Urban Exploration uk

Urban Exploration uk http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/ 42 rows en-gb 60 Clapham Noth Deep Shelter http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1775273.html Built between 1941-1942 to hold up to 12,000 people. more history can be found here: http://underground-history.co.uk/shelters.php visited this earlier in the year with Siologen Jeeves bus driver westminster, the legend himself Loops and Easyjet Rooks. I am a man of few words so on with the pics. Tuesday 30 November 1999: Built between 1941-1942 to hold up to 12,000 people. more history can be found here: http://underground-history.co.uk/shelters.php visited this earlier in the year with Siologen Jeeves bus driver westminster, the legend himself Loops and Easyjet Rooks. I am a man of few words so on with the pics.

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]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 Millenium Mills http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1731937.html The millenium mills stands like a pillar of a determined industrial era, defying the surrounding developments almost laughing at the modern buildings which sit opposite. Approaching the building you have to make an almost Platoon like run through a field of reeds, long grass and thorns, not dodging the Vietcong but instead dodging the big 4x4 and security guards. As you get to the building its sheer size looms above you. We make our way inside and to gain entry to the main building we are confronted with a leap of faith from one ledge to another three stories up from a very solid strip of concrete, I take a deep breath and leap, as I fly through the air that thought I often get creeps into my mind, WHY, why the fuck do I put myself through this I could photograph flowers or landscapes, but then I suddenly flip back to where i am and realise why. When you are a child an adventure can be had with nothing more than a couple of cushions from a sofa and a table cloth but this is lost once you grow older as everywhere seems familiar and you are left with no real adventures, leaping from one ledge to another is an adventure and my adrenaline is pumping. We get into the main building and wind our way through like one huge game of snake, with interesting machinery and architecture being the fruit. I am stunned at how badly this building is put together, there is no clear way from one end to the other instead you have to navigate various staircases. Throughout the building are helter skelter slides running from top to bottom the urge to slide down is one that is hard to ignore but I force myself to instead just posing for a group photo with my fellow explorers. Where various bits of machinery and the helter skelter slides have been removed holes in the floor are left dropping up to eight stories from top to bottom guaranteeing death to any who don’t watch their footing. We make our way to the roof somewhere I have been previously with Little Elvis but before when I came it was evening and we ignored the building as a location instead went to watch the sun set. I am glad this time we came to concentrate on the building the evening light is beautiful creating the kind of light which turns a dank derelict industrial location into a beautiful fairy tail land of adventure. I take my time with images treating the building with the respect it deserves photographically and setting each shot up as though I was shooting film composing and visualising the end results. I wanted to portray the building how I saw it, cold, clinical but beautiful. After four hours inside we decide to make a move, running for the fence I am out of breath and gasping for air, my lungs burning the engine of the security guards 4x4 in my ears we make the fence, and leg it to the car and off on another great adventure…. Tuesday 30 November 1999: The millenium mills stands like a pillar of a determined industrial era, defying the surrounding developments almost laughing at the modern buildings which sit opposite. Approaching the building you have to make an almost Platoon like run through a field of reeds, long grass and thorns, not dodging the Vietcong but instead dodging the big 4x4 and security guards. As you get to the building its sheer size looms above you. We make our way inside and to gain entry to the main building we are confronted with a leap of faith from one ledge to another three stories up from a very solid strip of concrete, I take a deep breath and leap, as I fly through the air that thought I often get creeps into my mind, WHY, why the fuck do I put myself through this I could photograph flowers or landscapes, but then I suddenly flip back to where i am and realise why. When you are a child an adventure can be had with nothing more than a couple of cushions from a sofa and a table cloth but this is lost once you grow older as everywhere seems familiar and you are left with no real adventures, leaping from one ledge to another is an adventure and my adrenaline is pumping. We get into the main building and wind our way through like one huge game of snake, with interesting machinery and architecture being the fruit. I am stunned at how badly this building is put together, there is no clear way from one end to the other instead you have to navigate various staircases. Throughout the building are helter skelter slides running from top to bottom the urge to slide down is one that is hard to ignore but I force myself to instead just posing for a group photo with my fellow explorers. Where various bits of machinery and the helter skelter slides have been removed holes in the floor are left dropping up to eight stories from top to bottom guaranteeing death to any who don_t watch their footing. We make our way to the roof somewhere I have been previously with Little Elvis but before when I came it was evening and we ignored the building as a location instead went to watch the sun set. I am glad this time we came to concentrate on the building the evening light is beautiful creating the kind of light which turns a dank derelict industrial location into a beautiful fairy tail land of adventure. I take my time with images treating the building with the respect it deserves photographically and setting each shot up as though I was shooting film composing and visualising the end results. I wanted to portray the building how I saw it, cold, clinical but beautiful. After four hours inside we decide to make a move, running for the fence I am out of breath and gasping for air, my lungs burning the engine of the security guards 4x4 in my ears we make the fence, and leg it to the car and off on another great adventure_.

Published in Urban Exploration uk

]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 Lots Road Power Station http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1700805.html info from wiki The station was commissioned by the Metropolitan District Electric Traction Co (which was soon to become part of the Underground Electric Railways empire of Charles Yerkes) in order to provide power to the Metropolitan District Railway (now known as the District Line). The station allowed the District Line and Circle Line trains to change from steam haulage to electric. At around the same time the Metropolitan Railway built their power station at Neasden. The station was built end-on to the Thames, on the north bank of the tidal Chelsea Creek. Permission for the station was granted in 1897 and construction started in 1902 and completed in 1905. The station burned 700 tonnes of coal a day and had a generating capacity of 50,000 kW.[1] At the time it was claimed to be the largest power station ever built and would eventually power most of the railways and tramways in the Underground Electric Railways group. The station was re-equipped on several occasions. The modernisation undertaken in the 1960s converted the station to 50 Hz generation and from burning coal to using heavy fuel oil. The number of chimneys was reduced from the original four to two. But between 1974 and 1977, with the discovery of natural gas in the North Sea, the boilers were converted to run on gas, with the option of oil firing if required. The station later worked in conjunction with the ex-London County Council Tramways power station at Greenwich to supply the London Underground network. The station unwittingly played a part in the birth of commercial radio in the UK. When the first two stations opened in October 1973 (LBC and Capital Radio), the site for their medium wave transmitters was not complete. As a result, a temporary 'Tee' antenna was strung up between the two chimneys (transmitting LBC on 417m (719kHz), and Capital Radio on 539m (557kHz)), until the permanent site at Saffron Green was ready in 1975. Some years later the site was used again, on 720kHz, for a low power MW relay of BBC Radio 4's LW service. In the 1990s, it was decided that rather than re-equip Lots Road, it would continue to operate until the machinery's life was expired. It remained in operation until being shut down on 21 October 2002. Since then, all power for the tube system is supplied from the National Grid. visited with Rookinella and siologen Tuesday 30 November 1999: info from wiki The station was commissioned by the Metropolitan District Electric Traction Co (which was soon to become part of the Underground Electric Railways empire of Charles Yerkes) in order to provide power to the Metropolitan District Railway (now known as the District Line). The station allowed the District Line and Circle Line trains to change from steam haulage to electric. At around the same time the Metropolitan Railway built their power station at Neasden. The station was built end-on to the Thames, on the north bank of the tidal Chelsea Creek. Permission for the station was granted in 1897 and construction started in 1902 and completed in 1905. The station burned 700 tonnes of coal a day and had a generating capacity of 50,000 kW.[1] At the time it was claimed to be the largest power station ever built and would eventually power most of the railways and tramways in the Underground Electric Railways group. The station was re-equipped on several occasions. The modernisation undertaken in the 1960s converted the station to 50 Hz generation and from burning coal to using heavy fuel oil. The number of chimneys was reduced from the original four to two. But between 1974 and 1977, with the discovery of natural gas in the North Sea, the boilers were converted to run on gas, with the option of oil firing if required. The station later worked in conjunction with the ex-London County Council Tramways power station at Greenwich to supply the London Underground network. The station unwittingly played a part in the birth of commercial radio in the UK. When the first two stations opened in October 1973 (LBC and Capital Radio), the site for their medium wave transmitters was not complete. As a result, a temporary 'Tee' antenna was strung up between the two chimneys (transmitting LBC on 417m (719kHz), and Capital Radio on 539m (557kHz)), until the permanent site at Saffron Green was ready in 1975. Some years later the site was used again, on 720kHz, for a low power MW relay of BBC Radio 4's LW service. In the 1990s, it was decided that rather than re-equip Lots Road, it would continue to operate until the machinery's life was expired. It remained in operation until being shut down on 21 October 2002. Since then, all power for the tube system is supplied from the National Grid. visited with Rookinella and siologen

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]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 Haggerston Baths - London http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1700804.html info from www.haggerstonpool.com Mr Alfred W.S.Cross, the architect, stood in the front rank for building of that description, and the work was of the best and most substantial character. Haggerston Pool has been closed since February 2000. Despite a big community campaign to pressurise Hackney Council into reopening it, nothing has happened. The pool building is deteriorating and, despite its Grade II listed building status, is on the Council's list for disposals. Tuesday 30 November 1999: info from www.haggerstonpool.com Mr Alfred W.S.Cross, the architect, stood in the front rank for building of that description, and the work was of the best and most substantial character. Haggerston Pool has been closed since February 2000. Despite a big community campaign to pressurise Hackney Council into reopening it, nothing has happened. The pool building is deteriorating and, despite its Grade II listed building status, is on the Council's list for disposals.

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]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 Kingsway tunnels http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1700802.html taken from wiki The Kingsway Tramway Subway was a cut-and-cover tunnel in central London, built by the London County Council. The decision in 1898 to clear slum districts in the Holborn area provided an opportunity to use the new streets for a tramway connecting the lines in the north and south and, following the pattern of tramway systems in New York (the Murray Hill Tunnel) and Boston (the MBTA Green Line), it was decided to build this as an underground connection. Tuesday 30 November 1999: taken from wiki The Kingsway Tramway Subway was a cut-and-cover tunnel in central London, built by the London County Council. The decision in 1898 to clear slum districts in the Holborn area provided an opportunity to use the new streets for a tramway connecting the lines in the north and south and, following the pattern of tramway systems in New York (the Murray Hill Tunnel) and Boston (the MBTA Green Line), it was decided to build this as an underground connection.

Published in Urban Exploration uk

]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 Battersea Power Station http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1700799.html info from www.batterseapowerstation.org.uk Sir Giles Gilbert Scott was commissioned to design the building. His other buildings include Liverpool Cathedral, Bankside Power Station, Waterloo Bridge and the classic red telephone box. The building is in fact a steel girder frame and Sir Giles designed the exterior brick cladding and the tower-like bases of the four chimneys. It is the largest brick building in Europe. In effect Battersea is two power stations and the familiar silhouette of four chimneys did not appear until 1953 and for the first 20 years the building had a long rather than four-square appearance, with a chimney at each end. But even this appearance caused positive comments, described as a temple of power and to rank as a London landmark equal with St. Paul's Cathedral. In 1939 a survey of celebrities voted it their 2nd favourite building when canvassed by the Architects Journal. The construction of 'B' Station was begun a few months after World War 2 to bring Battersea to a total capacity of 509 megawatts and the 3rd. largest power station in the U.K. This huge project, begun by the London Power company 30 years before, was to be completed by the British Electric Authority when the electricity supply was nationalised in 1948. Battersea "B" station began operating in 1953 and had the highest thermal efficiency of all power stations and provided one fifth of Londons total electricity supplies, ( 28 other stations generated the rest ) Throughout the whole of its life Battersea has been a symbol of the electricity industry to the media and the general public alike. Battersea Power Station ceased all production of electricity in 1983 leaving the Electricity Board with the problem of what to do with the building. They had planned, before the Grade 2 listing was conferred, that demolition and sale of the 15 acres of land would bring "welcome revenue" but they were now left with the high costs of preserving the building instead. To rid themselves of this responsibility they decided to offer the Power Station for any alternative use that they deemed financially viable. They held a competition in 1983 to encourage developers to submit ideas and from a short-list of 10 schemes, a panel of experts lead by Sir Hugh Casson chose an idea for a theme park based on episodes from Britain's industrial history as the only financially viable entry. The Electricity Board had made a token attempt to involve the local community in the competition with a separate section for schools and other organisations to submit their ideas but there was no question that this section could win the competition. Local people were allowed to vote on the different schemes through a self selecting ballot but the result was not to influence the panel, and an area of a mere 10,000 square feet was to be for the communities use in any winning scheme. Local people had worked hard to make it the most efficient power station, many devoting their entire working lives to the success of the station. The surrounding area, largely housing estates for working people, would be affected by any new use for the station. it still stands derelict explored with various people including, siologen, Oxygen thief, Little Elvis and many more Tuesday 30 November 1999: info from www.batterseapowerstation.org.uk Sir Giles Gilbert Scott was commissioned to design the building. His other buildings include Liverpool Cathedral, Bankside Power Station, Waterloo Bridge and the classic red telephone box. The building is in fact a steel girder frame and Sir Giles designed the exterior brick cladding and the tower-like bases of the four chimneys. It is the largest brick building in Europe. In effect Battersea is two power stations and the familiar silhouette of four chimneys did not appear until 1953 and for the first 20 years the building had a long rather than four-square appearance, with a chimney at each end. But even this appearance caused positive comments, described as a temple of power and to rank as a London landmark equal with St. Paul's Cathedral. In 1939 a survey of celebrities voted it their 2nd favourite building when canvassed by the Architects Journal. The construction of 'B' Station was begun a few months after World War 2 to bring Battersea to a total capacity of 509 megawatts and the 3rd. largest power station in the U.K. This huge project, begun by the London Power company 30 years before, was to be completed by the British Electric Authority when the electricity supply was nationalised in 1948. Battersea "B" station began operating in 1953 and had the highest thermal efficiency of all power stations and provided one fifth of Londons total electricity supplies, ( 28 other stations generated the rest ) Throughout the whole of its life Battersea has been a symbol of the electricity industry to the media and the general public alike. Battersea Power Station ceased all production of electricity in 1983 leaving the Electricity Board with the problem of what to do with the building. They had planned, before the Grade 2 listing was conferred, that demolition and sale of the 15 acres of land would bring "welcome revenue" but they were now left with the high costs of preserving the building instead. To rid themselves of this responsibility they decided to offer the Power Station for any alternative use that they deemed financially viable. They held a competition in 1983 to encourage developers to submit ideas and from a short-list of 10 schemes, a panel of experts lead by Sir Hugh Casson chose an idea for a theme park based on episodes from Britain's industrial history as the only financially viable entry. The Electricity Board had made a token attempt to involve the local community in the competition with a separate section for schools and other organisations to submit their ideas but there was no question that this section could win the competition. Local people were allowed to vote on the different schemes through a self selecting ballot but the result was not to influence the panel, and an area of a mere 10,000 square feet was to be for the communities use in any winning scheme. Local people had worked hard to make it the most efficient power station, many devoting their entire working lives to the success of the station. The surrounding area, largely housing estates for working people, would be affected by any new use for the station. it still stands derelict explored with various people including, siologen, Oxygen thief, Little Elvis and many more

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]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 Astoria Bingo - Brighton http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1700797.html Façe faced with white precast stone blocks, with casements and fluted panels bronze green; canopy over entrance. The Astoria was built on modern lines; the original interior colour scheme was gold and rose. Small stage and dressing rooms, fly tower with counterweight system in situ. A Compton 3/8 organ with illuminated console was installed, but this was removed in 1958 to accommodate the Tod-AO screen; the grilles, however, remain. Also in 1958 there were minor alterations when a new projection box was built in the rear of the circle; this replaced the original box on the roof. At the same time the auditorium walls were curtained for the 'luxury' look. The Astoria closed in 1977 for conversion for bingo. This used continued until 1997, when the venue was vacated. Threatened with demolition for residential accommodation it was spot-listed in 2001. Explored with Mofo Tuesday 30 November 1999: Fa_e faced with white precast stone blocks, with casements and fluted panels bronze green; canopy over entrance. The Astoria was built on modern lines; the original interior colour scheme was gold and rose. Small stage and dressing rooms, fly tower with counterweight system in situ. A Compton 3/8 organ with illuminated console was installed, but this was removed in 1958 to accommodate the Tod-AO screen; the grilles, however, remain. Also in 1958 there were minor alterations when a new projection box was built in the rear of the circle; this replaced the original box on the roof. At the same time the auditorium walls were curtained for the 'luxury' look. The Astoria closed in 1977 for conversion for bingo. This used continued until 1997, when the venue was vacated. Threatened with demolition for residential accommodation it was spot-listed in 2001. Explored with Mofo

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]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 Royal Alexandra Hospital http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1700217.html The Royal Alexandra Hospital for Sick Children – affectionately known as The Alex – was officially opened in 1881 by their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales. It has a long history of progressive and innovative paediatric care embracing medicine, nursing and related professions, paediatric nurse training and research. In June 2007, the new hospital opened on the Royal Sussex County Hospital site - the state-of-the-art facility has won an international design award and continues with offering pioneering paediatric care. Visited with Mofo Tuesday 30 November 1999: The Royal Alexandra Hospital for Sick Children _ affectionately known as The Alex _ was officially opened in 1881 by their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales. It has a long history of progressive and innovative paediatric care embracing medicine, nursing and related professions, paediatric nurse training and research. In June 2007, the new hospital opened on the Royal Sussex County Hospital site - the state-of-the-art facility has won an international design award and continues with offering pioneering paediatric care. Visited with Mofo

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]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 The River Fleet http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1614329.html Just a couple from this but will add more later Tuesday 30 November 1999: Just a couple from this but will add more later

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]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 Thames Tunnels A & B http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1488561.html Visited with Little Elvis, Cybergibbens and Syme Tuesday 30 November 1999: Visited with Little Elvis, Cybergibbens and Syme

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]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 Labyrinth http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1488557.html Visited with Dsankt and Loops Tuesday 30 November 1999: Visited with Dsankt and Loops

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]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 London Road Shelter http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1477053.html visited with tom from Imagine Imagery I shall return to this and add more photos when I do Tuesday 30 November 1999: visited with tom from Imagine Imagery I shall return to this and add more photos when I do

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]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 Southwick Tower http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1477052.html Explored with Little Elvis and Zero Tuesday 30 November 1999: Explored with Little Elvis and Zero

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]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 Carlton Cinemas - Cosham http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1413527.html Visited with permission to document the site before it is ruined and demolished Tuesday 30 November 1999: Visited with permission to document the site before it is ruined and demolished

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]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 Manchester Draining Trip http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1413519.html A Huge draining trip to manchester with Loops, Zero and the wannabe gangsta named Dsankt Tuesday 30 November 1999: A Huge draining trip to manchester with Loops, Zero and the wannabe gangsta named Dsankt

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]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 Fort Southwick http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1413515.html Visited with permission from the owner this site is incredibly preserved Tuesday 30 November 1999: Visited with permission from the owner this site is incredibly preserved

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]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 Pan Penninsula Tower http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1413509.html Visited with Loops, Zero and Dsankt Tuesday 30 November 1999: Visited with Loops, Zero and Dsankt

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]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 Lower COTS Drain http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1413507.html Our journey begins with the first images of COTS (Colossus of the South) by Sub Urban looking through them everyone was immediately drawn to the image of Eddies Vortex (named after writing on the wall saying this). I personally had to see it for myself; the sheer size of this plug hole dwarfed all others. Fast forward a year and a half and I am turning a corner noise surrounds me water flows beneath me and I am confronted with one of the scariest and most awesome architectural features I have seen in my life. Huge plug hole water rushing over the sides of it and falling 100ft to the bottom where it crashes into Lower COTS. The noise the water splashing everywhere the whole experience overwhelms me and I am hooked on draining. This image of the whole turns peoples stomachs as they see what is basically a hole to certain death with slippery sides and fast flowing water looking to almost suck you into it. Every person who sees Eddies Vortex always jokes about how awesome it would be to abseil down into the vortex. Fast forward to February 2008. I am not a man for heights so unfortunately I cannot accept any congratulations for the following story as I did not partake but was there to witness. There are many things I have seen people do that have astounded me; bungee jumping, free climbing, base jumping, to name a few today I will add a new one and raise it to the top of my list of respect. It all began with a phone call saying Lower COTS Tuesday night trust me it will be good. So I arrive in Brighton waiting for the others to arrive slowly I am joined by JD (www.suburban.com), Dsankt (www.sleepycity.org), Zero (www.silentuk.com), Loops (no one has ever seen one of his photos.com) and Little Elvis (www.dereliction.org). The mood is jovial but tense with various inappropriate jokes and laughter as we head for the entrance into Lower COTS. We climb down the 100 ft to Lower COTS and sort our shit out. Walkie-talkies are handed out and much immature fun is had. Over. Me Little Elvis and Loops hang at the western end of the drain as the others head of east to find the base of Eddies Vortex. I take some arty photos of the tunnel using pretentious lighting and in my mind I have already photoshopped the hell out of them. Then we begin the walk to meet the others. Along the wall are markers saying how far along the tunnel you have travelled in meters as we reach just over 3000 meters we see a glimmer of light ahead. Out of the darkness an almighty thundering of water can be heard, we walk up some steps off the main Lower COTS tunnel to be confronted with the base of Eddies Vortex, which is equally as scary as the top. We immediately can hear voices above us and spot the ladder behind the base of the vortex. Up I climb first up a ladder and then a spiral staircase that goes around the vortex giving it an almost NASA feel and look as though we are climbing to the top of a rocket. As I climb up a final ladder to where Dsankt, JD and Zero are I walk over and look over the edge, I am stood about 30 foot above Eddies Vortex mouth. This is possibly one of the scariest sites I have ever seen, and then I look to my left. Climbing over the edge of the barrier is the Ninja known as Dsankt. Fully kitted up and for once looking rather serious he is hanging over Eddies Vortex suspended. This site brings both a huge smile to my face and sweat to my palms; it is both amazing and scary at the same time. He descends to the level of Eddies Vortex mouth where he sits on the edge checks his kit is all secured properly then does something I think I shall never erase from my memory, he goes into the mouth of eddies vortex. Descending slowly he is constantly being pummelled by freezing cold water, thankfully he has fashioned a waterproof cape to kinda keep him dry. As he descends further the water surrounding him starts to obstruct him from our view slightly as he descends into what can only be described as the bowels of Brighton. It is an amazing site and one that I am privileged to say I witnessed. Next over the edge is Zero he is nervous as he is fairly inexperienced but with the expert advice from JD and Stoop he slowly lets go of the railing and heads down with incredible control and concentration. With his trademark silly poses and superman styleeees he makes his way to the bottom. Then its JD’s turn over the side he goes, posing for photos as he goes down even helping to light some of them. Controlled and professional is the way I would describe JD’s decent, also damn quick at the end as he started to become engulfed in torrents of water as it all converges at the bottom of the vortex. Then Zero decided he wanted to go again. As he went over the side I turned to partake in the ancient art of conversation with JD and we are interrupted by screaming, we both rush to see what is wrong, Zero is hanging half way down Eddies Vortex in what seems to be a lot of pain, we shout down but the thundering water muffles our shouts so they are inaudible to Zeros ears. Slowly Zero makes it to the bottom and we all wait to find out what went wrong. As he climbs the last ladder he reveals that the rope had chaffed really badly on his groin and he now had red rope burn marks, nothing serious then. We then checked the time 4am right time to pack up our shit and leave, the rope was derigged and packed away, cameras went away and everything was secured into our bags. Then up into the real world everyone with smug faces we began the 45 minute walk back to the car which was parked next to the entrance of Lower COTS then back home by train (or car if you are JD). As I sit here typing this trying to hold my eye lids open I keep thinking I must have imagined what I witnessed tonight but then I look at the pictures and I realise what the guys did today was set a whole new bar, one that I feel with not be touched by anyone for a long time. My utmost respect to JD, Dsankt and Zero for doing it, it was incredibly controlled and professional with every bit of equipment plus more checked and checked again. I shall leave you with some more random pictures from this amazing night: Alias Tuesday 30 November 1999: Our journey begins with the first images of COTS (Colossus of the South) by Sub Urban looking through them everyone was immediately drawn to the image of Eddies Vortex (named after writing on the wall saying this). I personally had to see it for myself; the sheer size of this plug hole dwarfed all others. Fast forward a year and a half and I am turning a corner noise surrounds me water flows beneath me and I am confronted with one of the scariest and most awesome architectural features I have seen in my life. Huge plug hole water rushing over the sides of it and falling 100ft to the bottom where it crashes into Lower COTS. The noise the water splashing everywhere the whole experience overwhelms me and I am hooked on draining. This image of the whole turns peoples stomachs as they see what is basically a hole to certain death with slippery sides and fast flowing water looking to almost suck you into it. Every person who sees Eddies Vortex always jokes about how awesome it would be to abseil down into the vortex. Fast forward to February 2008. I am not a man for heights so unfortunately I cannot accept any congratulations for the following story as I did not partake but was there to witness. There are many things I have seen people do that have astounded me; bungee jumping, free climbing, base jumping, to name a few today I will add a new one and raise it to the top of my list of respect. It all began with a phone call saying Lower COTS Tuesday night trust me it will be good. So I arrive in Brighton waiting for the others to arrive slowly I am joined by JD (www.suburban.com), Dsankt (www.sleepycity.org), Zero (www.silentuk.com), Loops (no one has ever seen one of his photos.com) and Little Elvis (www.dereliction.org). The mood is jovial but tense with various inappropriate jokes and laughter as we head for the entrance into Lower COTS. We climb down the 100 ft to Lower COTS and sort our shit out. Walkie-talkies are handed out and much immature fun is had. Over. Me Little Elvis and Loops hang at the western end of the drain as the others head of east to find the base of Eddies Vortex. I take some arty photos of the tunnel using pretentious lighting and in my mind I have already photoshopped the hell out of them. Then we begin the walk to meet the others. Along the wall are markers saying how far along the tunnel you have travelled in meters as we reach just over 3000 meters we see a glimmer of light ahead. Out of the darkness an almighty thundering of water can be heard, we walk up some steps off the main Lower COTS tunnel to be confronted with the base of Eddies Vortex, which is equally as scary as the top. We immediately can hear voices above us and spot the ladder behind the base of the vortex. Up I climb first up a ladder and then a spiral staircase that goes around the vortex giving it an almost NASA feel and look as though we are climbing to the top of a rocket. As I climb up a final ladder to where Dsankt, JD and Zero are I walk over and look over the edge, I am stood about 30 foot above Eddies Vortex mouth. This is possibly one of the scariest sites I have ever seen, and then I look to my left. Climbing over the edge of the barrier is the Ninja known as Dsankt. Fully kitted up and for once looking rather serious he is hanging over Eddies Vortex suspended. This site brings both a huge smile to my face and sweat to my palms; it is both amazing and scary at the same time. He descends to the level of Eddies Vortex mouth where he sits on the edge checks his kit is all secured properly then does something I think I shall never erase from my memory, he goes into the mouth of eddies vortex. Descending slowly he is constantly being pummelled by freezing cold water, thankfully he has fashioned a waterproof cape to kinda keep him dry. As he descends further the water surrounding him starts to obstruct him from our view slightly as he descends into what can only be described as the bowels of Brighton. It is an amazing site and one that I am privileged to say I witnessed. Next over the edge is Zero he is nervous as he is fairly inexperienced but with the expert advice from JD and Stoop he slowly lets go of the railing and heads down with incredible control and concentration. With his trademark silly poses and superman styleeees he makes his way to the bottom. Then its JD_s turn over the side he goes, posing for photos as he goes down even helping to light some of them. Controlled and professional is the way I would describe JD_s decent, also damn quick at the end as he started to become engulfed in torrents of water as it all converges at the bottom of the vortex. Then Zero decided he wanted to go again. As he went over the side I turned to partake in the ancient art of conversation with JD and we are interrupted by screaming, we both rush to see what is wrong, Zero is hanging half way down Eddies Vortex in what seems to be a lot of pain, we shout down but the thundering water muffles our shouts so they are inaudible to Zeros ears. Slowly Zero makes it to the bottom and we all wait to find out what went wrong. As he climbs the last ladder he reveals that the rope had chaffed really badly on his groin and he now had red rope burn marks, nothing serious then. We then checked the time 4am right time to pack up our shit and leave, the rope was derigged and packed away, cameras went away and everything was secured into our bags. Then up into the real world everyone with smug faces we began the 45 minute walk back to the car which was parked next to the entrance of Lower COTS then back home by train (or car if you are JD). As I sit here typing this trying to hold my eye lids open I keep thinking I must have imagined what I witnessed tonight but then I look at the pictures and I realise what the guys did today was set a whole new bar, one that I feel with not be touched by anyone for a long time. My utmost respect to JD, Dsankt and Zero for doing it, it was incredibly controlled and professional with every bit of equipment plus more checked and checked again. I shall leave you with some more random pictures from this amazing night: Alias

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]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 Silverlands http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1413501.html This place was built/ converted for use to house peodophiles and sex offenders however due to funding running out the center never opened. How can a building so beautiful be built for what can only be described as beasts. As we approach the building my mind wanders to the thought of why in gods name a building with such splendour would be designated such a horrible task of housing the worst that society can produce. As we explore the evidence of the lack of funding and finance is shown though half finished development and I don’t know whether to be sad that this building is now defunct or happy because it will never see the use it was intended for. Tuesday 30 November 1999: This place was built/ converted for use to house peodophiles and sex offenders however due to funding running out the center never opened. How can a building so beautiful be built for what can only be described as beasts. As we approach the building my mind wanders to the thought of why in gods name a building with such splendour would be designated such a horrible task of housing the worst that society can produce. As we explore the evidence of the lack of funding and finance is shown though half finished development and I don_t know whether to be sad that this building is now defunct or happy because it will never see the use it was intended for.

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]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 Priddys Hard - Gosport http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1413497.html Visited with Zero. This site sits derelict hidden away within Gosport. When trying to find it we had some trouble but it proved to be a tardis like location, with endless arrays of buildings and various military structures. Tuesday 30 November 1999: Visited with Zero. This site sits derelict hidden away within Gosport. When trying to find it we had some trouble but it proved to be a tardis like location, with endless arrays of buildings and various military structures.

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]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 Soda Ash Works http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1413479.html Visited with Little Elvis and Zero Visited while on a road trip tied in with a social explorers meet in Stoke we traveled to the Soda Ash works, as we approached through fields of cows and along a small stream we jumped the fence and scouted around the building for an entrance into the metaphorical explorers candy shop inside. As I squeeze myself though the hole in a plank of wood covering where a window once sat my lungs are hit with that familiar taste of bird shit and dust mixed with the taste of undisturbed air (something you cannot describe to anyone who has not tasted it). The building itself swallows you inside as you wander around its levels, the tools sit in their correct spots where the workers left them waiting and hoping to be used once again but unfortunately they never will. Industry like this is a dying bread like the dodo and my choice to document it is like the scientists that place animals inside formaldehyde I wish to preserve these things for others to see. I can but hope that my images achieve this and with this location I tried to not only show the small details which make this location unique but also portray its size. Tuesday 30 November 1999: Visited with Little Elvis and Zero Visited while on a road trip tied in with a social explorers meet in Stoke we traveled to the Soda Ash works, as we approached through fields of cows and along a small stream we jumped the fence and scouted around the building for an entrance into the metaphorical explorers candy shop inside. As I squeeze myself though the hole in a plank of wood covering where a window once sat my lungs are hit with that familiar taste of bird shit and dust mixed with the taste of undisturbed air (something you cannot describe to anyone who has not tasted it). The building itself swallows you inside as you wander around its levels, the tools sit in their correct spots where the workers left them waiting and hoping to be used once again but unfortunately they never will. Industry like this is a dying bread like the dodo and my choice to document it is like the scientists that place animals inside formaldehyde I wish to preserve these things for others to see. I can but hope that my images achieve this and with this location I tried to not only show the small details which make this location unique but also portray its size.

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]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 Chatterley Whitfield Colliery http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1413472.html visited with Little Elvis, Snappel, and Zero Tuesday 30 November 1999: visited with Little Elvis, Snappel, and Zero

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]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 Bunker Drain - Warrington http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1413469.html Visited with Oxygen thief, Zero and Little Elvis Tuesday 30 November 1999: Visited with Oxygen thief, Zero and Little Elvis

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]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 Crossness Pumping Station http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1413456.html Although not derelict this building was once, and is now being restored by some amazing people. Tuesday 30 November 1999: Although not derelict this building was once, and is now being restored by some amazing people.

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]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 Rubix Drain http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1413454.html Visited and discovered with Zero Tuesday 30 November 1999: Visited and discovered with Zero

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]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 NGTE Pystock http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1413438.html visited on several occasions with various explorers Tuesday 30 November 1999: visited on several occasions with various explorers

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]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 East Sussex Asylum - Hellingly http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1413392.html Visited on severall occasions with various explorers. Tuesday 30 November 1999: Visited on severall occasions with various explorers.

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]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 Serpent's lair - Drain http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1235009.html Visited with Zero Tuesday 30 November 1999: Visited with Zero

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]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 Deep Ochre - Drain http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1235004.html visited with Zero Tuesday 30 November 1999: visited with Zero

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]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 the River Westbourne http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1204892.html Visited with Little Elvis, Paulo999 and Nurse Payne Thanks to JD and Stoop for some pointers. There are many things I have done in my life that I have thought after that I was stupid for doing. Thinking back I think I must be insane for doing what I did last night. Walking through the busy London streets in waders carrying rucksacks and generally looking dodgy we approuched our entry point. While being watched by a homeless guy on a bench we went through our saftey procedures to ensure our exit would be possible and safe. Then down we went. The manhole closed on top of me as I was the last down and the echo was huge, just inside the entrance is a huge chamber with three tributaries leading into one. We gathered ourselves up and did a kit check. Then off we went. We spent three hours down under london and only covered a small part of the huge system. However the Westbourne is feature full and facinating with the skill in the architecture making me stop and imagine the men building this beautiful hidden secret. Westbourne is a combined CSO which means that the sewer from London runs through it, this makes for some interesting smells and some interesting finds including: tampons, sanitary towels, condoms, etc...... even whole shits, I must admit at times in certain areas I did almost throw up and had to hold my breath at one point. The rats were plentiful with some even charging me as I blasted it with the search blaster. We have not finished exploring the Westbourne (no where near) we shall return and we shall document one of Londons lost treasures. Here are some of my pictures from last night enjoy: Tuesday 30 November 1999: Visited with Little Elvis, Paulo999 and Nurse Payne Thanks to JD and Stoop for some pointers. There are many things I have done in my life that I have thought after that I was stupid for doing. Thinking back I think I must be insane for doing what I did last night. Walking through the busy London streets in waders carrying rucksacks and generally looking dodgy we approuched our entry point. While being watched by a homeless guy on a bench we went through our saftey procedures to ensure our exit would be possible and safe. Then down we went. The manhole closed on top of me as I was the last down and the echo was huge, just inside the entrance is a huge chamber with three tributaries leading into one. We gathered ourselves up and did a kit check. Then off we went. We spent three hours down under london and only covered a small part of the huge system. However the Westbourne is feature full and facinating with the skill in the architecture making me stop and imagine the men building this beautiful hidden secret. Westbourne is a combined CSO which means that the sewer from London runs through it, this makes for some interesting smells and some interesting finds including: tampons, sanitary towels, condoms, etc...... even whole shits, I must admit at times in certain areas I did almost throw up and had to hold my breath at one point. The rats were plentiful with some even charging me as I blasted it with the search blaster. We have not finished exploring the Westbourne (no where near) we shall return and we shall document one of Londons lost treasures. Here are some of my pictures from last night enjoy:

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]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 Longbridge Rover Factory http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1187559.html Good Night Rover. It seems that when Rover finally closed down the staff were not given enough notice to clear their things. As we approuched the site the sheer scale of the place astounded us this was a town built around a factory, every other car was a rover. Entering the site we were amazed at what we found; half drunk coffee mugs, papers, test sheets, whole cars and a prototype just sitting there gathering dust. I shall let the photos do the rest of the talking Tuesday 30 November 1999: Good Night Rover. It seems that when Rover finally closed down the staff were not given enough notice to clear their things. As we approuched the site the sheer scale of the place astounded us this was a town built around a factory, every other car was a rover. Entering the site we were amazed at what we found; half drunk coffee mugs, papers, test sheets, whole cars and a prototype just sitting there gathering dust. I shall let the photos do the rest of the talking

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]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 Witley Wonder http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1160560.html Hidden and barely documented this example of mad architecture sits inside a large estate in the UK. The ballroom is made up of glass, stone and steal and sits at the bottom of an artificial lake with a statue sat on top. I shall be returning to see more of this small but stunning site. Tuesday 30 November 1999: Hidden and barely documented this example of mad architecture sits inside a large estate in the UK. The ballroom is made up of glass, stone and steal and sits at the bottom of an artificial lake with a statue sat on top. I shall be returning to see more of this small but stunning site.

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]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 C.O.T.S Collosus of the South http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1124711.html C.O.T.S Collosus of the South Tuesday 30 November 1999: C.O.T.S Collosus of the South

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]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 High Marnham Power Station http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1112181.html High Marnham Power Station Tuesday 30 November 1999: High Marnham Power Station

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]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 RAF Stenigot http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1112174.html RAF Stenigot Tuesday 30 November 1999: RAF Stenigot

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]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 St Johns Asylum, Lincolnshire http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1112155.html St Johns Asylum, Lincolnshire Tuesday 30 November 1999: St Johns Asylum, Lincolnshire

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]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 Les Catacombs of Paris http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1096480.html Many people go to Paris on romantic weekends or tourist trips. I sat on the train feeling nervous about the trip I was about to take. I would catch the eurostar to Paris and instead of following the tourist trail would don waders and a boiler suit and embark on a trip deep into the dark depths of Paris. Into what is known as "les carrières de Paris" (the quarries of Paris) also known as "the catacombs of Paris". During the Roman times Paris was built using the limestone found under the city and so the quarries were formed. Throughout the centuries following the Roman Empire the quarries grew and the networks of tunnels became more complicated and span an amazing 170 miles. Then in 1786 the government under the orders of Monsieur Thiroux de Crosne, Lt. General of Police, and by Monsieur Guillaumot, Inspector General of Quarries decided that the quarries would be used as burial grounds during times of Plague and disease, where the cemeteries were filling up. Remains from the cemetery of Saint-Nicolas-des-Champs were among the first to be moved. Bodies of the dead from the riots in the Place de Greve, the Hotel de Brienne, and Rue Meslee were put in the catacombs on August 28 and 29, 1788. The Catacombs has had many uses over the years including a base for the French Resistance during the Second World War. The Germans also established a bunker in the Catacombs and it is documented that the resistance and the Germans had a mutual respect while down in the Catacombs and never fired on each other. In 1777 the IGC, Inspection générale des Carrières (General Inspection of the Quarries) was established. This was to combat the problems of collapse due to construction in Paris and subsidence. The IGC strengthened many of the tunnels and installed manhole entrances into the catacombs. Entrance to the unofficial section of the catacombs is restricted and if caught people found will face a large fine and even jail. The risks involved are huge, including tight spaces, flooding and it would also be very easy for someone to get lost and die down there, it has happened. As I sat on the train everything I had read on the Internet about the catacombs kept flashing through my head from Philibert Aspairt. Who was found 200 meters from an exit dead after getting lost down in the catacombs to the stories of all night parties and CataCops who patrol the Catacombs looking for explorers. Adrenalin pumped through my body along with fear the only word to describe my thoughts at that moment is disbelief at the task that lay ahead of me. Arriving at Waterloo I met up with the other members of our team, Little Elvis, Zero, Calamity and our guide Paulo999 who would be taking his 4th trip into the depths of Paris. We passed through customs without a question of why we had caving equipment and were heading to Paris on a 24hour return ticket!! As we stepped off the Eurostar after a hot couple of hours (air con was broken) my mind was buzzing. Looking around me I felt strange thinking about what was below us. We headed to the nearest restaurant to stock up on food and to use the facilities as these would be the last we saw in a while. Then onto the metro to our final stop, where we headed to a supermarche to pick up supplies. As we left the supermarket I started to realise how heavy my rucksack was but that was not the most important thing on my mind. Stopping to kit up I felt strange but also excited, we all joked around but I could tell that everyone was nervous about what we were about to do. Then it was time to get serious we headed to our entrance point and the adrenalin was making my heart pump the blood around my body faster every step closer I got. As we entered the darkness a calming feeling came over me and I knew there was no turning back now my mind and body just accepted that I was not going to see daylight for at least seventeen hours. Pure darkness is strangely calming and combined with silence can be overwhelming. The entrance was tight and led onto a low tunnel which I learnt to refer to as a back breaker. This tunnel then led onto a junction where we proceeded down one of the standing height tunnels observing the array of graffiti sprawled on the walls. Then Paulo999 stopped and pointed to a doorway leading off into the darkness, down here is “Le Passe de Muraille.” “Léon, a humble civil servant, has the unusual ability to walk through walls, however thick they are. One day, he falls madly in love with a charming English cat burglar. In order to impress her he decides he should be a become a better burglar than she...” however gets trapped while walking through the wall Paulo999 warns us that this section is flooded and I start to realise that the 30 pounds I spent on Waders was an incredibly good purchase as we proceed to step into water which reaches my thighs. We carry on for about 200 meters through the water. flooded tunnels lead off to god knows where all the way along and numbers corresponding to the house numbers on the street above adorn the walls all the way along. At the end we are confronted with a T junction on the right is a dead end as I look left I am confronted with one of the most surreal images my head has ever had to comprehend. A statue of a man coming though the wall lit up by my head lamp is a strange sight but also a beautiful one. I got my camera and tripod out and proceeded to photograph the statue while admiring the effort it must have taken for the unknown artists to create such a beautiful piece of art. We then head back and swap waders with the others so that they can witness the Passe de Muraille. Little Elvis and I are left alone in the dark. As we sit and start to comprehend what we are doing I decide now is the time to turn the music on. I pressed play and we sat listening to music just thinking about what on earth we were doing 70 foot below Paris on a Saturday nigh. Both I and Little Elvis have explored many places but we both agreed this was the strangest experience ever. As we sit in the darkness we hear voices but not English then out of no where comes the sound of French rock music and past us strolls a continuous line of French cataphiles (the word used to describe the community of people who explore the catacombs). Many pass with a quick Bon Soir others stop and ask what an Englishman is doing under Paris. When we explain we are explorers from England and our sole reason for visiting the city of love is to go deep under it a look of respect and acceptance passes over their faces. Finally we see the torch light of the rest of our group returning. And off we go again heading towards the room of the Ram. I start to realise how complicated navigation would be down in the Catacombs. I am completely disorientated after only a couple of minutes with our direction changing rapidly and junction after junction all looking the same. Finally we reach the room of the ram hot and sweaty from what I can only describe as a march. As we enter the room we are confronted with a makeshift table in the centre and seating around the edges. Only after sitting down and lighting candles does the room start to reveal itself to us. Sculptures of naked female bodies, mosaics of faces, and sculptures of faces and a ram adorn the walls of the room carved lovingly out of the limestone rock. We rest here and chill for about ten minutes as we re-hydrate and take photos of the room. Then the familiar sound of the French language wafts along the corridor and we know we will not be alone for long as a group of French people arrive. We exchange greeting then head off down the ever changing ever winding tunnels to our next target. As we walked along the winding corridors I started to think about the quarry workers and how they would have worked by candle light down here and how hard it would have been. The work that was carried out by the IGC has hidden many sections of the original quarry with brick work which in itself is a stunning and at points is more interesting than the rooms with archways and ever changing styles of brickwork. We approach our next destination which is known as the room of the castle. In this room a small table sits in the middle with a chandelier hanging above it, around this are seats carved into the stone. The centre piece is a large scaled down model of a castle carved entirely of limestone. We set candles up around the room and in the castle to light it for photos. Once we have all taken our photos we go another 20 meters or so along a corridor into a room filled with plastic flowers. This is a shock to the system because the flowers look real with Ivy running down the walls. In the room is a warning sign which reads “Boston Parks and Recreation, Please Keep off the Plantings! Spring Bulbs are planted here”. This is surreal and it takes me a moment to realise that it is in English. I believe that this room was decorated by an American Cataphile. Then off we go moving along the corridors until we reach a room decorated with a Plaque on the wall. The plaque reads: Foxy “A la Memoire de Decendue dans ces carrières en Octobre MCXCI Et Disparue XII Ans Apres Le III Mai MMIV” Foxy was a photographer who was known and respected amongst the Cataphile community. She photographed nudes in the Catacombs and her pictures were famous. She died of Pancreatic cancer and as a memorial to her death a group of Cataphiles built her a room and dedicated it to her memory. I believe she would have very much liked this. We then head along some more tunnels and I get the shock of my life as a dog comes running up to me equipped with its own torch. We turn the corner to find a room filled with French Cataphiles who we proceed to sit with and talk about exploring in France and England. Myself and the rest of our group were made to feel very welcome and even shared alcohol with our French exploring counterparts. As we decide to depart towards what is known as the beach our new found friends lead us. We arrive to find the room filled to the brim with French people having a party. We decide that we have not got the time to stay and socialise and decide to head towards our next destination. So after a crawl we arrive at a room filled with lavish paintings and amazing carved structures, from the pillar in the centre of the room to the archway and the table that runs half the length of the room. Adorning the walls are paintings of mushrooms with large pieces of art such as Dali copies and a life size nude painting of a woman. We sit here and talk to our French friend about the more secretive sections of the catacombs and our exit. After bidding our new found friends goodbye we head off in search of the famous burial chambers. After a couple of navigational errors we finally arrive. The entrance into the burial section is marked by the top of a human skull sitting atop a bit of rock. I have done many strange things in my life and seen some weird stuff however when confronted with no other option but to crawl in a tunnel only four foot high over human bones I found it hard. However I made myself do it and managed to distance myself from thinking about what I was actually doing. After photographing the bones it was time to leave and head towards our sleeping location for the night. “Anschluss” which is an old shelter. As we made our way towards Anschluss we came across one of the blockades put in place by officials to deter the exploration of the catacombs. We made our way another route but by this time we had been underground for almost 12 hours and tiredness was kicking in. We arrived at the access to Anschluss and climbed through a hole into the room of the Rats. During the 1980`s a group who called themselves the Rats used to explore the Catacombs. They painted this room as a dedication to their small group who still come down once or twice a year despite probably now being married with children and jobs etc… We head towards the room we shall be sleeping for a couple of hours in which was in my opinion the nicest of all the rooms. We were honoured to share it that night with the man who has made it his business to fully refurbish the room. So far it has taken him two years and it is amazing, out of respect there is no graffiti. He has designed the room to be a social and a rest room with large seats all around and alcoves for people to sleep in. The centre piece to the room is a ladder leading 110 foot up a shaft to the surface, however the manhole cover that is at the top has now been covered with a statue (well I guess that’s one way to stop them). Here we put up our tents, yes tents. I felt surreal stringing up a tent 110 foot under the streets of Paris but at that point it seemed perfectly normal. We sat and talked to the French people who were in the room (who we had also met earlier), then decided it was time to get some rest. We got in our hammocks and covered ourselves in foil blankets then all slowly dozed off. I was awoken about an hour after that by snoring and the cold which had started to seep in. So I got up and went for a small walk. I only walked about 20 meters or so before I started to feel panicky, what would it be like to be lost down here, what if I got lost and my light failed. We had been told stories of this happening and I decided it best not to wander too far and headed back. As I arrived back in the room Paulo stirred and decided us two should go and check out his exit which he had heard about. The Cataphiles pride themselves on finding stranger and more exciting ways to exit the catacombs. I had heard of people exiting through basements into shopping malls and shops, I had heard of people exiting onto the metro lines and into basements of car parks. I cannot reveal where we exited but I will tell you the journey there was one I shall never forget. At points we had to squeeze our bodies through holes in a super man fashion as our shoulders would not fit and we had to turn our heads to the side as the holes were not tall enough. Once me and Paulo had confirmed the exit was there and open we headed back to anschluss to grab the others and return to the exit. Once we had walked out of the catacombs a sense of relieve and of exhaustion filled my body. My legs ached my face was dusty and what little hair I have was full of limestone bits. My clothes smelt and my body was covered in rapidly cooling sweat, my eyes hurt from the sunlight but I could not feel better. We walked into the sunlight squinting with onlookers staring some knowing exactly what we had been doing and some completely confused as to why we looked like we had just walked out of a cave in the centre of Paris. A feeling of almost superiority over the general public and smugness filled all of us as we walked towards the metro station and back home. As we walked I glanced down at a manhole cover and smiled. The catacombs have been a life experience and one I wish to repeat many times. I shall return soon, the catacombs are calling me. Tuesday 30 November 1999: Many people go to Paris on romantic weekends or tourist trips. I sat on the train feeling nervous about the trip I was about to take. I would catch the eurostar to Paris and instead of following the tourist trail would don waders and a boiler suit and embark on a trip deep into the dark depths of Paris. Into what is known as "les carri_res de Paris" (the quarries of Paris) also known as "the catacombs of Paris". During the Roman times Paris was built using the limestone found under the city and so the quarries were formed. Throughout the centuries following the Roman Empire the quarries grew and the networks of tunnels became more complicated and span an amazing 170 miles. Then in 1786 the government under the orders of Monsieur Thiroux de Crosne, Lt. General of Police, and by Monsieur Guillaumot, Inspector General of Quarries decided that the quarries would be used as burial grounds during times of Plague and disease, where the cemeteries were filling up. Remains from the cemetery of Saint-Nicolas-des-Champs were among the first to be moved. Bodies of the dead from the riots in the Place de Greve, the Hotel de Brienne, and Rue Meslee were put in the catacombs on August 28 and 29, 1788. The Catacombs has had many uses over the years including a base for the French Resistance during the Second World War. The Germans also established a bunker in the Catacombs and it is documented that the resistance and the Germans had a mutual respect while down in the Catacombs and never fired on each other. In 1777 the IGC, Inspection g_n_rale des Carri_res (General Inspection of the Quarries) was established. This was to combat the problems of collapse due to construction in Paris and subsidence. The IGC strengthened many of the tunnels and installed manhole entrances into the catacombs. Entrance to the unofficial section of the catacombs is restricted and if caught people found will face a large fine and even jail. The risks involved are huge, including tight spaces, flooding and it would also be very easy for someone to get lost and die down there, it has happened. As I sat on the train everything I had read on the Internet about the catacombs kept flashing through my head from Philibert Aspairt. Who was found 200 meters from an exit dead after getting lost down in the catacombs to the stories of all night parties and CataCops who patrol the Catacombs looking for explorers. Adrenalin pumped through my body along with fear the only word to describe my thoughts at that moment is disbelief at the task that lay ahead of me. Arriving at Waterloo I met up with the other members of our team, Little Elvis, Zero, Calamity and our guide Paulo999 who would be taking his 4th trip into the depths of Paris. We passed through customs without a question of why we had caving equipment and were heading to Paris on a 24hour return ticket!! As we stepped off the Eurostar after a hot couple of hours (air con was broken) my mind was buzzing. Looking around me I felt strange thinking about what was below us. We headed to the nearest restaurant to stock up on food and to use the facilities as these would be the last we saw in a while. Then onto the metro to our final stop, where we headed to a supermarche to pick up supplies. As we left the supermarket I started to realise how heavy my rucksack was but that was not the most important thing on my mind. Stopping to kit up I felt strange but also excited, we all joked around but I could tell that everyone was nervous about what we were about to do. Then it was time to get serious we headed to our entrance point and the adrenalin was making my heart pump the blood around my body faster every step closer I got. As we entered the darkness a calming feeling came over me and I knew there was no turning back now my mind and body just accepted that I was not going to see daylight for at least seventeen hours. Pure darkness is strangely calming and combined with silence can be overwhelming. The entrance was tight and led onto a low tunnel which I learnt to refer to as a back breaker. This tunnel then led onto a junction where we proceeded down one of the standing height tunnels observing the array of graffiti sprawled on the walls. Then Paulo999 stopped and pointed to a doorway leading off into the darkness, down here is _Le Passe de Muraille._ _L_on, a humble civil servant, has the unusual ability to walk through walls, however thick they are. One day, he falls madly in love with a charming English cat burglar. In order to impress her he decides he should be a become a better burglar than she..._ however gets trapped while walking through the wall Paulo999 warns us that this section is flooded and I start to realise that the 30 pounds I spent on Waders was an incredibly good purchase as we proceed to step into water which reaches my thighs. We carry on for about 200 meters through the water. flooded tunnels lead off to god knows where all the way along and numbers corresponding to the house numbers on the street above adorn the walls all the way along. At the end we are confronted with a T junction on the right is a dead end as I look left I am confronted with one of the most surreal images my head has ever had to comprehend. A statue of a man coming though the wall lit up by my head lamp is a strange sight but also a beautiful one. I got my camera and tripod out and proceeded to photograph the statue while admiring the effort it must have taken for the unknown artists to create such a beautiful piece of art. We then head back and swap waders with the others so that they can witness the Passe de Muraille. Little Elvis and I are left alone in the dark. As we sit and start to comprehend what we are doing I decide now is the time to turn the music on. I pressed play and we sat listening to music just thinking about what on earth we were doing 70 foot below Paris on a Saturday nigh. Both I and Little Elvis have explored many places but we both agreed this was the strangest experience ever. As we sit in the darkness we hear voices but not English then out of no where comes the sound of French rock music and past us strolls a continuous line of French cataphiles (the word used to describe the community of people who explore the catacombs). Many pass with a quick Bon Soir others stop and ask what an Englishman is doing under Paris. When we explain we are explorers from England and our sole reason for visiting the city of love is to go deep under it a look of respect and acceptance passes over their faces. Finally we see the torch light of the rest of our group returning. And off we go again heading towards the room of the Ram. I start to realise how complicated navigation would be down in the Catacombs. I am completely disorientated after only a couple of minutes with our direction changing rapidly and junction after junction all looking the same. Finally we reach the room of the ram hot and sweaty from what I can only describe as a march. As we enter the room we are confronted with a makeshift table in the centre and seating around the edges. Only after sitting down and lighting candles does the room start to reveal itself to us. Sculptures of naked female bodies, mosaics of faces, and sculptures of faces and a ram adorn the walls of the room carved lovingly out of the limestone rock. We rest here and chill for about ten minutes as we re-hydrate and take photos of the room. Then the familiar sound of the French language wafts along the corridor and we know we will not be alone for long as a group of French people arrive. We exchange greeting then head off down the ever changing ever winding tunnels to our next target. As we walked along the winding corridors I started to think about the quarry workers and how they would have worked by candle light down here and how hard it would have been. The work that was carried out by the IGC has hidden many sections of the original quarry with brick work which in itself is a stunning and at points is more interesting than the rooms with archways and ever changing styles of brickwork. We approach our next destination which is known as the room of the castle. In this room a small table sits in the middle with a chandelier hanging above it, around this are seats carved into the stone. The centre piece is a large scaled down model of a castle carved entirely of limestone. We set candles up around the room and in the castle to light it for photos. Once we have all taken our photos we go another 20 meters or so along a corridor into a room filled with plastic flowers. This is a shock to the system because the flowers look real with Ivy running down the walls. In the room is a warning sign which reads _Boston Parks and Recreation, Please Keep off the Plantings! Spring Bulbs are planted here_. This is surreal and it takes me a moment to realise that it is in English. I believe that this room was decorated by an American Cataphile. Then off we go moving along the corridors until we reach a room decorated with a Plaque on the wall. The plaque reads: Foxy _A la Memoire de Decendue dans ces carri_res en Octobre MCXCI Et Disparue XII Ans Apres Le III Mai MMIV_ Foxy was a photographer who was known and respected amongst the Cataphile community. She photographed nudes in the Catacombs and her pictures were famous. She died of Pancreatic cancer and as a memorial to her death a group of Cataphiles built her a room and dedicated it to her memory. I believe she would have very much liked this. We then head along some more tunnels and I get the shock of my life as a dog comes running up to me equipped with its own torch. We turn the corner to find a room filled with French Cataphiles who we proceed to sit with and talk about exploring in France and England. Myself and the rest of our group were made to feel very welcome and even shared alcohol with our French exploring counterparts. As we decide to depart towards what is known as the beach our new found friends lead us. We arrive to find the room filled to the brim with French people having a party. We decide that we have not got the time to stay and socialise and decide to head towards our next destination. So after a crawl we arrive at a room filled with lavish paintings and amazing carved structures, from the pillar in the centre of the room to the archway and the table that runs half the length of the room. Adorning the walls are paintings of mushrooms with large pieces of art such as Dali copies and a life size nude painting of a woman. We sit here and talk to our French friend about the more secretive sections of the catacombs and our exit. After bidding our new found friends goodbye we head off in search of the famous burial chambers. After a couple of navigational errors we finally arrive. The entrance into the burial section is marked by the top of a human skull sitting atop a bit of rock. I have done many strange things in my life and seen some weird stuff however when confronted with no other option but to crawl in a tunnel only four foot high over human bones I found it hard. However I made myself do it and managed to distance myself from thinking about what I was actually doing. After photographing the bones it was time to leave and head towards our sleeping location for the night. _Anschluss_ which is an old shelter. As we made our way towards Anschluss we came across one of the blockades put in place by officials to deter the exploration of the catacombs. We made our way another route but by this time we had been underground for almost 12 hours and tiredness was kicking in. We arrived at the access to Anschluss and climbed through a hole into the room of the Rats. During the 1980`s a group who called themselves the Rats used to explore the Catacombs. They painted this room as a dedication to their small group who still come down once or twice a year despite probably now being married with children and jobs etc_ We head towards the room we shall be sleeping for a couple of hours in which was in my opinion the nicest of all the rooms. We were honoured to share it that night with the man who has made it his business to fully refurbish the room. So far it has taken him two years and it is amazing, out of respect there is no graffiti. He has designed the room to be a social and a rest room with large seats all around and alcoves for people to sleep in. The centre piece to the room is a ladder leading 110 foot up a shaft to the surface, however the manhole cover that is at the top has now been covered with a statue (well I guess that_s one way to stop them). Here we put up our tents, yes tents. I felt surreal stringing up a tent 110 foot under the streets of Paris but at that point it seemed perfectly normal. We sat and talked to the French people who were in the room (who we had also met earlier), then decided it was time to get some rest. We got in our hammocks and covered ourselves in foil blankets then all slowly dozed off. I was awoken about an hour after that by snoring and the cold which had started to seep in. So I got up and went for a small walk. I only walked about 20 meters or so before I started to feel panicky, what would it be like to be lost down here, what if I got lost and my light failed. We had been told stories of this happening and I decided it best not to wander too far and headed back. As I arrived back in the room Paulo stirred and decided us two should go and check out his exit which he had heard about. The Cataphiles pride themselves on finding stranger and more exciting ways to exit the catacombs. I had heard of people exiting through basements into shopping malls and shops, I had heard of people exiting onto the metro lines and into basements of car parks. I cannot reveal where we exited but I will tell you the journey there was one I shall never forget. At points we had to squeeze our bodies through holes in a super man fashion as our shoulders would not fit and we had to turn our heads to the side as the holes were not tall enough. Once me and Paulo had confirmed the exit was there and open we headed back to anschluss to grab the others and return to the exit. Once we had walked out of the catacombs a sense of relieve and of exhaustion filled my body. My legs ached my face was dusty and what little hair I have was full of limestone bits. My clothes smelt and my body was covered in rapidly cooling sweat, my eyes hurt from the sunlight but I could not feel better. We walked into the sunlight squinting with onlookers staring some knowing exactly what we had been doing and some completely confused as to why we looked like we had just walked out of a cave in the centre of Paris. A feeling of almost superiority over the general public and smugness filled all of us as we walked towards the metro station and back home. As we walked I glanced down at a manhole cover and smiled. The catacombs have been a life experience and one I wish to repeat many times. I shall return soon, the catacombs are calling me.

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]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 West Middlesex Hospital http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1047199.html West Middlesex Hospital Tuesday 30 November 1999: West Middlesex Hospital

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]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 Normansfield Hospital http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1046478.html Normansfield Hospital sits decaying in Kingston, unfortunatly vandles with paint have gained entry and the security has been stepped up and development has begun apart from that there are still some good features. Tuesday 30 November 1999: Normansfield Hospital sits decaying in Kingston, unfortunatly vandles with paint have gained entry and the security has been stepped up and development has begun apart from that there are still some good features.

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]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 Millenium Mills Roof http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1013947.html Millenium Mills Roof Tuesday 30 November 1999: Millenium Mills Roof

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]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 Monkton Farleigh http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c1004699.html Visited with various members from www.28dayslater.co.uk nothing I can say can descrive the shear size of this place. Once a large quarry it was then used as an ammo store. Districts 19 and 20 sit derelict deep under the ground. Tuesday 30 November 1999: Visited with various members from www.28dayslater.co.uk nothing I can say can descrive the shear size of this place. Once a large quarry it was then used as an ammo store. Districts 19 and 20 sit derelict deep under the ground.

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]]> Tue Nov 30 1999 Shoreham Cement Works http://guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/c970049.html Shoreham Cement Works This cement works sits derelict in a small sea side town called Shoreham by the Sea. The site is huge with kilns over 100m long in the main mixing room. I visited this site with various members off of www.28dayslater.co.uk Alias Tuesday 30 November 1999: Shoreham Cement Works This cement works sits derelict in a small sea side town called Shoreham by the Sea. The site is huge with kilns over 100m long in the main mixing room. I visited this site with various members off of www.28dayslater.co.uk Alias

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]]> Tue Nov 30 1999