January 2011
Monthly ArchivesAbandoned Railway Hotel aka Brady’s Bar, Brixton
Brady’s Bar, formerly the Brixton Railway Hotel, is a landmark example of Victorian architecture in South London, with its famous clock tower and rooms built into the arch of a railway viaduct. But like many other British pubs it has fallen into dereliction.
China Passes Off Top Gun Footage as Real Air Force Missile Test?
China’s state-run media has been on explosive form recently, passing off apparent footage from Top Gun as a real Air Force missile firing. The alleged training exercise footage depicts an American-built F-5 Tiger II exploding in a strikingly similar manner to those destroyed by Maverick and Iceman.
6 Abandoned Mega-Machines
Mega-machines are the largest man-made mechanical objects ever built. But when they become surplus to requirements, removing them from the landscape becomes a mammoth task. Many thus linger on in dereliction for years, as illustrated by these six varied examples from around the world.
Last Orders at the Bar: Abandoned Pubs of Britain
The sun may have set on the British Empire, but if there’s one bastion of Britishness that has refused to collapse it’s that centuries-old institution known as the local pub. Refused to collapse, that is, until recently, when economic hardship combined with poor management have driven many beloved watering-holes out of business.
Urban Exploration: Magnificent Abandoned Ballroom in Germany
This stunning abandoned ballroom in Germany appears almost completely intact, but the peeling walls and ceilings of the deserted rooms are sombre reminders of how quickly decay takes hold once regular maintenance is no longer carried out.
Pushing Ahead: Glancing Back to 2010, Looking Forward to 2011
After an exciting year for Urban Ghosts, we’d like to take this opportunity to recap the last 12 months and give you an idea of where we’re heading in 2011 – with some great photos thrown in for good measure!
6 Creatively Converted Chapels and Churches: Bookshops, Bars & More
Ruin and dereliction are often the unintended consequences of abandonment, but a little inspiration and imagination has seen some former churches repurposed for modern use. These range from contemporary homes to bars, bookshops, studios and garages.
Holyoke’s Historic Victory Theatre (Soon-to-be Renovated!)
Historic theatres and movie palaces appeal to a broad range of individuals, but most have either been torn down or stand derelict. The Victory Theatre in Holyoke, Massachusetts, is one of the lucky exceptions, set to undergo a $24 million renovation that will see it reopen in 2012.
Deserted Village on Great Blasket Island, County Kerry
The notorious sea mist that forms along the Dingle coast often conceals Great Blasket Island, with its wistful ruins that were once home to several noted writers.
The Mysterious Disappearance of Lightning XS894
The loss of Lightning XS894 in 1970 is seen by some as the most enduring UFO story in British military history. But for those who support a more terrestrial explanation, the aircraft’s subsequent disappearance is every bit as mysterious.