I too discovered this whole Urbex thing back in the early 2000's, having been a bored civil servant trawling the net for US asylums and abandoned places while on a back shift. I used to follow Simon Cornwells site waiting impatiently for updates, and the CRCMH site with the infamous 'Flincher' and super band Pwurg! I was also massively embarrassed about it too, worrying that people would find it weird that I loved sneaking round abandoned places!!
My first ever explore was the local borstal/approved school, St Peters in Gainford. Relatively small and uninspiring, but when I discovered the graffiti daubed on the walls in the gym and heard the stories from former pupils, the eeriness of the place and nerves gave me a buzz ive never forgotten, and that was basically what grew my interest in urbex in a big way.
It all seems a bit different now I am older and a bit wiser and with a family, but back then I didn't think twice about squirming through tight gaps and outwitting/being chased by security guards, for the chance of getting inside and seeing something Id never get chance to see otherwise.
Looking back now, I just wish I had the resources and determination at the time to get in the car and travel further afield to see more than just local sites like Cherry Knowle, St Georges and St Marys! I remember my jealousy at all those who lived in and about London and Surrey, having all of those sprawling hospitals to chose from. Cane Hill, Hellingly and West Park in particular. That said, I was in Colchester last summer and made a pilgrimage to Severalls. I had the wife and kids in the car so could only drive around the grounds like, don't think she would have been too chuffed had I abandoned them in the car in the middle of a derelict lunatic asylum while I poked around the wards!
Anyway, reminiscing over, and while Im not a massively active contributor to the site in the way of reports, Im just glad to be part of a scene that I love, and that countless others do to!
My first ever explore was the local borstal/approved school, St Peters in Gainford. Relatively small and uninspiring, but when I discovered the graffiti daubed on the walls in the gym and heard the stories from former pupils, the eeriness of the place and nerves gave me a buzz ive never forgotten, and that was basically what grew my interest in urbex in a big way.
It all seems a bit different now I am older and a bit wiser and with a family, but back then I didn't think twice about squirming through tight gaps and outwitting/being chased by security guards, for the chance of getting inside and seeing something Id never get chance to see otherwise.
Looking back now, I just wish I had the resources and determination at the time to get in the car and travel further afield to see more than just local sites like Cherry Knowle, St Georges and St Marys! I remember my jealousy at all those who lived in and about London and Surrey, having all of those sprawling hospitals to chose from. Cane Hill, Hellingly and West Park in particular. That said, I was in Colchester last summer and made a pilgrimage to Severalls. I had the wife and kids in the car so could only drive around the grounds like, don't think she would have been too chuffed had I abandoned them in the car in the middle of a derelict lunatic asylum while I poked around the wards!
Anyway, reminiscing over, and while Im not a massively active contributor to the site in the way of reports, Im just glad to be part of a scene that I love, and that countless others do to!
