Tales of the Urban Explorer: 'Bank'
Rotherham, South Yorkshire - famous for its shit football team that consistently fails to get out of 'League 2', the bottom-most rung of respectability and a pedophilia ring scandal in 2010 that made headline news.
I also worked in this small town for two years during the period 2007-2009. Compared to most gigs I have done, it paid poorly but covered the 'Great Recession' period and kept me in work.
During this period I never set foot in the town centre, my work being on the outskirts of this shanty town so the status of 'Bank' was unknown to me.
We had walked through the centre in search of an abandoned nightclub that had caught fire and had been thwarted by people. The club was there, obviously fire-stricken but milling around it were masses of people like a throng of ants.
Climbing was out of the question and no doubt would have been met with a challenge from one of the many potential busy-bodies so was had to sack that one.
Bloody shoppers, there's barely anything left to buy!
'Bank' was a different matter, standing alone and distanced from the high street riddled with a mix of boarded-up shops and numerous pawn shops which are a statement of England's fading retail business.
It simply stated 'Bank' as though it was the only one. Built in 1913 and of Edwardian architecture it is now a forlorn image of a past age.
'Bank' was formally the NatWest bank, and closed its doors to the public in 2014. Despite efforts from Rotherham Council to buy the building and renovate it, the private owners have refused.
I hope the council are stuffing them for council tax, fucking retards.
Aside from personal options, how could we get inside?
The side door was securely fastened, with the finest tin holding it in place. This wasn't going to work.
The back gate looked more promising and boasted the most insecure gate I have ever seen. My ageing mother could climb over this useless barrier that featured perfect footholds and not a single spike to be seen on the top for slicing into your manhood.
Once over and out of sight, we noticed these rigid steel bars had been pulled back by the local Superman and a chunk of wood placed to keep them there. It was awkward but by crawling head-first under the slab, one could slide sideways between them and into the basement area.
I might be getting fatter, but it's not quite come to the stage where I can't do my shit and fail due to extreme obesity.
What connection a bank has to the RSPCA beats me. If we were going to find a decayed skeletal corpse in the vaults then I would assume it could be the charity collector who had overstayed their welcome on the day of closure.
I was under no illusions that we were the first explorers to set foot in here. Stupid stickers, need I say more?
Do banks retain your records indefinitely? Do they fuck, and if they lose your information then you lose your cash. @bingbabe has fallen foul of this in the past. It was a small amount but I will say here, 'Royal Bank of Scotland' you are a bunch of twats.
Imagine getting locked in there, with steel inches thick complete with bars. If Urban Exploring was not a thing, it would be a perfect place to kidnap and hold some poor soul.
The basement was more like a bloody jail and reminded me of the odd Police Station we had done in the past.
Barred gates, and thick doors everywhere to keep your loot safe.., I mean their loot. Did I ever mention I fucking hate banks?
I would personally go for the one on the right, but each to their own.
This was where the main business events happened day to day, but you would not guess. It's now a derelict mess with nothing worth seeing.
We started up the stairs and the offices. Maybe some sacks of gold had been left when this former 'NatWest Bank' locked its doors for the final time in 2014.
@anidiotexplores started gagging the further we went. His extra sensitive nose has an aversion to pigeon shit and was kicking into gear. It was noticeable to me but my tolerance levels are somewhat higher.
It's quite green but you would not guess the level of stench this gives off from an image. As well as the floor being weak in some areas, I was using a makeshift gag now, while my comrade staunchly refused to follow.
Dead birds don't exactly help when mixed with their excrement. They are dead bodies after all and add to the wonderful intoxicating pungency levels.
They never seem to learn and love to inhabit these graveyards. Old banks are not home and will kill you.
Not my best broken-glass shot, but I always try for a decent one.
Would you walk the corridor? It's not the most pleasant of experiences.
In 1913 the Edwardian architects felt the need for a roof. What for? Well... I don't know, maybe it was fashionable in those days. This was one part of the old bank we were unable to access. Locked tight, well shit.
Not the best of stairs, and with something to hold if you like your hands to get caked in shit.
Possibly the front door through these graffiti-laden ones. No chance of exiting that way, it was 'The Crawl' but in reverse for us.
What a mess, it's been empty for ten years or so but hasn't fared well at all.
One would think we were in Europe somewhere, not dingy Rotherham.
This wonderful building (including all the shit), is up for sale at £225,000. What a snip!
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It is difficult to comprehend how a structure of such importance can be so readily accessible; however, it appears to symbolize a wider critique of neglect prevalent in numerous urban environments.
That looks suspiciously like AI.., just don't go there.
The owners should have sold it when they had the chance.
Given that most councils inflate the tax to 200% if the building is empty, it will be costing them a pretty penny, and as they have negotiated with the owners, there's no hiding their identity.
You should buy it up and install a sex dungeon. The vault seems perfect for that and you could make a fortune renting it out. The access looked a bit dodgy if you had to crawl in there. I probably wouldn't bother, but as you said, that gate is practically a ladder.
A sex dungeon; a legitimate idea. If I gave up that easy on access, I would barely get in anywhere. It's all part of the challenge @steevc. 😃..
That's kind of cool with the vault. The main area felt more like a massage parlor or something than an actual bank. I didn't even see any teller windows.
The main floor was stripped, with nothing to see. Most of the rest also, I was hoping for some confidential documents. They do tend to be sloppy sometimes and leave them behind.
You sneaky bastard you!
Crikey, that is cheap as anything.
If you bought it you would have to keep the old vaulty doors. Just for the Lola. It looks quite like the back buildings up here. There must have been a trend at the time
The council must have thought otherwise! If there’s an abundance of flying rats then the roof must be bust open somewhere!
Yeah, roofs are bastards!
Interesting how much that building has deteriorated in just 10 years!
Yeah, it’s a bit knackered inside. Impressive external though.
I saw the first image and said a bank. But it is pretty unusual just to say bank, I thought they used to have the name back in the day.
As for RBS the less said the better. My grandfather was a bank manager with Commercial bank which was one of many acquired by RBS. He would turn in his grave at what they have been upto over the years.
They could have at least given the collection cans back to the RSPCA.
It is the sort of building that would have been turned into a nightclub up here, but of course they are now becoming a thing of the past too!
I did work for RBS just before the recession of 2009, and did well to escape before they hit the shitpile.
I remember them boasting record profits in 2007. All the banks did then. How things have changed eh?
Oh yeah then we had to bale them out, meanwhile all the bosses got their bonuses... wanker bankers!
Little bit creepy 🤯, but I imagine the experience if I am the one exploring the abandoned place. You should try exploring one of our hunted places here in the Philippines starting of with "Clark Airbase Hospital."
@bingbabe my wife will know this place as she’s from the Philippines. A little far for me to visit though 😀
Gosh!... A bank!... This is unexpected for me!... This place looks like something out of Gotham City, you can almost imagine Batman and the Joker wandering around there!... 😀
As usual, a lot of amazing shots in your work @slobberchops friend!!!... Sending big applause!!!
!discovery 40
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Yes the architecture is a little gothic and of Edwardian style. He wasn’t king for long before dying and giving it to George V who was the late Queen Lizzies grandfather.
All these periods seem to generate different styles of buildings.
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STOPThis perfectly illustrates the nature of banks. Impressive on the outside and rotten and dirty on the inside. Many thanks for the impressions. Your reports always draw me in, interesting pictures and a description that is fun to read. Great head cinema!
Wow, really cool spot. It seems so unassuming from the outside, but creepy on the inside. I love the protruding brick design on the facade. Seeing all of the torn up ceilings and hanging bits of insulation, I wonder do you wear any mask for protection? I would be worried about inhaling some toxic mold or asbestos.
A commercial building that has been abandoned for quite some time, that rest of the interior is in disrepair. Perfect the picture you took. Thank you. Great a have happy.