RAF Box (Rudloe Manor site 1) – Wiltshire

Posted on May 28, 2009 by derelicte

I can’t begin to explain what this site was for. Wikipedia says the following…

The Rudloe Site was formerly RAF Rudloe Manor, which was established during the Second World War as a non-flying station for administrative and command & control purposes. It was home to HQ Number 10 Fighter Group, RAF Regional Command, Headquarters RAF Police & Security Services, No 1 Signals Unit, Controller Defence Communications Network and 1001 Signals Unit. By 1998 it had become mostly administrative, housing the RAF Provost and Security Services, which dealt with security and criminal investigation services, the Defence Communication Services Agency, while the detachment of 1001 Signals Unit of the RAF remained. It closed as an operational site in about 2000.

The base has two main buildings – a manor house and a purpose-built operations building. There are several smaller, newer buildings scattered around the site too.

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Posted in Military, wiltshire | Tagged | 91 Comments

Fletcher Convalescent Home of the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital – Cromer

Posted on May 22, 2009 by derelicte

The Fletcher Convelescent Home opened on 25 April 1893 and closed 105 years later (in 1998). Since closure the buildings have been subject to numerous planning applications, none of which have been successful. While it’s fate is decided, the building continues to deteriorate.

The building is number 10 in the Victorian Society’s “Top Ten Endangered Buildings” list of 2008.

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Posted in Asylums and Hospitals, norfolk | Tagged | 11 Comments

St Michaels Hospital / Aylsham Workhouse – Norfolk

Posted on May 18, 2009 by derelicte

Starting life as Aylsham Union Workhouse, the impressively imposing building was built in the 1840s. In 1930 it became a Public Assistance Institution and then St Michaels Hospital. The main building closed in 2005. Tiny bits have been demolished since, making way for a road for the new housing estate on the grounds.

This is definitely a case of “don’t judge a book by the cover” – outside looks awesome. I’ve seen photos of this hospital when it was empty in 2007. I wish I went then – it was full of bits like signs, lights, plaster on the walls (!), and even an XRay machine. The building is now totally stripped out.

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Posted in Asylums and Hospitals, norfolk | Tagged , | 11 Comments

A Few Rewrites

Posted on May 14, 2009 by derelicte

I’ve been looking through a few old reports on the website and noticed that there were a lot of bad photgraphs and duplication. The website was also munching expensive bandwith so something needed to be done.

Several reports have been merged and have had additional photos added using photos from new visits to the locations.

Check them out…

* HMS Ganges

* Severalls Asylum

* RAF Shepherds Grove

* RAF West Raynham

More updated locations will probably follow…

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Framlingham Mill – Suffolk

Posted on May 8, 2009 by derelicte

Framlingham Mill was owned by J. Bibby Agriculture and closed in 2005. It was a feed mill – meaning it made feed for animals such as pigs. Production and workers were moved to the company’s mills in Bury St Edmunds and Wolsingham.

Had a quick explore of the main building – a hot day mixed with tons of pigeon crap doesn’t make for pleasant exploring!

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Posted in Industry, suffolk | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Waterfront Mills – Ipswich

Posted on May 4, 2009 by derelicte

Ipswich’s waterfront once boasted a huge selection of mills, all of varying sizes. Several have been demolished, some converted into flats, and two remain empty. But not for long, they will soon be flats too.

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Posted in Industry, suffolk | Tagged , | 5 Comments

HMS Osprey / RNAS Portland – Dorset

Posted on April 30, 2009 by derelicte

HMS Osprey was one of the Navy’s helicopter airfields. It closed in 1999. Most of the base has been demolished. An HM Coastguard heliport remains, as does the old main building. This contained the control tower, operations room, met office and communications centre. There are plans to turn this building into a hotel.

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Posted in dorset, Military | Tagged , , , | 18 Comments

Sandhill Park Hospital – Somerset

Posted on December 20, 2008 by derelicte

Sandhill Park was built in 1720 and was lived in until 1913.

In 1919 the Somerset County Council bought the house and converted it into a home for handicapped children. During WW2 it was used as a hospital/camp by the American Army. After the War it reverted to use as a hospital for handicapped children.

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Posted in Asylums and Hospitals, somerset | Tagged | 56 Comments

HMS Royal Arthur – Wiltshire

Posted on December 18, 2008 by derelicte

HMS Royal Arthur was one of the Royal Navy’s shore establishments – similar to HMS Ganges but on a smaller scale. The site at Corsham opened in 1947 after moving from Skegness (the Butlins holiday camp was used during WW2). The Corsham site finally closed in 1993…

A few years ago there was “news” that the site would be converted into retirement homes – nothing seems to have happened with that plan though. Nowadays it sits empty, and seems to be a practice ground for Bristol/Bath’s graffiti artists.

I didn’t get many photos of the buildings, maybe I’ll revisit in the future…

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Posted in Military, wiltshire | Tagged , , | 61 Comments

Cambois Railway Depot – Northumberland

Posted on November 15, 2008 by derelicte

Cambois railway depot was a thriving depot up until the mid 1990s. The locomotives based there were mainly used by the nearby power station, which required huge amounts of coal trains to feed it. The power station closed and trains were no longer needed. Thus the depot was no longer needed either…

Last year all of the railway track in the yard was removed. All that remains is the old depot shed, a grounded railway van, a few pre-fabricated offices and a million tyres.

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Posted in northumberland, Now Demolished, Railway | Tagged | 2 Comments