A trial adit?

01/2012
Visited with Amyrumi and Phil

A big thanks to Amyrumi for even finding this one, it's within a five minute drive from my house, yet I didn't even realise it's existence. When we explored it, my first impression was that it was a trail adit. These are often dug to explore the richness of a vein and to determine whether it is worth mining or not.This mine confuses me. There is a pump shaft driven down to the level, with a pump rod still in situ, but the mine goes seemingly dead after 200 yards. Why have a pump rod for a trial adit? On further investigation, it seems that the end of the tunnel is in fact a calcited wood barricade with what looks to be spoil behind. This would suggest that this mine is in fact part of a larger system and will need further investigation.

Dynamex

01/2012
Visited with Amyrumi, Vicki, Blober and Jay

These photos are a collection of photos taken over two visits to the site, one in the day and one in the night. Before visiting Dynamex, I was convinced that I preferred shooting abandoned buildings in the daytime, for natural light. When comparing photos taken here in the say to the ones taken at night, i prefer the night time ones. Of course there are times when using a torch in an abandoned building would never even be considered, as there are many occasions where a security guard may be lurking nearby.. 

History
Dynamex, originally called Ferodo, it was opened by Princess Margaret in 1962. By the late 60s it employed up to 1,100 making car parts.In 1997 it was bought by American Craig Smith and renamed Friction Dynamics, with a workforce of 220.In April 2001, T&G members staged industrial action in a dispute over terms and conditions, picketing the factory gates after they were locked out. Eight weeks later, bosses sacked the T&G members, sparking a three-year dispute – the longest of its kind in North Wales. The first of three large parades was staged in Caernarfon as the community united in support of the sacked workers. In October 2002, an employment tribunal found they were unfairly dismissed. But before compensation could be paid, Friction Dynamics called in the receivers in August 2003 and all workers were sacked. Within three weeks Dynamex Friction was set up. The T&G called off the protest at Christmas 2003. In September 2004 an employment tribunal ruled Friction Dynamics and Dynamex Friction were linked, and sacked staff should have been offered work by the new company. In 2006 Dynamex called in the liquidators.


Network rail development rooftop, Liverpool


01/2012
Visited with The flu24 and leaf1471

This was the first time that I have actually explored Liverpool, and after going, I can't really understand why I haven't been before. After meeting up with the lads, we headed straight to Liverpool and to the occupy Liverpool movement building where we were refused entry by drunk teenagers hanging out of the windows, clasping joints and beer. Fast forward an hour and we hit a rooftop. The buildings here are not really like the ones in Manchester. These ones are on steroids, Stunted height but stocky in size. That said however, there are still some great views from the top of some of them. There seems to be so many places to tear up in Liverpool and I will certainly be returning many times over the next few weeks.


A Warship

01/2012
Visited with The flu24 and leaf1471

I have been meaning to do this one for a while, but I wasn't too sure about access. Surely the only way to the ship isn't just to swagger past the security guards office? Turns out it is. It's one of these explores where you are trying to remain calm whilst your brain is screaming at you to turn around and go back the way that you came. This ship holds some fond memories for me. I first visited it at the age of 7 and again at the age of 15, when it was a museum. today it still stands proud at the docks, rotting away, whilst it's fate goes undecided.


History
HMS Plymouth is a Rothesay class frigate, which served in the United Kingdom Royal Navy from 1959 to 1988. She was named after the English city of Plymouth. Since decommissioning as a warship, HMS Plymouth has been preserved, and opened to the public at various United Kingdom ports. HMS Plymouth was decommissioned on the 28th April 1988, and was the last Type 12 in service. After decommissioning, the Warship Preservation Trust acquired the ship for preservation.  On 6 February 2006, the Warship Preservation Trust closed, citing financial difficulties and, by default, is currently owned by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company (MDHC) following the demise of the Trust. Plymouth's future as a museum ship is now uncertain. 

A Minesweeper

01/2012
Visited with Amyrumi, Blober, Jay and Vicki

Getting on board these ships was great fun, creeping through very much live dockyards. I know that I'm not the first to do these ships and as such, I'd like to thank the explorers before me for sharing about access information enabling me to this with a reduced risk of getting caught.


History
HMS Bronington is a Ton-class minesweeper of the Royal Navy, launched on 19 March 1953. This mahogany-hulled minesweeper is one of the last of the "wooden walls" (wooden-hulled naval vessels).After being decommissioned from service, the ship was purchased in January 1989 by the Bronington Trust, a registered charity, whose patron Charles, Prince of Wales commanded this vessel in 1976. For some time, the ship was berthed in the Manchester Ship Canal at Trafford Park, Greater Manchester, England. In 2002, she became part of the collection of the Warship Preservation Trust and moored at Birkenhead, Merseyside, England. Since the closure of the Warship Preservation Trust, she remains in storage, formerly alongside the Rothesay-class frigate HMS Plymouth, at Victoria Dock, Birkenhead, and latterly in the West Float of Birkenhead Docks.

Water Treatment Works

01/2012
Visited with Jay, Phill, amyrummi and Blober
  
A new year and a new lens. I'm now shooting most things on a sigma 10-20mm and I'm still getting used to it. The images certainly are sharper and the wide angle comes in great for full room shots. This explore was the first chance that i have had to have a play about with it. 

Well, we certainly took the long route to this one. The car journey up towards the reservoir was treacherous to say the least, black ice everywhere. When we could finally travel no further by car, it was an hours walk on foot down into the valley till we reached the Treatment works. Exploring at -2 ftw. The plant is a nice little place to explore. It closed quite a while ago after the establishment of a larger treatment plant further down in the valley. After looking around this place, it's crazy to see what gets added to our water.