Tales of the Urban Explorer: Finsley Gate Mill

Many times I had driven past it; once it was a huge factory but now there is barely anything left.

Albion Mill is next to it, in the mid-1800s, the north of England was crammed with these goddam awful places forcing people to work for peanuts.

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I know as I endured less than 2 weeks in one of these shitholes when young, before walking out. I would rather be unemployed than be subjected to those wank conditions.

Even in the 1980s, The Horrors of Kwiksave was a step up in quality. Mills treated their employees worse than Mort, that is a fact.

In today's world, I can track down what's left of Britain's Industrial revolution and enter old Mills, secure that I won't lose any more of my hearing due to the constant 120-decibel noise, be bullied by middle-aged blokes who take out their life anger on young lads, or gassed when entering one of those foul smoking rooms where the walls are brown and sticky.


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…’Finsley Gate Mill’ in 2011. The greater part would be demolished in 2016. It would have made for a fine exploration then'…
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The mill dates back to 1820 and an article from 2013 states it is likely to be demolished, and replaced by housing. Nine years later, the housing is yet to appear.

@bingbabe had gone for a run at the local park and I stood outside ‘Finsley Gate Mill’, intent on entering solo.

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The pallaside fencing had been compromised and I can fit through those gaps, just. Slipping inside after checking for passing motorists and very aware of the local police station just around the corner I entered the grounds.

The blue boarding was shielding me a little from nosey bastards at this point.

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Walking to what looked like an access point I noted they had gone to some effort to keep people out via the canal entrance.

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The gap looked awkward and required me to balance on a wonky pallet. It was that thin sheet metal that crunches your nuts. I could see my balls were in for a rough time.. again.

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After some struggling, I entered a dark large room devoid of light. This was to be my second attempt at 'Finsley Gate Mill', the first being a fail as I forget 'the big light'.

Inside was predictably bare, with large pools of fetid water underfoot.

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The room beyond looked mostly made of rust and contained an unmovable safe. Besides an impenetrable fence at the far end, the only way was up.

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The metal stairway was secure enough, and I found myself on the second floor.

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It was getting more squelchy by the minute, and about as fascinating as the ground floor.

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This piece of anti-climbing fence must have lost its way in life, shuffled up those stairs, and resigned itself to be forever alone. I patted it softly and advised a little counseling.

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…'it might look ropey, but it was quite safe, as long as you tiptoe and don't breathe'…

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From here I was awarded fabulous views over industrial Burnley. Is this what it looks like from a jail cell?

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Yet more steps beckoned and something had been left behind.

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The dial was missing so I couldn’t be shocked to see how fat I had become. Perhaps that was a blessing.

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You won't find Kilograms here, this is old-style Pounds.

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The next lot of stairs awaited and once again they were those solid metal ones.

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A little slippery due to all the fallen debris, but otherwise quite safe. There was even a bannister to clutch.

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For once I wasn’t going to get my feet pissed through, this one was quite dry.

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An ageing pulley system that would probably still work if called back to action.

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'Wadsworth' have likely gone under. I couldn't find them in today's world. This gearing is likely from the 19th century.

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I headed for the corner that was streaming with light. Might I find some glowing eternal being beyond that door that would reward yours truly with fascinating scenes of the past?

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More like the end of the road. Walking over that dodgy flooring alone, not fucking likely!

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They made doors solid in the old times. It creaked in protest when I opened it wider.

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The majority of ‘Finsley Gate Mill’ has been demolished. I can only guess this part is Grade listed and falls under those ridiculous UK laws of ’you can’t knock it down’.

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The floor at the foot of the chute steps was slimy. Ugh, this is why I wear shitty trainers when exploring.

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Is there something valuable in the corner? It could well be toxic, hazardous or an overturned wheelbarrow.

Getting back out was no easier. I took a few outside shots before leaving.

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'Grade listed' - Why would we want to save this shitty-looking building? It's apparent that it started small and more buildings were sellotaped onto it due to expansion.

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Remove the tape and you get an unsightly mess like this. The original demolition was done years ago. I can't see any change soon that is besides the access point which has now been sealed.

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A cotton mill. Yikes. You are right, it was a separate works in them places just like you describe. I worked in a sawmill for two years when I left school and it was a horror of a place filled with the worst wretches you could imagine. Much better to return to them all decrepit and ruined!

I worked in a sawmill for two years when I left school and it was a horror of a place filled with the worst wretches you could imagine.

'The Horrors of the Sawmill' heh.., you could start your memoirs before it all leaks from your head. I'm 2.5 years into the Kwiksave one., I need to do Part 38..

I could and should actually. I was thinking the other day about it because I heard about a guy I worked with had died. Which seems to be all the news I hear these days, it another back some terrible memories!

idk why but I loved the look of that scale and you for sure wouldn't catch me on those chute steps lol They look a little sus. Have you been in any spots where floors have fallen out on you or anything like that?

Have you been in any spots where floors have fallen out on you or anything like that?

I have, very recently. I am nursing injuries that will put me out for the winter. Shoulder is terrible.., it happens.

I don't even know what a kilogram is and if someone said its 650kilo metres to go I wouldn't have a clue how long that would take. I weigh 14 stone 3 pounds and I am 5 ft 10 inches tall. Fuck metric.
Nice old mill btw.

Slim enough for the pallaside fencing gap? I struggle a little.., if not it cuts out a lot of explores!

I have scrawped myself in the past doing that.

lovely old mill.! Great decay. love a bit of old industrial.. it's slowly dissappearing..

I have got most of the local ones, they are not the most exciting places. A lot of the time, the machinery has been moved out. Those pillars are common.

There is definitely a reason why unions became so popular. The conditions were horrible and the workers needed to have better rights. Awesome shots! I think that is what I was missing from my post today, I needed more photos. I should have done double duty while I was driving! :) That picture of the safe is awesome.

The trade unions were dominant in those times, but conditions were still awful. There was no Union in Kwiksave come to think of it. Don't get yourself killed going in dodgy places. I was solo here, and listened hard before going past the access point.

Really? I didn't think unions came until later. I trust you though. I am far from an expert on unions even though my dad was an autoworker. I just know they get away with way too much these days and I get shafted because of it.

Wow! Has that been sanitized and scrubbed of anything interesting to look at! I was thinking of old machinery or a time clock or old records with incriminating evidence of misbehaving!

I actually didn't know that they clean them up like that before they demolish them - and I had to look up the term "grade listed." I have to wonder why? Perhaps because it was an important part of keeping the town running, once upon a time?

Not a lot in there, but you never know if you don't look! Grade listed, it's to preserve history.. and common sense cannot override the law.

Please wear a helmet. And some solid rubber shoes. Your great hobby can be quite avanturistic.

No hats, and worn out trainers!

Still, what was that in the corner. You should have knocked down the fence 😂

I was getting bored by then!

Wow what an adventure this is! Love the photos you shared. Takes a lot of courage to be exploring these abandoned factories. But if you didn't do it, the readers here wouldn't get to enjoy these footage! The weighing scale was the one that definitely stand out amongst all other things for me, hahaha :) Thanks for sharing!

I can feel the thrill. exploring cool places like this and unfortunately be able to come out alive.😄

It looks very scary there. I think I would never dare to go down there. 🫣🤷

I don't like exploring alone much. I was in and out within 10 minutes.

Cracking views, even if they were jail cell ones!
It does seem a fricking hotchpotch of buildings melded into one, am sure it will fall done so not requiring tobe grade listed anymore!

They were made solidly in those days. That thing be there for another century if left!

That is true enough actually.

Geeze, some of the holes that you have to climb into to get inside these places are wild. Precarious would be an understatement.

That scale is cool.

It was tricky to get through, quite high and small. You get used to these things, and have to learn how to climb again.

Haha yeah for sure. An old skill that isn't lost

It was that thin sheet metal that crunches your nuts

Dear God... That's sounds horrible!

Urban exploring huh? Sounds dangerous °_° A cupcake like me wouldn't last five minutes down there!

A fine explore - some really nice pics there - you always seem to go exploring when there is not a cloud in the sky - nice !

And I think its grate that you took time to consul the fence - there is way too much palisading these days, and I'd hate to see it come to a picket - and its awesome that you just didnt wire in with some electrified barbed comments within this post (thats me fully exhausted of fence references).

Cheers !

you always seem to go exploring when there is not a cloud in the sky - nice !

I try to pick nice days, exploring in the rain is a no-go. I won't do it, you get drenched.

Hi there,

It looks that the mill has no other purpose than to keep space occupied and keep rusting like an old steamship.

The only thing that fascinates me is that overturned wheelbarrow stacked in a corner like a prized possession. 🤣

It looks that the mill has no other purpose than to keep space occupied and keep rusting like an old steamship.

A terrible eyesore, it needs to come down.

Cool mill… there wasn’t much in it. But still cool to see some parts. And those things in the corner… hhhmmmm could be for a few reasons.
Great captures @slobberchops
Thanks for sharing this exploration 😊😎

I wasn't going to drag all that fencing to see.. a big nothing. I have seen fencing within building before. It's like they know people are going in regardless. There's usually a big hole in the floor.

No I wouldn’t either…

I was thinking a hole of something already. We have better things to do than examine all.
Enjoy your evening 👋🏻😎

Mid -1800's so it somehow a hundres old building but still proudly standing..

Those rusty stairs look deadly to me, like one wrong move and I might suffered from tetanus..

Wow... In addition to the visual part, with many wonderful, eloquent and interesting photos... You have done a spectacular article in terms of the crude approach to the less human side of the industrial revolution... I have been amazed and engrossed reading it (while translating in Deepl because my English is relatively bad) ... Congratulations for so much talent and thanks for sharing frequently....

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They were bad times for workers, I saw the end part of it.. after leaving school.

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The picture quality is top notch and it gave me that feeling of wanting to see the building badly.

I'm excited to break in just like you guys. But am not brave enough🤣

Nice post and fantastic pictures! Your link to Youtube on your post is going to an empty page.

Cheers.

Uff que genial, también me gustas explorar cosas así aún que en mi país hay pero el dinero para esos viaje es difícil

Why would we want to save this shitty-looking building?

Maybe so other explorers can sneak in and look around?

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