St John's College was a private day and boarding school in Southsea, which is arguably the fancier side of Portsmouth in Hampshire. It shut its doors in 2022 but remained semi-active until last year, when the redevelopment firm getting the green light.
As a Londoner who has swapped the Big Smoke for the slightly less smoky (but more rat-infested) island of Portsmouth & Southsea for half his life, I’m always on the lookout for a good explore. This little gem is currently the crown jewel of the city. Most of the college is still frozen in time, although a bit of work has already begun on the main building. Unfortunately, the chapel and other key highlights have been stripped cleaner than a whistle.
With security patrols and a labyrinth of locked doors, navigating the site was tricky. Still, I managed to check off 80% of the buildings. This place is an explorer’s paradise, with potential treasures still lurking in the shadows. It’s not on the tour bus circuit yet, and it’s a rare find these days to stumble upon something so untouched.
Big shoutout to @british_tea_guy for helping me sneak into most of the site, couldn't of done so much without help on the day.
As a Londoner who has swapped the Big Smoke for the slightly less smoky (but more rat-infested) island of Portsmouth & Southsea for half his life, I’m always on the lookout for a good explore. This little gem is currently the crown jewel of the city. Most of the college is still frozen in time, although a bit of work has already begun on the main building. Unfortunately, the chapel and other key highlights have been stripped cleaner than a whistle.
With security patrols and a labyrinth of locked doors, navigating the site was tricky. Still, I managed to check off 80% of the buildings. This place is an explorer’s paradise, with potential treasures still lurking in the shadows. It’s not on the tour bus circuit yet, and it’s a rare find these days to stumble upon something so untouched.
Big shoutout to @british_tea_guy for helping me sneak into most of the site, couldn't of done so much without help on the day.
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