Here are some more of those annoying fails and the minor tales of failure to accompany them; special pub version.
These are not in a specific area of the country, more all over the place, and visited at different times.
Ye Old Harrow
I had scoped this out on google maps and figured the concrete wall on the right of the traffic sign could possibly be climbed, gaining us access to the rear of the building also removing us from the sight of busybodies.
What I didn't figure was how close to the city center this burnt-out pub actually was. That, and the fact that we spotted several cop cars driving around put a quick stop to that idea.
Around the back looked more promising; the old battered car had been used as a stepping stone to get inside by others, the tell-tale signs were all there.
However, I didn't have the heart or inclination to stand on the roof of someone's old banger, even if it had been abandoned. It just didn't feel right. There's a line that you just don't cross.
The Durham Ox
This delightful looking establishment has fared seemingly worse than Ye Old Harrow that is around 500 yards away.
I could see the roof had gone and the second storey floor was now made up of fresh air from the outside.
I thought that car had crashed into the bushes but on further inspection, it had simply been dumped, possibly the legacy of a joyrider from the night before.
Was there something so good inside the Durham Ox that it needed guarding so well?
This was the last stop on our recent trip to the city of steel and we were both knackered. There was a way in which meant some climbing but the prize for our efforts seemed disproportional. In other words we could not be arsed.
I have since heard from another explorer who did get in, stated the inside was, 'well fucked'. We might return with fresh legs at a later date.
Churchill’s
This one was downright annoying as it's been infiltrated by several lots of explorers and we had a miserable start to the day failing to get in.
It's true, the others all did night trips, masking their devious deeds and identities whereas we visited on a lovely Saturday morning with the sun blazing, and with plenty of people knocking about.
That was the problem as there's a car wash behind it, and on lovely days, people get their cars washed. While waiting they stare around at the most interesting thing, which is two dodgy blokes trying to scale a wall that's threatening to collapse on top of them.
Even with Intel on how to get into Churchill's I still am not sure how to get over the crumbling wall. There is some interesting stuff inside, so it will be one I will be returning... soon.
The Crescent
Talk about bad timing. The Crescent I have been told has been recently 'opened up'. That doesn't mean you can go along and get in, it means it 'has been' opened up and could well be sealed again.
We could indeed have gotten inside, by jumping down a 10-foot gap in the ground into the cellar which was covered by a huge slab of concrete on a side road. Look closely and you will see it (below).
Not very discreet and what if some twat places the slab back while your inside nursing a couple of broken legs. There's a price for getting those lovely snaps, but it can be way too high at times.
If this is 'the new way in', then I will be giving the Crescent a miss. I will save the history lesson for our repeat visit to this large and very green old pub.
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Awesome photos. It gives a real sense of abandonment to the area.
The first two are so close to each other and both in a similar state. It says a lot for the changing tides of society and what we have become.
Do you have a rough guess about the decline of British pubs over the last few decades? In other words if 20 years ago there were X pubs, what percentage of that amount might today’s be?
The start of the decline may well have been around 20 years ago. They are (were) literally on every street corner and I would say easily that 60%-70% are now demolished, like these or converted to something else, maybe more.
My parents lived between two pubs, one is now a funeral home, the other converted to flats.
I love these old pubs and how they look and try to imagine them in their good ole' days. Once we get moved, I would like to do some URBEX and Rural exploring as well. It seems to be so much fun. Wish you would have been able to get into some of them, especially the first one.
The days of the pub crawl are gone. There are no pubs to crawl too anymore. It's a fun and rewarding hobby, but dangerous, more so where you live due to guns so be careful.
Its honestly not all that unsafe, except in certain urban areas. In rural areas, I would get permission first anyway. Don't believe all the media hype about the U.S. and gun violence. It is bad in a few urban areas, but most everything else is the exception.
That would take the fun away from it, it's the sneaky ninja anticipation, the heartbeat pumping effect that you get when treading on the edge of the law that does it for me. Anything that is pre-arranged, with safety in mind is very much of today.
You remember when you were 13 or 14, and going places you shouldn't have? That's what this is about, the photography is a bonus.
At my age I can't get my heart pumping too much and unlike when I was 13 or 14, I not even close to ninja-like, and can't run at all anymore :-)
After you have experienced the sensation, you will want to feel it again. You will remember what it was like being a teenager.
Oh I remember (mischievous grin)!
I feel like you did that first one already. I am just kidding. I think a lot of those old pubs look really similar over there from the outside. Probably just like a lot of them look the same over here. You folks seem to have a lot more of them that are closed than we do.
We have a lot more period! But most are gone, sold, renovated or derelict.
Did you have a go at the cop shop when in Salford? There is a former magistrates court\family court building close by the pub too.
It always seems to be city centres that have the pubs, very few round here to look at
I know where the cop shop is, very close the The Crescent in fact. We tend to stick to the agenda and so passed it by that day. Will be one for a future visit.
👍
We have lost a load of pubs in our village since we moved here. They have either been converted or demolished, so none to explore. I bet more will close this year. I hope some of your trips were more productive, but even the exterior shots can be interesting.
TBH, the list of fails I have is small compared to the full tales with lots of images. Next week it will be pubs, got a lot of them lined up.., there little shortage and it will get worse.
Surely that car looks to be abandoned and most likely stolen. I am surprised the cops havent had it towed.