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View Full Version : Archived: Polphail, Portavadie (abandoned village) - July 2010



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

JEP27
13-08-2010, 03:53 PM
Now if you step this way I'll show you to your accomodation

http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1746.jpg

Your flat is in the block on the left, we like to think of ourselves as being like a big, happy family

http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1468.jpg

We have a communal area in each block

http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1491.jpg

http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1494.jpg

http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1473.jpg

We also have in-house cleaners

http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1609.jpg

Careful as you come up the stairs

http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1487.jpg

http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1729.jpg

Through the door

http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1726.jpg

and down the corridor

http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1488.jpg

and here is your room, I hope you will be comfortable

http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1727.jpg

http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1742.jpg

Sleep tight

http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/27Jul2010_1597.jpg

Thanks for looking

http://s614.photobucket.com/albums/tt227/JEP27/Polphail/