Tales of the Urban Explorer: Askern Saw Mills
These South Yorkshire explorations were not improving. If they were not already demolished, then they were in a state of partial demolition. Why can't they leave them be until at least the day after we had been and had a look around?
Most selfish, I say; just a personal opinion and statement.
‘Askern Saw Mills’ would have truly been an industrial explore if it had been all there, but sadly our initial view through the fencing to inspect the former fencing business told us otherwise.
From what I can gather, the site has been vacant since 2013, and yet my eyes were telling me that at least some demolition had taken place. When is another question?
Occasionally, they run out of 'flattening money' and this results in what I am about to show you.
Driving up to the front gate is something I rarely do, especially when there’s a bunch of cameras in varying states of disrepair. Did any of them work? Probably not looking beyond, but you never can tell.
Besides this, it was a climb over an unforgiving fence, and that's after you wade through the moat surrounding it. Drainage of excess water, I can see, was never a priority at 'Askern Saw Mills'.
We skirted the fencing, noting the sign...
…’no dumping your shit, but you can come in and have a look around if you can get past me’…
While that’s not a direct interpretation, that’s the vibe I was getting.
The front gate was quite doable, but both @anidiotexplores and I prefer the sneaky way in if possible and next to it was a public park, perfect!
Even so, this was quite a climb for a shitty-arse explore that's been apparently left for ten years or so. I used a park tree and had a drop of around 8 feet from far side to deal with, while @anidiotexplores used some kind of tunnel he found to crawl through.
Neither was particularly easy, and I wondered how I was going to get out. That would be an exit problem and not a worry for now.
This is after we sidelined a local busybody who seemed quite intent on figuring out what we were up to. Fortunately, said Karen was easily distracted by the local park pond and got bored after a couple of minutes.
We were inside, out of sight and could wander ‘Askern Saw Mills’ freely, we hoped.
This upper decrepit building is the tunnel @anidiotexplores crawled through with handy built-in ladders to climb down. He opted for this escape route in his exit.
Inside was a bleak, meandering wilderness of barely standing 'tin' flimsy buildings. If we could get in that 'thing', could we take more than a single step before exiting vertically and breaking at least one leg?
There was no way up there, so the temptation to try was not on the cards.
We peered into the distance to see more of the same bullshit. Simple outdoor storage areas designed to keep your gear dry unless the rain and wind was particularly driving.
On finding a building we could enter, little was to be seen besides piles of bricks and the pieces of fallen roofing. This was not going to be the most exciting explore.
Askern Service Centre, your days are sadly over and finished.
Yes, there was an upstairs complete with holes, and amazingly, stairs that were sturdy, but unless you had a fetish for worn moss-encrusted pallets, hard-on's were out of the question.
Metal stairs, always the best type for explorers, despite the stairs part being wood and susceptible to collapsing under your weight.
…’@andiotexplores scrambles over to the next building in case there’s something great and radical waiting for him inside’…
It’s a sad state of affairs when this is the most interesting view. At least the spelling is correct.
Most definitely a no-go area; I was thankful for the helpful warning bollard, as I might have had a piss by mistake and wet myself.
Along with outside storage areas, we now have an indoor one.
Looking toward the entrance gate, and its flooded grounds, an area best left alone.
While there's more than one way to get past this obstacle and enter the jewelled epicentre of 'Askern Saw Mills', only one of those ways was feasible.
The prize was mangled car parts and some scrawled graffiti of questionable quality.
Even the tractor is not going to ride again anytime soon.
While this isn't as atmospheric as being there, the wind was making these flapping roof parts screech and groan like banshees. Most definitely the highlight, but speaking pictorially, quite dull.
I excitedly pointed out the 'Crane' sign. Well.. we wouldn't want to miss this shot.. right?
Fucking hell, was it really that bad? It was August 2023, and my memory is slowly fading... so forgive me.
After a leg-up from @anidiotexplores, I heaved my way back up the wall and disappeared back into the park gloom.
Thankfully, there was no sign of the interfering nosy cunt that was intent on breaking open our entrance strategy. I was in no mood for shitheads and sighed with relief.
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If you hadn't managed to forestall Karen, you may not have gotten a shot of that solitary trainer (which I actually quite liked by the way, maybe that says more about me than anything else...) OR the crane sign.
The urinals were an amazing metaphor for societal decay and the breakdown of the social contract, dammit, I swore my goal to be less pretentious for August would live beyond the first weekend.
Oh man, the 8 foot drop would have curtailed my plans before they began, although, I certainly would not have been crawling through the tunnel. I've said it before but you must be in decent shape to take on these forays into yesteryear.
Something that I have often wondered about, you don't mention rats very often, you must see plenty, surely?
Take good care, mate, hope you are doing great! 😎
LOL.., it could have been a more interesting foreground object, yet I was struggling to find anything, even used a used rubber wrapper.
The tunnel was made of wood and didn't look very safe to me, thus the reason for the wall route. Falling horizontally is much more fatal than feet first if you get my meaning.. 😀..
Only in Huddersfield. It's crawling with them, otherwise they are a rare sighting.
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Definitely quite the lame burger. I would have expected more. I almost broke into a place today, but the door made too loud of a noise, so I gave up.
Don't break in! I never do that, although the odd dodgy door I have wiggled a little to gain me entrance.
It wasn't really breaking in as much as it was opening a door that was unlocked, but it was pretty loud, so I backed off.
LOL, you get braver.. the more you do. Keep at it, but wear some anti-bullet protection!
Haha, yeah.
This place is ghostly and intense at the same time. This structure looked a bit precarious.
Blow too hard, and it will fall over!
The weather must be relatively stable there, or that structure is stronger than it looks.
It was windy and the noises we were getting were disconcerting and creepy.
You got some lovely reflections in that second pic!
What a pit that was, I am glad it wasn't sawmilly enough to give me flashbacks - I worked in one once!
Aye.. more like areas for protecting the goods, some better than others. It was partially demolished though. Big open spaces, that likely housed more buildings that were falling to bits.
Horrible places. A lot of them are closing down. Possibly more horrible explores to be had!
I have almost given up with exploring. There's nothing left to see here. If I was in Scotland.. now that would open up all types of possibilities
Did you get a picture of the Karen bothering you? Would be funny to see her reaction to you taking her photo 😂
It was a man 'Karen' in this instance, they are just as bad.
Yes, that is true. Either way would have been funny to see the reaction if you took their photo 😂
I shall say nothng!
The challenge of getting in was more interesting than what was actually in there.. 😀..
LOl,
Interesting location for some Doom Metal Video. :)
!BBH
Never thought about going on an exploration like this before. I wonder how you are so consistent with these inconsistencies because you can never tell what to expect for some experiences. It’s a good thing you didn’t encounter too many hurdles.
Those images are more like they were crafted! Nice angles.
!PIMP
The fact I neve know what to expect makes it interesting, and gets me going. This is a non-predictable experience.
Now that’s what keeps you going, hehe. Moving into the unknown can be quite interesting and explorative. I’m only this way because I have never tried it before.
!PIMP
Sounds like a gritty yet oddly entertaining adventure urban exploration at its most brutally honest.
This place looked like it gave up years ago — can’t blame it. You really went through all that effort just to find soggy bricks and sad graffiti. At least the banshee roof gave you a bit of drama. Here’s hoping the next spot isn’t halfway to rubble!
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An intriguing image from the outside, as you approached, but inside was dreadful. Usually you come across some hint of life before. There might be a stove, a toy, a rotted pillow. Even the graffiti here was dreadful.
At least you got in an out without injury. Beautiful sky though. Absolutely stunning.
There was a broken tractor. I guess it fits the narrative being situated in an old fencing companies premises.
The part about the nosy lady had me laughing—classic Karen move! Love how real and raw your posts are.
Completely in ruins like the industrial zone in my country, hehe, at least there was a spectacular sky. Greetings.
The sky was about all it had going for it. It could be gone now, this was 2 years ago.
just the remains of a once probably flourishing business
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I always find myself somewhat in awe of the surprising and subtle beauty of these decaying places. Only recently have I heard of this term "fly tipping" ..in the US we would just say no dumping. Those eyes on the sign though, dancing the line between intimidating and seductive haha
"fly tipping" is a big problem here and around derelict places it seems to be magnified. I see piles of the stuff frequently.. clothes and old white goods.
That's a shame, big dirtbag behavior to just dump your shit on someone else's property. Are there not recycling centers that take stuff like that? I know that the old appliances tend to have salvagable parts and can be broken down for scrap.
I love your way of taking photos, my friend!... Photos that are like "post-apocalyptic" but visually sublime! :))
Thanks, I try to not just shoot without thinking. Sometimes in a place such as this, it's tough.. as there's little on offer.
Haha, yes, you’re definitely very selfish—but still… you’ve captured pure art, right there under the open sky. That shoe installation deserves to be in the MoMA.
LOL.., turning up to one of these and seeing a pile of bricks is the worst feeling. You missed out, and there's no second chances. The number of these I have posted that no longer exist is numerous.
📸🔥 ¡Qué fotones! Aunque el sitio esté en ruinas, logras capturar esa esencia cruda y auténtica que solo el Urbex puede ofrecer. Cada imagen cuenta su propia historia, y con tu relato, es como hacer el recorrido a tu lado. ¡Gracias por llevarnos a explorar, incluso entre escombros! 🏚️🔍
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So many great pictures.. makes me feel like I am in a sci-fi post-apocalype movie!
"FLYTIPPING" that's a new word for me!
Total trash, but the photos are amazing! 👍📷
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These vignettes are like an entrance into some fey lands, the mists of Avalaon and whatnot.