Tales of the Urban Explorer: The House of Selotape
“Christ, where is this fucking place?”
I was getting more than a little irritated. It didn't want to be found and we had been going backward and forwards on this piddly narrow road for the best part of 20 minutes.
@grindle had given me an idea of where it was, but the google maps view showed a completely different view than what our eyes were seeing.
“The House of Selotape” had looked intriguing and captivating; a mini time-capsule that had so far escaped the grasp of the national TourBus and its swathes of thieves, vandals, and wankers.
What you expect to see is often very different than what is out there, and therein lies the problem.
“What’s that over there”, exclaimed @anidiotexplorers. There was some small building in the middle of a field with little around it.
The trees, bushes, foliage, and man-eating vines had been cut back and the angle we saw it from partially concealed the mental image I had in my head.
An inhabited house sat just 200 yards from "The House of Selotape" and we had to approach it before Mr. Angry would open his door waving fists, crowbars, and chainsaws.
Call me cynical, this is what I expect and it’s generally true.
Climbing a farmer’s fence laden with barbed wire we crept through an adjoining field that would hide our approach.
"..We can't go this way dude, the bloody vines are taller than us.."
The ground was ever so squelchy despite it being high summer, and what were these massive weeds getting in our way, and shooting up higher with our every step?
We retreated reluctantly, almost at the fence ready to climb and impeded by monstrous weeds adamant that we were not going to pass.
"Well fuck it, man, it's over the fence, in full view of the neighbours, and then leg it to the house"
After another fence vault we did just that, and luckily saw nobody.
"So... how do we get in here?"
It was taped up, and ready to fall over if we blew too hard. The foliage clearing an indication that “The House of Selotape” was doomed for demolition soon.
It does help to be slightly skinny is what I will say about getting through all the crap and mitigating the anti-climbing fencing that’s also taped to the front.
It's the smallest house in the world, I thought when inside.
Small or not, there were plenty of old artifacts on show, starting with an old crusty TV from the 60s or '70s.
I would have plugged it in if there was running electricity. All those cobwebs would add an extra layer of drama when watching horror films.
It had not entirely escaped the thugs. The wallpaper reflected what would have been around the outside of “The House of Selotape” before the machetes had visited.
If you live in the middle of a field then you have to expect company of the rodent type. This occupant was not a fan.
It was quite neat and orderly inside. I wonder who lived here?
The previous occupant was a fan of the British cup of tea, and no stranger to keeping the place clean.
I personally would take stickers off my glasses before drinking from them. A drink from that one could prove quite tasty, especially with the added insect ingredient.
This one was a gardener, perhaps a little old lady living out her final days.
The more I looked the more I could see it.
A search for ‘Hassall & Whitehead’ reveals nothing at all. I think this might have been the fridge.
The décor was very colourful and light, as well as orderly. I’m still trying to place who lived here.
Just a year before in the COVID days, those bog rolls would have been valuable, and even in their slightly rat-eaten state would still work as decent arse wipers.
Light bulbs and bin liners. This one was an independent type.
What a fantastic view to accommodate you when watching TV. In summer a gentle breeze would waft through the generous gap and keep your genitalia cool.
In winter you would freeze to death. You can’t have it both ways?
It’s little wonder the machete lads had visited with all the shrubs our late elderly lady had been planting.
I was wondering if she was responsible for those goddam giant vines that had hindered our approach.
We vacated not in such a hurry this time to reach the fence and noticed the neighbour was out and staring over, looking distinctly unhappy.
I waved cheerily which resulted in no response at all besides more stares. Could it be he was used to explorers, or that he simply didn’t give a damn?
At least we didn’t get the usual verbal abuse that comes with this hobby of ours.
We took off quickly in case he changed his mind and decided to start taking photographs of my car, as if that is going to make any difference.
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Although this house is surrounded by trees and green nature, but it is disturbing and horrifying Many criminals take advantage of such deserted places to carry out heinous crimes or hide drugs. Shouldn't the authorities be aware to control whereabouts of these houses?
It's in a rural area and likely few people know about it. I have been to many such places and have never found any drug stashes, but have seen many used needles. You need to avoid them.
needles are very dangerous I didn't notice it in first time thanks for your advice.
Nice view from the what would have been windows. Better watch them man-eating vines don't follow you home, triffid-style!
Isn't is something... that view! Those triffids would have had @anidiotexplores .. he was leading the way before sinking a few feet into the ground suddenly. It seemed like a bad idea to keep going.
The view is crazy good, the mad man-eating creepers not so!! He is lucky to have escaped from that dough with his life!!
You make the coolest posts documenting your wild adventures into condemned properties!
Thank you for lighting up the place with your stories! @slobberchops
Thanks, its about the story, not just what I see. This way I can remember what happened before I forget!
Nice free flowing ventilation for summer perhaps the tall weeds take a turn intruding indoors to tickle your fancy in time.
Stuck up housing, little left perhaps a cup of tea lay in on sofa feeling the breeze watching the weeds grow taller, you found it at least!
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I would love to live there.., if there was more space. Talk about tiny inside!
Small easy to clean, tiny ridiculous to turn around in!
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Another great place thanks to you. If you didn't feed me all these great places, it would be derp city Part 46 and a half again 😀
no probs, i am always here to help
But this one is on a cool location. Little renovation and you got yourself a winning vacation place.
Ok, maybe big renovation😅
I hope it is renovated. The location is great, on a hill and overlooking a deep valley.
It never dawned on me that a woman might have lived here. At first my take was a man who was into his cleanliness. A dreamer who would have liked to travel the world but never got around to it and never left the town in the end.
It's hazarding a guess. It could have been a bloke.., there were no used knickers hanging around so I cant be sure 😁
I love that TV set. I agree, watching horror films would be a cool experience!
I cant remember them being so old.. and I'm old!
I remember them having only 2 channels here in Spain, and actually no remote control. Well, the remote control was me when my father would tell me to go and turn up the volume or switch channel 😂
It's a nice, little house actually. I wonder why nobody could take over when the mice-killing old gardener stopped killing mice. And... stopped altogether.
Likely no living beneficiaries alive. The house was great, with a lovely view but only large enough for one.
Yes, not a castle.
Very cool. Luckily you found it eventually.
Worth the search and back and forth.
The old artefacts and furniture/ furnishings are great.
Thanks for the share.😎
It was hardly crammed with belongings. I don't know why the TV is still there, if all the rest have been moved.
Yes, I saw. 😎
It was funny to see the tv. That would be normally go first.
Friends, the house is very old, yet your camera is taking so many beautiful pictures. And so clear that there is no comparison. Nobody looks at the first thing and writes a block like this. Everybody feels comfortable in the block list after the new thing but you are writing a blog so beautifully.
Are you using a translator?
Another day, another haunted/murder house to visit. The view from the glass window is fantastic too. The accommodation seems normal.
No murders I don't think. I have to travel far and wide to find these places. Less and less seem to be turning up.
Each one is a great mystery though. Great adventures!
It seems someone left this place suddenly and has never come back again.
..or died. It's usually the case, though on this occasion I couldn't find any written evidence.
Looks like a big plot of land. Someone could demolish that little house to build something decent if they get planning permission. Bit of a time capsule. I think a lot of old people just live with what they have rather than redecorating and buying new stuff. The cottage we inherited was a bit like that. We replaced just about everything.
It was larger than you might think and probably enshrouded in forest before it was cut back. I would have preferred the old forest version.., more atmosphere.
Ciao, complimenti, a me piacerebbe molto visitare una casa abbandonata!
Complimenti di cuore
Ti auguro una buona serata
@luba555
Small or not, it must have been a really comfortable life. And the whole place looked like it was probably well maintained. A shame that the owner never made arrangements for it before passing.
I believe so, on this occasion I couldn't find out how long it had been in this state, and Mr Stare-A-Lot next door didn't seem very approachable.
No, I'd leave him alone, no need for a visit with the friendly local authorities!
!ALIVE !PIZZA
A beautiful house in ruins, it would be peaceful to live here.
There are excellent pictures, I love the TV.
It's a perfect setting for a horror movie.
I do so love seeing your adventures to these little places, they always make me a bit sad though. I'm glad that you didn't get shot by that neighbour, that's the kind of thing I would be worried about here - you guys generally don't worry about that?
Wow... The colors in those pictures are just amazing 😍 and it might be a tiny house but sure had lots of good looking old stuff that still in pretty Nice shape.
Her books are in my taste 😁 gardening flowers and coloring.
I sure would enjoy exploring a place like that.
Last picture is just breathtaking with the amazing Colorful view.
Thank you for sharing and have a wonderful sunday. Cheers 🌸
Rumah berhantu😁😁
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What an amazing Mid Century property it's literally the explosion of post world war II materials and design and consumption. I Love that little TV . It would be so great cleaned up and rewired for computer use to watch 'old tv on'.
Even the coloured look roll and the garden books, it was all so hopeful post ww2 in there, even the cellotape haha. Another great exploration @slobberchops
This was obviously a very beautiful place many years ago. Cool post as always, @slobberchops.
OMG! AMAZING!