Comments
Here are the last 25 comments left on the website. If you would like to reply to one, just visit the article/photo and reply...
Leybourne Grange Hospital
Posted 3 July 2008, 17:20 From Michael Coleman
Wow what memories the 'photos brought back for me. I had the good fortune to work as Assisitant Catering Manager around 1985/86 and have some wonderful memories, not least falling in love (where are you now Jacqueline Anne Keaton?). Some of the rsidents were amazing characters and the staff knew how to enjoy themselves. The catering staff were great making me welcome when i first started. Had some lovely drives in the country when going to a satellite unit at Hildenborough (Princess Farm I seemed to remember). I don't remember the table tennis team but do remember the tennis team and the courts, we must have been dreadful as I came 2nd one year and I remain awful at tennis, but lots of fun. michael@kentcounsellor.co.uk
RAF Oakington
Posted 3 July 2008, 16:40 From Graham Walter
I visited this website as I lived in locally as a young school boy from 65 - 68 ish. My dad was stationed there and worked as an aircraft technician then transferred to Scampton. I remember Varsity aircraft flying around a lot and wasn't some of the filming for Batlle of Britain done there? I have vague memories of arial action being filmed, us watching from the school playground. Dad was Ed "Eddie" Walter who sadly passed away last summer. Anyone who knew him please post? Thanks
Epping Forest District Council Emergency Bunker
Posted 3 July 2008, 11:00 From DAB @ derelicte
This has now been demolished...
Mansfield General Hospital
Posted 2 July 2008, 15:10 From Carol
I had my appendix out 36 years ago at that hospital and it's sad to see how it looks now.
Mansfield General Hospital photo
Posted 1 July 2008, 00:00 From sally dore
I trained as a nurse at this hospital 20 years ago. It is weird looking at all the pictures and imagining working there
RAF West Raynham
Posted 29 June 2008, 15:10 From geoff savory
Just revisited the site. To maurice saltmarsh (awfcs) I was on dfcs and think the pub was called "The Bull",this was the small one round the corner from the main square that the Yanks didn't use.I found it was a chinese takaway last time I visited Fakenham. I used to walk back to camp after many ales from there.Never realised it was 6 miles!! Used to go to dances in Dereham on Saturdays.Boxed for Fighter Command at Sculthorpe and beay the Yanks.
Happy days.
Contact Me
Posted 29 June 2008, 15:00 From Enrico
The disused factory site where work on mines, depth charges, and torpedoes was done is described in some detail at pillbox-study-group dot org dot uk slash ukfcdatabasecpage dot htm It says there was still lots to see in 2005. It is in Copperas Wood, not "Coppera's Wood" as that site says. The entrance to this is probably up the lane on the B road just to the west of the road to the container terminal.
This is not to be confused with the former mine depot which is nearby and to the west nearer Wrabness, which is now a nature reserve, and which is also mentioned on the above site.
RAF Oakington
Posted 29 June 2008, 00:50 From Mike Wilson
I was stationed at RAF Oakington as a young 17 yr old LAC/SAC teleprinter operator 1973/74 - I have many great memories of the station - Group Capt McCorkindale (his son Simon went on to become a famous actor - Currently in 'Casuality') was station commander - Warrant Officer Sooley was the legendary Firebreathing SWO - I had some great mates - Graham Moylan, Pete Thornton, Taff (PABX Cpl) Sam Dimmock (SGT Comcen) - loads of tasty young birds at the station discos ! Happy days and no mistake (anyone remember the station Piggery ? - used to generate profits that some times came the way of the airmans mess ! 17p a pint of Tartan !...
Contact Me
Posted 29 June 2008, 00:50 From Enrico
On the bank of the river Stour esturary in Essex, but north of the railway line from Manningtree to Harwich, was an secret ordnance factory that closed long ago. You get to it down one of the several obscure little dirt tracks leading off the B road and crossing the railway line. It was shown on old OS maps, but not on more recent due to secrecy. I do not know if its still there - I would guess it probably still is. Nearer Mistley other little twisty tracks lead to mills, which may be derelict. Also at Mistley is a former cold war bunker open to the public.
Contact Me
Posted 28 June 2008, 23:50 From Enrico
Bawdsey Manor. The site of the top-secret Bloodhound missiles may still be there, hidden behind large earth blast mounds. See the talk page of the Wikipedia article for Bawdsey Manor. There are some quite large WW2 military blockhouses or gun emplacements nearby on that part of the coast. At Felixstowe Docks and Harwich are even bigger structures. Some of them are underground.
There are several isolated unused Martello Towers south of Shingle Street, Suffolk. It would be great to see some photos of the inside - but you will need a ladder to get in.
Tolly Cobbold - Cliff Brewery
Posted 28 June 2008, 23:30 From Enrico
I worked there in the 1970s, and my father and grandfather spent most of their working lives there. I have not been in that area for a few years - is it just locked up empty and unused now please?
RAF West Raynham
Posted 27 June 2008, 22:30 From martin
does anyone remember vernon john gridley
known as john gridley.would have been 75
if alive today
Hellingly Hospital
Posted 24 June 2008, 23:00 From chris
Was at Hellingly today, June 23rd. Lots of big fancy signs around proclaiming how it had been sold to a developer, although talking to some locals it seems far from certain what its fate will be. Plenty of fencing and signs about security, although I didnt venture inside there seems to be little signs of life, security or otherwise, not sure where the guard dogs were!?
RAF Wyton Photographic Factory
Posted 24 June 2008, 10:10 From Robert Pilcher
I was stationed at RAF Wyton from Arpil 1962 to Jan 1963 and worked in the Photographic Processing Building. I worked in the film developtment room as part of a 3 person team on a CPU, Continuous Processing Unit. Processing aerial films of over 250 feet long, each negative 8.5x7inch. A most important period of this year was during the Cuban missile crisis in October when we all were put on x3 shifts in a 24 hour period. The aircraft at the time were 543 Squadron Valiants and 58 Squadron Canberras I am not sure when the building was built and opened.
Regards,
Rob Pilcher
South Australia
Surrey Underground
Posted 23 June 2008, 04:10 From Mark_Morecambe
what are the streaks of light please ? - it looks great ! 
Denbigh Asylum
Posted 23 June 2008, 04:00 From Mark_Morecambe
Is it just me, or are these places beautiful ?
Utilitarian or industrial, faded, historic and creepy.. what a mix
Ebridge Mill
Posted 23 June 2008, 03:10 From Mark_Morecambe
Cool.. these remind me of the worlds in the 'Theif' PC games 1 and 2 (The Metal Age) before Theif 3..
Thorpe Marsh Power Station
Posted 23 June 2008, 03:10 From Mark_Morecambe
Great work guys... 'The Last Train' was one of the gloomiest TV series i ever saw. apart from the (so much better) 70's Terry Nation series 'Survivors'. Love 'em.
i dabbled a little with UE years ago.... this got me considering a few more explorations. love the Yoiutube bit too.. catch the one where someone is filming away when the damn thing is operating too.. very creepy. great. love to see one in operation, and pop my head through the door.. love to hear it too. always wanted to explore an old gasometer in Clitheroe years ago (it had windows in it!) but they pulled it. take care guys.. hope you find more sites.
NGTE - National Gas Turbine Establishment
Posted 22 June 2008, 21:20 From Ian Cripps
I worked as a fitter in Battle House late ,73 / early'74before moving to a conveyor company in Camberley. At that time there were two Admiralty three-drum Yarrow boilers in Battle house 'A' and 'B', and a third five-drum controlled-superheat boiler 'C'. Steam was supplied to both the 'Air House' and the Beliss turbine in what was then also called the 'Admiralty Test House' across the road. (also to a Brush high-speed test turbine in an annex alongside Battle House) Shortly before I left another boiler was being built up towards the Air House - 'D' boiler(?) but I left before it was put into use. I remember periods of intense activity - especially if there was a breakdown such as changing the superheater elements on 'B' boiler and getting the 'Melesco' spherical ends steamtight followed by long periods of standing by waiting for 'something to go wrong' - a regular fill-in job was nursing the Weir steam pumps feeding the boilers with fuel oil - near tar-like 'Bunker C' - lighter oil was used on occasion to light up with. Another pet problem was with the Weir turbine feedwater pumps - nip the glands up too tight and they would overheat or leave them a bit slack and they would spray water all over the place.. Happy days! Two engineers I do remember - gentlemen - were Ron Jesse and Wally Westerman.
RAF West Raynham
Posted 22 June 2008, 19:10 From Ken Mcloughlin (Taff)
I was stationed at West Rayham 1970 to 1972. Worked in the PBX Telephone exchange.with Gerry Elwood, Dave Troddin, and others names escape me sorry. My JNCO was CPL Tony Chappel, Visited W,R, two years ago but security guy would'nt let me in. Funny I used to be on guard duty guarding the place myself once. I may take another look in 2009. 100 and 85 Canberra Squadrons arrived in 71 bringing the station back to an operational state. whilst there made loads of mates one sticks out a guy called Ken Faulkner we went on the pop one weekend in Fanenham and drove back to camp in a borrowed mini sadly Ken lost control as we approached the Airmens Restaurant and we mounted the steps and demolished a large plant pot on the left hand side of the steps. A lot of investigating went on by the SNCO I/C the mess but we were never found out untill now.
Confession is good for the soul.
anyone reading this and recognises me do give me a ring on 07831610363.
Denbigh Asylum
Posted 22 June 2008, 18:20 From Renata Piotrowska
Pisze po polsku,bo nie znam walijskiego ,ale wrocilam po mdwumiesiecznym pobycie w waszym miescie , jest przepiekne zakochalam sie na zaboj i juz tesknie .Pogodni zyczliwi ufni ludzie bede tesknic
Rougham Hall
Posted 22 June 2008, 10:20 From Penny Kelly
I have lived in the next village to where this ruin is for 20 years and any one from these parts would know they are trespassing by "exploring" them. In the past the estate have been very tolerant of people rambling through the woods off the official footpath but this has been tightened up considerably in recent years and now you will be challenged if you are found away from the marked paths.
Leybourne Grange Hospital
Posted 21 June 2008, 11:50 From David Bellchambers
Glad there is some interest in the old hospital and its staff. I worked in the Admin section in the 60's/70's. Names I recall are Bill Shepard, Farm Manager, Terry Frankland Senior on the nursing side, Girls in the typing pool--Wendy, Geraldine, Rosemarie, Janet Wilson, Bill Fellows Head of Buidling, Bill Edwards Treasurer, Dave Mackay Finance Bill Southgate Finance,Walter Hague Group Secretary, his deputy Steve Mullins, Gordon Mills, Ian Tuppen, Paul Bridger and so on. Don't know where you all are, some have passed on but Happy Days to you all. David Bellchambers bells5@xtra.co.nz
HMS Ganges
Posted 21 June 2008, 10:20 From Kelly
I spent 15 Glorious weeks here in 1990, whilst training for Essex Police. Brings back a whole heap of memories, but also so sad that the place has been left in such a state.
