Urban Exploration - Horncliffe Mansion Part Two: The Mansion

We are Urban Explorers, we are not vandals. We take nothing besides photographs and leave nothing but footprints.

On returning back to base after my successful Horncliffe Mansion infiltration (in a sense), I contacted @mender1 who seemed a little miffed that he had missed out.

He was due to go out that day so couldn’t have gone there and then even though the place was still likely to be empty. But maybe by the time he arrived, it wouldn't be quite so empty. Read on...

He suggested we go back the next day and I agreed. It would be better to go as a group and as @mender1 has all the ‘kit’ I figured it might be an interesting experience as a revisit.

The next day was raining a little, perfect for Urbex! I arrived at the rendezvous point close to the Mansion only to find TWO cars parked up. One was @mender1 and another a well-dressed lady.

Horncliffe Mansion has been recently put up for sale at a price of around £380,000, though you need to enquire for the price as it is not advertised.

It seemed that 'the lady' was genuinely interested in the property that we had both come to photograph so we invited her to join us.

After giving her a hand up over the wall I mentioned to her that there was no way in as I was looking around yesterday, but she only seemed interested in the outside.

We could have both been psychotic murderers but she seemed to be the trusting type to follow TWO strange men into the grounds of a derelict property.

After @mender1 had taken his front and side shots we wondered to the back where I was about to explain about the possible entrances.

That was until I saw this....

Between yesterday and now, The Incredible Hulk had visited and completely smashed the blue door down. I was aghast but also excited that now we could go in and have a look around.

What was even better is that @mender1 had this huge bright light that lit up the dullest of darkened places. I realised at this point that I could not have done this alone and my return was going to prove a prosperous visit.

Inside was worse than I could have imagined. Considering it’s been left for only 9 years, it had deteriorated in a big way.

Now this was 'proper' Urbex; a DSLR, a tripod and lighting, I had to get myself one of those big lights, but for now it was just my iPhone.

Graffiti was prominent, almost everywhere we looked, some warning us not to fall down the lift shaft. I did look up.. and down!

The main staircase looked quite inaccessible though I probably should have given it a go. More graffiti was at the halfway turning point.

Some rooms were better than others, and this is likely were the squatters were living.

The décor on the walls and ceiling is still exquisite but now donned with cobwebs and cracks.

This room hadn’t fared well at all, the upper level had collapsed and it was more reminiscent of something left a lot longer.

In other rooms it was quite unsafe to walk as the floor was caving in.

More stairs that none of us fancied climbing up.

The basement seemed sturdy and stone stairs descended to more devastation.

The electrics and switch box and fuses are still intact though a little rusty.

Other Urban Explorers had left their mark on the property, this one is from a few years earlier. Leaving your mark seems to be the new cool thing but I don’t see it that way.

I get the impression that most Urban Explorers are young people armed with paint guns, and maybe that’s why I don’t want to meet any out in the field. I hope my impression proves to be incorrect.

Next, we went into the creepy new building that today seemed a lot less creepy.

Not being alone makes all the difference, and I will embrace future trips with the companionship of @mender1.

According to my companion, this building hosted wedding receptions and dances. It now looks in a sorry state.

This graffiti was not present the day I visited previously. It appears ‘The Hulk’ is also a graffiti whore and a decent one too.

Another look over the cars completed my Horncliffe Mansion trip. I had missed a few things and so took some more shots of the creepy building.

@mender1 was trying some light photography with the shutter open on his DSLR and tripod. It makes for some interesting effects, though I don't have any to show.

It was getting dark by the time we left. The lady who had accompanied us was shaking her head and muttering, ‘this needs too much work’.

I don’t think she’s going to buy it, though someone really needs too.

I'm sure by now the place is sealed up again. I hope so but am glad we all got to see inside. I think the builder guys must be from the estate agents and are looking after the property and their frequent visit's are reseal exercises.

All photographs were taken by myself.

Other articles in the ‘Urban Exploration’ series:

Urban Exploration - Horncliffe Mansion Part One: The Car Graveyard
Urban Exploration – Stand Athletic Football Club
Urban Exploration: Urban Exploration: A Trilogy of Failures II
Urban Exploration: Brodock Ltd, The Old Paper Mill (Failed)
Urban Exploration: Urban Exploration: Workhouse Farm
Urban Exploration: Hellifield Abandoned Train
Urban Exploration: Extwistle Hall
Urban Exploration: Huncoat Power Station (Demolished)
Urban Exploration – A Trilogy of Failures
Urban Exploration: Holdings Country Pottery

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