Tales of the Urban Explorer: The Park Gatehouse

I have passed this innocuous gatehouse many times over the years and only in the last couple noticed it was boarded up.

August 2020 - We were browsing the streets, looking for places to infiltrate, and passed the Park Gatehouse.

It was worth a go and I was expecting nothing as from the front it does look well secured. I have seen zero reports about this one on Facebook, and these 'exclusives' can be great sometimes.

I call it 'The Park Gatehouse' as it is next to a public park which thankfully was quiet that day.

Solid metal grill-bars with those crappy wooden seals behind were all over the front. The back is generally easier, less susceptible to prying eyes, and liable for seals to be broken down.

@dizzydiscovery was in that area first and yelled, 'we're in'. I made my way around with a shriek of pure exhalation, OK… I just walked around to find the back door wide open.

It quickly became apparent that 'The Park Gatehouse' was no time-capsule filled with antique relics from a forgotten time, but a doss house and shelter for the homeless.

As usual, nobody was home to greet us and put the kettle on (are they ever).

…'a sign of the times; the mask was in bad condition and fit in quite well with everything else on display'…

With all the empty bottles of 'Ace Cider' at 7.5% strength, I had to look up this brand and found it is described as 'Murder in a Can' and favours the homeless.

At £3.99 for a 3 litre bottle, I can believe it is the premier drink for those with no money, and looking for an escape from life.

After tromping through the loose bottles and cans, making lots of noise we emerged in the living room.

There was little in there besides a single magazine that was some years old.

The staircase was pure delight with loose planks under our feet, and foliage creeping in through the windows.

I suppose it's better than sleeping in the street, and if the windows are boarded up then that will keep the wind and rain out.

…'there's always the odd large nail sticking up that can poke through your shoe and stab you in the foot'…

Now, this bathroom is in surprisingly good shape. No floaters, or even sprays of shit to be seen. I didn't try to see if it would flush; likely the water has been turned off years ago.

Taking a bath is out of the question, it's.... not going to happen.

What is that thing taped up, a new mattress delivery for a very short person?

That pointy thing looks like a knife, did someone try to stab that clothing in the corner, or is it poised for unwanted intruders... like US?

The cellar always has to be explored; who knows what horrors may be lurking down there?

Keeping your balance is paramount to survival, if it's not empty cider bottles and beer cans, then its old slimy clothing layering the stairs.

Ah, it's one of the death ritual slabs again. I guess they have other uses but my imagination can be macabre at times.

Those cans of paint are getting on a little. Could they have been used to paint the victim alive while strapped to the stone slab?

So not the most exciting explore ever. I have only once met a homeless person, who was 'at home', which is a tale I have not yet written.

He was most friendly and invited us all in.... for a fee.

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