Cool pics of urban exploring, abandoned machines and stuff
Discussion
Popped over to Hauxton to look at the mill. It's abandonded but wrongly or rightly the council have boarded it up.
The council building looks interesting from the outside but just looks like any other council building on the inside.
The land was cleared and was found to be contaminated so has been empty for some some time.
This is the mill.
This is the house next to it.
Watch out for the Japs
With an entry point..
It was very dark in there and I didn't fancy sticking my head in for fear of getting it attacked by Knotweed, or a tramp.
The council building looks interesting from the outside but just looks like any other council building on the inside.
The land was cleared and was found to be contaminated so has been empty for some some time.
This is the mill.
This is the house next to it.
Watch out for the Japs
With an entry point..
It was very dark in there and I didn't fancy sticking my head in for fear of getting it attacked by Knotweed, or a tramp.
Edited by GTIR on Thursday 9th October 20:37
Blown2CV said:
Contaminated with what?
I think knotweed is the least of their problems!https://www.scambs.gov.uk/sites/www.scambs.gov.uk/...
Basically since the 40's it's been used to store agrochemicals, the latter being Bayer, and whoever it was before that (Shering) and before that (Fisons Agrochem) and before that!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hauxton_Mill
I'm guessing the whole site is a hot potato but no doubt there will be houses on it soon, seeing as on the other side of the M11 Cambridge is getting full.
DoubleSix said:
That guy has a nice job...You lot may be able to help me.
We came across some old buildings on a walk yesterday. 2 fairly small single story buildings, one with just a door/opening, the other with a steel door and vents on the walls.
In front of both of them, was mounds of mud, with walk ways (bricked walls) through it to each building. These mounds looks delibratly like they were hiding the buildings, from the motorway that went past.
There was also a small building (well 3 walls) not too far away.
All had a damp proof course, so can't be that old.
Any ideas what they coyld be for?
We came across some old buildings on a walk yesterday. 2 fairly small single story buildings, one with just a door/opening, the other with a steel door and vents on the walls.
In front of both of them, was mounds of mud, with walk ways (bricked walls) through it to each building. These mounds looks delibratly like they were hiding the buildings, from the motorway that went past.
There was also a small building (well 3 walls) not too far away.
All had a damp proof course, so can't be that old.
Any ideas what they coyld be for?
illmonkey said:
You lot may be able to help me.
We came across some old buildings on a walk yesterday. 2 fairly small single story buildings, one with just a door/opening, the other with a steel door and vents on the walls.
In front of both of them, was mounds of mud, with walk ways (bricked walls) through it to each building. These mounds looks delibratly like they were hiding the buildings, from the motorway that went past.
There was also a small building (well 3 walls) not too far away.
All had a damp proof course, so can't be that old.
Any ideas what they coyld be for?
Did you get any pics?We came across some old buildings on a walk yesterday. 2 fairly small single story buildings, one with just a door/opening, the other with a steel door and vents on the walls.
In front of both of them, was mounds of mud, with walk ways (bricked walls) through it to each building. These mounds looks delibratly like they were hiding the buildings, from the motorway that went past.
There was also a small building (well 3 walls) not too far away.
All had a damp proof course, so can't be that old.
Any ideas what they coyld be for?
Where abouts were the buildings?
illmonkey said:
You lot may be able to help me.
We came across some old buildings on a walk yesterday. 2 fairly small single story buildings, one with just a door/opening, the other with a steel door and vents on the walls.
In front of both of them, was mounds of mud, with walk ways (bricked walls) through it to each building. These mounds looks delibratly like they were hiding the buildings, from the motorway that went past.
There was also a small building (well 3 walls) not too far away.
All had a damp proof course, so can't be that old.
Any ideas what they coyld be for?
Possibly ammunition or explosives storage buildings.We came across some old buildings on a walk yesterday. 2 fairly small single story buildings, one with just a door/opening, the other with a steel door and vents on the walls.
In front of both of them, was mounds of mud, with walk ways (bricked walls) through it to each building. These mounds looks delibratly like they were hiding the buildings, from the motorway that went past.
There was also a small building (well 3 walls) not too far away.
All had a damp proof course, so can't be that old.
Any ideas what they coyld be for?
I'd guess they're brick or block construction. Concrete floor (and 'raft' foundations). Flat roof of poured in situ concrete with reinforcing mesh. Very plain, and with no windows. Vents possibly high and low in the walls, but not the 'straight through' type. The steel door isn't 'armoured' so to speak, just resistant to fire from the outside, and reasonably secure. The 'mounds of mud' would have been roughly the same height as the roof, maybe a little below. Walkways through the banks not in line with the doors of the buildings.
Any history of military bases/barracks or airfields on or near the site? Or are they near any 'cuttings' through high ground that may have been blasted out during motorway construction?
Another alternative is communications use of some kind, back-up generators and step down transformers for powering remote military comms equipment, but they'd have thicker concrete bases in the middle of the floors, with bolting down points to secure the heavy plant, and bases externally nearby for antennae, possibly.
If neither of those descriptions fits, then I don't know what they're likely to be.
yellowjack said:
illmonkey said:
You lot may be able to help me.
We came across some old buildings on a walk yesterday. 2 fairly small single story buildings, one with just a door/opening, the other with a steel door and vents on the walls.
In front of both of them, was mounds of mud, with walk ways (bricked walls) through it to each building. These mounds looks delibratly like they were hiding the buildings, from the motorway that went past.
There was also a small building (well 3 walls) not too far away.
All had a damp proof course, so can't be that old.
Any ideas what they coyld be for?
Possibly ammunition or explosives storage buildings.We came across some old buildings on a walk yesterday. 2 fairly small single story buildings, one with just a door/opening, the other with a steel door and vents on the walls.
In front of both of them, was mounds of mud, with walk ways (bricked walls) through it to each building. These mounds looks delibratly like they were hiding the buildings, from the motorway that went past.
There was also a small building (well 3 walls) not too far away.
All had a damp proof course, so can't be that old.
Any ideas what they coyld be for?
I'd guess they're brick or block construction. Concrete floor (and 'raft' foundations). Flat roof of poured in situ concrete with reinforcing mesh. Very plain, and with no windows. Vents possibly high and low in the walls, but not the 'straight through' type. The steel door isn't 'armoured' so to speak, just resistant to fire from the outside, and reasonably secure. The 'mounds of mud' would have been roughly the same height as the roof, maybe a little below. Walkways through the banks not in line with the doors of the buildings.
Any history of military bases/barracks or airfields on or near the site? Or are they near any 'cuttings' through high ground that may have been blasted out during motorway construction?
Another alternative is communications use of some kind, back-up generators and step down transformers for powering remote military comms equipment, but they'd have thicker concrete bases in the middle of the floors, with bolting down points to secure the heavy plant, and bases externally nearby for antennae, possibly.
If neither of those descriptions fits, then I don't know what they're likely to be.
This is a location map, red marker is where the buildings are.
illmonkey said:
First one sounds about right. Slightly ofset walkways not in line, and the mounds slightly higher than the buildings.
This is a location map, red marker is where the buildings are.
Not a bad guess, then!This is a location map, red marker is where the buildings are.
The airfield to the East of the M40 was RAF Oakley. I'm almost certain that the buildings you describe would have been small arms ammo storage facilities. My guess was a little off - I thought they were in the triangular wooded area just to the east of your red marker, above the highest point of the field lying closest to the motorway.
RAF Oakley's main role was the conversion of newly trained bomber crews onto operational aircraft types. It was also the arrival point for thousands of repatriated prisoners of war at the end of WWII in Europe. Flying ceased in August 1945. It was later used for filming some of the opening sequence for Octopussy (1983, Roger Moor).
yellowjack said:
Not a bad guess, then!
The airfield to the East of the M40 was RAF Oakley. I'm almost certain that the buildings you describe would have been small arms ammo storage facilities. My guess was a little off - I thought they were in the triangular wooded area just to the east of your red marker, above the highest point of the field lying closest to the motorway.
RAF Oakley's main role was the conversion of newly trained bomber crews onto operational aircraft types. It was also the arrival point for thousands of repatriated prisoners of war at the end of WWII in Europe. Flying ceased in August 1945. It was later used for filming some of the opening sequence for Octopussy (1983, Roger Moor).
Pretty damn good guess!The airfield to the East of the M40 was RAF Oakley. I'm almost certain that the buildings you describe would have been small arms ammo storage facilities. My guess was a little off - I thought they were in the triangular wooded area just to the east of your red marker, above the highest point of the field lying closest to the motorway.
RAF Oakley's main role was the conversion of newly trained bomber crews onto operational aircraft types. It was also the arrival point for thousands of repatriated prisoners of war at the end of WWII in Europe. Flying ceased in August 1945. It was later used for filming some of the opening sequence for Octopussy (1983, Roger Moor).
Thanks.
illmonkey said:
Pretty damn good guess!
Thanks.
Your description picked up the important features to be fair. The mounds are nothing to do with the motorway, as you probably guessed. They tend to be found on wartime facilities as protection for the buildings against anything save a direct hit in the event of a bombing raid, and they protect the contents of one building from a catastrophe in another, with the intention of preventing complete loss of the contents.Thanks.
I used to be in a Bomb Disposal Regiment, and looked after the ammo and explosives. The modern(ish) facilities I worked in lacked the mounds for protection, and safety was maintained by siting the stores well away from manned offices or accommodation. But I was based on a former RAF fighter station, and much of the original WWII infrastructure, though unused, was still intact, even down to the working steel doors, so your description was immediately familiar to me.
ETA: Photos if you go there again! Only trouble is, photos are just as useful for disproving a theory as they are for proving one...
Not sure if I've posted this website before but be prepared to lose hours of your life....
http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2010/10/siberian-g...
http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2010/10/siberian-g...
Urban Sports said:
Not sure if I've posted this website before but be prepared to lose hours of your life....
http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2010/10/siberian-g...
Really interesting that! Although the mobile site has a ridiculous amount of adverts. http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2010/10/siberian-g...
illmonkey said:
yellowjack said:
illmonkey said:
You lot may be able to help me.
We came across some old buildings on a walk yesterday. 2 fairly small single story buildings, one with just a door/opening, the other with a steel door and vents on the walls.
In front of both of them, was mounds of mud, with walk ways (bricked walls) through it to each building. These mounds looks delibratly like they were hiding the buildings, from the motorway that went past.
There was also a small building (well 3 walls) not too far away.
All had a damp proof course, so can't be that old.
Any ideas what they coyld be for?
Possibly ammunition or explosives storage buildings.We came across some old buildings on a walk yesterday. 2 fairly small single story buildings, one with just a door/opening, the other with a steel door and vents on the walls.
In front of both of them, was mounds of mud, with walk ways (bricked walls) through it to each building. These mounds looks delibratly like they were hiding the buildings, from the motorway that went past.
There was also a small building (well 3 walls) not too far away.
All had a damp proof course, so can't be that old.
Any ideas what they coyld be for?
I'd guess they're brick or block construction. Concrete floor (and 'raft' foundations). Flat roof of poured in situ concrete with reinforcing mesh. Very plain, and with no windows. Vents possibly high and low in the walls, but not the 'straight through' type. The steel door isn't 'armoured' so to speak, just resistant to fire from the outside, and reasonably secure. The 'mounds of mud' would have been roughly the same height as the roof, maybe a little below. Walkways through the banks not in line with the doors of the buildings.
Any history of military bases/barracks or airfields on or near the site? Or are they near any 'cuttings' through high ground that may have been blasted out during motorway construction?
Another alternative is communications use of some kind, back-up generators and step down transformers for powering remote military comms equipment, but they'd have thicker concrete bases in the middle of the floors, with bolting down points to secure the heavy plant, and bases externally nearby for antennae, possibly.
If neither of those descriptions fits, then I don't know what they're likely to be.
This is a location map, red marker is where the buildings are.
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