mrdistopia
18-07-2013, 12:35 AM
I have been trying in vain to organise a trip to these old city-centre courts for some time. So, when a fellow explorer asked for suggestions for a last-minute expedition around that part of the country I wasted no time suggesting we finally give it a go.
1.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7304/9289671440_d09993468d_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9289671440/)
2.
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2894/9285664826_bc491f8f01_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9285664826/)
Agreeing to meet the others at the site, I faced a through-the-night cycle, coach ride and very long walk but, when you want a place as much as I wanted this one it seems like a fair trade-off. On top of this, those familiar with this building will know that, getting inside requires nerves of steel as it is about the least discrete route in as can be imagined. I bruised and scraped myself rotten and was less than graceful but it was certainly worth all the trouble, I hope you’ll agree.
Courts
3.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7393/9290535368_aa00460b42_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9290535368/)
4.
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5531/9294171709_a78160af9f_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9294171709/)
5.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7329/9286218282_ef73075204_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9286218282/)
The large waiting hall for Court One.
6.
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2872/9285876316_4f8054b26b_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9285876316/)
...and Court One's grand enterance
7.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3689/9289099542_6a63c4ba95_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9289099542/)
More of a cupboard than a room, really
8.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3678/9278392070_a0e0597d6b_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9278392070/)
9.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7327/9294160971_edb7dc3714_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9294160971/)
10.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3817/9293541124_4182444152_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9293541124/)
Back Offices
11.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7350/9309198823_d5b85ed91e_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9309198823/)
12.
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2873/9289462066_3116591ec1_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9289462066/)
13.
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2820/9283332411_c9cddc7501_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9283332411/)
Clock Tower
14.
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2890/9286328973_021763cc78_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9286328973/)
Cells & Basement
As I ventured down into the depths of the basement sounds of the early morning city street made it’s way through grates and vents. This was a stark contrast to the usual eerie silence experienced in the more out-of-the way asylums and factories.
15.
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5345/9297019096_43f877fccb_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9297019096/)
16.
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2858/9287749063_b02be18e0e_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9287749063/)
17.
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2878/9289718690_36821cb65f_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9289718690/)
18.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7445/9287059897_3e791c0958_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9287059897/)
19.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7336/9289985182_aedbd7c49f_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9289985182/)
20.
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5339/9290433154_fecd8a82f5_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9290433154/)
Lockdown
21.
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5487/9287585457_6310e869c0_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9287585457/)
The Cells
I hope you enjoyed the tour.
MrD
1.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7304/9289671440_d09993468d_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9289671440/)
2.
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2894/9285664826_bc491f8f01_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9285664826/)
Agreeing to meet the others at the site, I faced a through-the-night cycle, coach ride and very long walk but, when you want a place as much as I wanted this one it seems like a fair trade-off. On top of this, those familiar with this building will know that, getting inside requires nerves of steel as it is about the least discrete route in as can be imagined. I bruised and scraped myself rotten and was less than graceful but it was certainly worth all the trouble, I hope you’ll agree.
Courts
3.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7393/9290535368_aa00460b42_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9290535368/)
4.
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5531/9294171709_a78160af9f_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9294171709/)
5.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7329/9286218282_ef73075204_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9286218282/)
The large waiting hall for Court One.
6.
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2872/9285876316_4f8054b26b_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9285876316/)
...and Court One's grand enterance
7.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3689/9289099542_6a63c4ba95_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9289099542/)
More of a cupboard than a room, really
8.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3678/9278392070_a0e0597d6b_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9278392070/)
9.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7327/9294160971_edb7dc3714_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9294160971/)
10.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3817/9293541124_4182444152_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9293541124/)
Back Offices
11.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7350/9309198823_d5b85ed91e_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9309198823/)
12.
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2873/9289462066_3116591ec1_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9289462066/)
13.
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2820/9283332411_c9cddc7501_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9283332411/)
Clock Tower
14.
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2890/9286328973_021763cc78_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9286328973/)
Cells & Basement
As I ventured down into the depths of the basement sounds of the early morning city street made it’s way through grates and vents. This was a stark contrast to the usual eerie silence experienced in the more out-of-the way asylums and factories.
15.
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5345/9297019096_43f877fccb_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9297019096/)
16.
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2858/9287749063_b02be18e0e_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9287749063/)
17.
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2878/9289718690_36821cb65f_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9289718690/)
18.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7445/9287059897_3e791c0958_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9287059897/)
19.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7336/9289985182_aedbd7c49f_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9289985182/)
20.
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5339/9290433154_fecd8a82f5_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9290433154/)
Lockdown
21.
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5487/9287585457_6310e869c0_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdistopia/9287585457/)
The Cells
I hope you enjoyed the tour.
MrD