Film Miscellany
I'd dearly like to post some of the work I've been doing of late. however, some of it relates to an ongoing project by the man behind Nocturnes, so that will wait until he is done, and other things just need a little time... The danger of posting a location in public, be it a blog or a forum, is that the site becomes impossible to access in the future. That wipes everything out between mid November and now. So, as a stop-gap, here are some miscellaneous shots I've taken in my brief foray into the world of film.
Cell 4 door NGTE Pyestock, KodakColour 200
Local Shopping Centre Roof
Not all that impressive, just a low level local shopping centre...
High stuff is all relative!
Crypt Sewer, London
Light at the end of the tunnel
Just one shot tonight.
A few weeks ago I became the proud owner of a Canon 550D, 10-22mm Canon lens and an 18-55.
The last two posts (NGTE Pyestock in the snow and Kings Reach Tower) were the first sets of shots I took on the camera.
I popped down Crypt the other night, and took a few shots. The Canon sure is different to my old Fuji S5600FD bridge (all previous reports were shot on that), and the images show it. I've not had good results in the drains so far, but been stunned elsewhere. But it's early days yet, and I'm going to put it down to not knowing the Canon inside out, like I did my Fuji.
I'm sure with some practice, I'll get there. At least I can see the light at the end of the tunnel...
NGTE Pyestock, Snow Day + Mountain Bike!
A little different, all externals. I headed up to NGTE Pyestock on my mountain bike today, and really enjoyed it...
Pipes and Cell 3 West
Kings Reach Tower, London
Another tower block; Another view of London; Another walk-in, disabled access explore. With working lifts.
Not that easy access is a bad thing. It's nice to be able to walk into a site and not worry about a flash of hi-vis, or track workers, police, flushers, rain storms... the list goes on!
Designed by Sir Richard Seifert (architect of Tower 42 and Centrepoint) and built in 1972, Kings Reach Tower stands at 111m.
I visited with Gina and Mike, and without further a-do, here are the photos!
In the lift!
Holy Brook, Reading
Reading isn't exactly famous for it's drains. It's not exactly famous for it's explores either. Although, in recent times, the Courage Brewery has been a nice explore. It became apparent that there was a rather nice Culvert running under the town centre, and that it was also stupidly simple to access. What choice did we have, but to take a look?
The exact origins of the brook are unknown. However, what we do know, is that it is a diversion of the River Kennet, leaving at the town of Theale. The "brook" then flows for a total of 6 miles before rejoining the River Kennet in Reading town centre. The final section of the brook is culverted, as it runs under the shops and streets of Reading. This is the section we explored.
The Abbey
The River Westbourne and The Egg
Parking up outside a rather posh hotel, complete with doormen, men in suits talking into earpieces and Mercedes doing 3-point turns in the narrow road, The Winch and I kitted up and walked off into the darkness. A few minutes later, and after some brief confusion, we entered the flow of the River Westbourne.
Initially, we headed North on the Ranelagh Sewer, following its meagre flow through to the point where it meets what is officially known as "Middle Level Sewer No. 1" Glamorous! The flow was a bit fast and deep here (like, thigh high) and the tunnel seemingly only around 5'6" so we turned around, and walked back the way we came.
Doing it
West Park Asylum, Epsom
West Park Asylum was designed by William C. Clifford-Smith, architect to the London County Council. The hospital was in planning from 1906, was almost complete in 1917, and opened in 1923, the outbreak of war delaying the opening by some years. It was the last of the "Epsom cluster" hospitals (Horton, Manor, Long Grove and St Ebba's and West Park) and the last London County Asylum to be built.
Fading into the distance...
Mistaken Identity Culvert, Birmingham
[Ironically, we thought this was Moonwalker when we found it. Seems not... Title changed to reflect this.]
Speeding down the motorway, towards Birmingham, it's me and The Winch, Tonight is a big night. Both of us are prolific underground explorers, with a love for all things wet, wild and...brick or concrete. However, neither of us have ever "done" a culvert... There's a first for everything!
We arrive and swiftly descend into the Culvert after a brief battle with a spikey bush...
The outfall, where we entered.
Random post
West Park Asylum, EpsomLive Urbex Updates!
- Going to london for a struggle snuggle with a police dog...
- Watching a black and white tv in our squat in london :)
- Draining in london town. :)
- At a rad party, taking place in a huge chamber in a storm drain under london.
- Make trouble, question everything.
- Collapsing into bed at almost 4 am after a successful nights urbex!
- Hey dad
- Still not caught... I think they know im here though... Some sneaky walking through tire tracks means they are looking in the wrong pl ...
- Inside Pyestock on a snow day, with my mountain bike. Security here sucks :-p
- Tara sucks!