JEP27
13-08-2010, 03:52 PM
Polphail was a legacy of the Scottish oil boom of the 1970s. A series of dry docks were built at that time around the Scottish coast for building giant concrete oil rigs, and Polphail was built next to one of these to house the expected workers. But the workers never came – the technology changed, and when it comes down to it, this dock and village were built on the west coast of Scotland, and all the oil is off the Eastern coast. The government has long since sold off the dock, which has recently been redeveloped into a marina, having served time as a fish farm. The unused village has changed hands several times, and has had a long and unhappy history of promised demolitions which have never been carried out. The latest demolition was cancelled because the buildings have become home to a bat colony.
Last year a group of 6 graffiti artists asked for permission to paint Polphail, there story can be seen here :- http://vimeo.com/8207410
I have seen other reports on the village and people didn't seem to have enjoyed their explore round it very much, but I thought it was a really nice relaxed explore and although the accomodation blocks are all the same (varying degrees of destruction according to how much undergrowth has to be fought through) there was quite a lot to see. I think the graffiti artists have added to the experience. I would love to go back again sometime.
Anyway some pics:-
http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1649.jpg
Welcome, grab your keys and I'll take you for a look round before taking you to your room.
http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1591.jpg
http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1593.jpg
I'm sure you'll love your visit here we have all the mod cons...
Here's the washateria...
http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1621.jpg
http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1643.jpg
http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1644.jpg
Oh, there's one of the residents... They all keep themselves to themselves, we never hear a peep out of them.
http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1653.jpg
We have state of the art kitchens areas where all the food is prepared and cooked.
http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1681.jpg
And here is the dining area...
http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1682.jpg
http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1702.jpg
http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1686.jpg
http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1685.jpg
With a fantastic view over the bay
http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1698.jpg
Everyone works hard here, so the bar area is the ideal place to wind down and relax on an evening.
http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1716.jpg
We are known to have quite an active social life
http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1700.jpg
Although some people have been known to have one over the eight now and again
http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1668.jpg
http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1497.jpg
Last year a group of 6 graffiti artists asked for permission to paint Polphail, there story can be seen here :- http://vimeo.com/8207410
I have seen other reports on the village and people didn't seem to have enjoyed their explore round it very much, but I thought it was a really nice relaxed explore and although the accomodation blocks are all the same (varying degrees of destruction according to how much undergrowth has to be fought through) there was quite a lot to see. I think the graffiti artists have added to the experience. I would love to go back again sometime.
Anyway some pics:-
http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1649.jpg
Welcome, grab your keys and I'll take you for a look round before taking you to your room.
http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1591.jpg
http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1593.jpg
I'm sure you'll love your visit here we have all the mod cons...
Here's the washateria...
http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1621.jpg
http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1643.jpg
http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1644.jpg
Oh, there's one of the residents... They all keep themselves to themselves, we never hear a peep out of them.
http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1653.jpg
We have state of the art kitchens areas where all the food is prepared and cooked.
http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1681.jpg
And here is the dining area...
http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1682.jpg
http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1702.jpg
http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1686.jpg
http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1685.jpg
With a fantastic view over the bay
http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1698.jpg
Everyone works hard here, so the bar area is the ideal place to wind down and relax on an evening.
http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1716.jpg
We are known to have quite an active social life
http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1700.jpg
Although some people have been known to have one over the eight now and again
http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1668.jpg
http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1497.jpg