OT, Ojay and I spent a good hour raking round this place before fun and games in the river. One of those epic looking derelict buildings you just have to go and have a poke around in, even though you know it will probably be a fetid pit. Victorian buildings that have sections sat empty for 20 - 30 years are getting thin on the ground these days... one has to seize these places as and when they crop up!
To be fair the upper floors (which I'm pretty sure would have been the ballroom) was an impressive space despite the state of the building in general. Huge shaped beams, plaster-work and even original fretwork air vents remain in situ. Sadly the tower has been raped and pillaged of it's lead and access was ridiculous for little gain.
In the main body of the shop we did see a few note-worthy features, my favorite of which was the elaborate tile-work in one of the ground floor sections.
All in all a good hour of mooching...
The paneling looks "original", but is obviously a later addition as glazed brick lurks behind it.
Some of the beautiful tilework... and how fit ducting in the most un-sympathetic fashion imaginable!
Mmmmmm.....
Lovely, and HUGE dresser. Note the shadow on the tiles behind. That bad boy has stood in that very spot for a long, long time.
I'm guessing here, but I recon that tank was a later addition. Probably the most lavish oil tank room in Britain!
Not sure if that is the original beams, or a Bi-plane has crashed into the roof at some point! Note the ornate wooden vent in the top right of the photograph.
The ballroom ceiling... quite a sight even in its current state.
Gas lamp knuckle
There seemed to be a LOT of toilets in this place... every door, staircase and turn seemed to lead to another khazi!
Tower
Some of the dated tat that had fallen through the ceiling
Beautiful deco "ghost sign"
The 1930's extension to the building, which had obviously been an impressive space in it's day with it's huge ceiling. There were also scars from the removal of frescos on the wall.
The sad relic of a tower. Hopefully it can be restored (Replaced I'd guess) when the conversion into flats gets underway, Note the "access holes" punched in the woodwork to get the lead from various heights of the tower! Mad buggers!
Beautiful tiles just buried in the dirt where an adjoining portion of the building has already been demolished. Barbarians!
To be fair the upper floors (which I'm pretty sure would have been the ballroom) was an impressive space despite the state of the building in general. Huge shaped beams, plaster-work and even original fretwork air vents remain in situ. Sadly the tower has been raped and pillaged of it's lead and access was ridiculous for little gain.
In the main body of the shop we did see a few note-worthy features, my favorite of which was the elaborate tile-work in one of the ground floor sections.
All in all a good hour of mooching...
The paneling looks "original", but is obviously a later addition as glazed brick lurks behind it.
Some of the beautiful tilework... and how fit ducting in the most un-sympathetic fashion imaginable!
Mmmmmm.....
Lovely, and HUGE dresser. Note the shadow on the tiles behind. That bad boy has stood in that very spot for a long, long time.
I'm guessing here, but I recon that tank was a later addition. Probably the most lavish oil tank room in Britain!
Not sure if that is the original beams, or a Bi-plane has crashed into the roof at some point! Note the ornate wooden vent in the top right of the photograph.
The ballroom ceiling... quite a sight even in its current state.
Gas lamp knuckle
There seemed to be a LOT of toilets in this place... every door, staircase and turn seemed to lead to another khazi!
Tower
Some of the dated tat that had fallen through the ceiling
Beautiful deco "ghost sign"
The 1930's extension to the building, which had obviously been an impressive space in it's day with it's huge ceiling. There were also scars from the removal of frescos on the wall.
The sad relic of a tower. Hopefully it can be restored (Replaced I'd guess) when the conversion into flats gets underway, Note the "access holes" punched in the woodwork to get the lead from various heights of the tower! Mad buggers!
Beautiful tiles just buried in the dirt where an adjoining portion of the building has already been demolished. Barbarians!
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