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Urban Explorers - Echoes Of The Past, Doncaster (2026)

05/10/2025

Part 3: Wedgwood Memorial College was a residential college which was owned & operated by Stoke-on-Trent Council until its closure in 2012. After originally operating from nearby Barlaston Hall It moved to its current site and comprised chiefly of 2 manor houses, one a Victorian villa called ‘The Limes’ and the other a large 1920s property called ‘Estoril House’.

History: It was one of the most grisly crimes of that time - the brutal murder of Alice Wiltshaw at her own home in Barlaston. Here we take a look back at the awful day in 1952 and how a meticulous investigation by the police saw her killer swing from the gallows...

The body of 62-year-old Alice Wiltshaw was discovered by her husband, Cuthbert, when he returned to their home, Estoril in Barlaston on Wednesday, July 16, 1952.

Cuthbert, a wealthy pottery manufacturer, had finished work for the day and returned to the 14-room mansion in the early evening. To his horror, he found Alice lying in a pool of blood in the kitchen.The trail of blood, and other evidence, led police to the conclusion that Alice had initially been attacked in the kitchen, probably while she had been preparing the evening meal. The intruder had selected two heavy logs from the scullery and savagely beaten Alice about the head, knocking her senseless.

The assailant had then gone upstairs to steal property and rifle Alice’s handbag and, upon returning downstairs, had discovered that Alice had recovered consciousness and was now standing in the hallway. The attack began again as Alice tried to escape back towards the kitchen. Her assailant had followed her, hitting as he went.All kinds of weapons had been used; vases, ornaments and finally a three-foot long barbed poker — all of which were found heavily bloodstained. Alice had finally made her way back to the kitchen and as she lay on the floor, dying, the callous killer had stabbed her through the head with the poker. He had also stabbed her in the stomach a number of times. Leslie Green a chauffeur/gardener who had previously worked for the Willtshaw family was found guilty of robbery and murder and was hung by Albert Pierrepoint at Wilson Green prison, Birmingham in December 1952.

02/10/2025

Part 2: Wedgwood Memorial College was a residential college which was owned & operated by Stoke-on-Trent Council until its closure in 2012. After originally operating from nearby Barlaston Hall It moved to its current site and comprised chiefly of 2 manor houses, one a Victorian villa called ‘The Limes’ and the other a large 1920s property called ‘Estoril House’.

History: It was one of the most grisly crimes of that time - the brutal murder of Alice Wiltshaw at her own home in Barlaston. Here we take a look back at the awful day in 1952 and how a meticulous investigation by the police saw her killer swing from the gallows...

The body of 62-year-old Alice Wiltshaw was discovered by her husband, Cuthbert, when he returned to their home, Estoril in Barlaston on Wednesday, July 16, 1952.

Cuthbert, a wealthy pottery manufacturer, had finished work for the day and returned to the 14-room mansion in the early evening. To his horror, he found Alice lying in a pool of blood in the kitchen.The trail of blood, and other evidence, led police to the conclusion that Alice had initially been attacked in the kitchen, probably while she had been preparing the evening meal. The intruder had selected two heavy logs from the scullery and savagely beaten Alice about the head, knocking her senseless.

The assailant had then gone upstairs to steal property and rifle Alice’s handbag and, upon returning downstairs, had discovered that Alice had recovered consciousness and was now standing in the hallway. The attack began again as Alice tried to escape back towards the kitchen. Her assailant had followed her, hitting as he went.All kinds of weapons had been used; vases, ornaments and finally a three-foot long barbed poker — all of which were found heavily bloodstained. Alice had finally made her way back to the kitchen and as she lay on the floor, dying, the callous killer had stabbed her through the head with the poker. He had also stabbed her in the stomach a number of times. Leslie Green a chauffeur/gardener who had previously worked for the Willtshaw family was found guilty of robbery and murder and was hung by Albert Pierrepoint at Wilson Green prison, Birmingham in December 1952.

30/09/2025

Part 1: Wedgwood Memorial College was a residential college which was owned & operated by Stoke-on-Trent Council until its closure in 2012. After originally operating from nearby Barlaston Hall It moved to its current site and comprised chiefly of 2 manor houses, one a Victorian villa called ‘The Limes’ and the other a large 1920s property called ‘Estoril House’.

History: It was one of the most grisly crimes of that time - the brutal murder of Alice Wiltshaw at her own home in Barlaston. Here we take a look back at the awful day in 1952 and how a meticulous investigation by the police saw her killer swing from the gallows...

The body of 62-year-old Alice Wiltshaw was discovered by her husband, Cuthbert, when he returned to their home, Estoril in Barlaston on Wednesday, July 16, 1952.

Cuthbert, a wealthy pottery manufacturer, had finished work for the day and returned to the 14-room mansion in the early evening. To his horror, he found Alice lying in a pool of blood in the kitchen.The trail of blood, and other evidence, led police to the conclusion that Alice had initially been attacked in the kitchen, probably while she had been preparing the evening meal. The intruder had selected two heavy logs from the scullery and savagely beaten Alice about the head, knocking her senseless.

The assailant had then gone upstairs to steal property and rifle Alice’s handbag and, upon returning downstairs, had discovered that Alice had recovered consciousness and was now standing in the hallway. The attack began again as Alice tried to escape back towards the kitchen. Her assailant had followed her, hitting as he went.All kinds of weapons had been used; vases, ornaments and finally a three-foot long barbed poker — all of which were found heavily bloodstained. Alice had finally made her way back to the kitchen and as she lay on the floor, dying, the callous killer had stabbed her through the head with the poker. He had also stabbed her in the stomach a number of times. Leslie Green a chauffeur/gardener who had previously worked for the Willtshaw family was found guilty of robbery and murder and was hung by Albert Pierrepoint at Wilson Green prison, Birmingham in December 1952.

28/09/2025

Part 2. RAF Hospital Nocton Hall was a 740-bed military hospital in Lincolnshire that operated from 1947 until its closure in 1983. The site evolved from a World War I convalescent home into a large World War II complex to treat RAF personnel, and later served families and civilians before being leased to the U.S. Air Force. After handing the site back in 1995, the hospital complex was largely abandoned, significantly damaged by a fire in 2004, and is now a derelict ruin.
Key Historical Points
Post-War Expansion: The hospital officially opened in 1947 and was expanded to serve RAF personnel, their families, and local civilians, becoming No. 1 RAF Hospital Nocton Hall.
American Role: The Nocton Hall site was leased to the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1984 for use as a wartime contingency hospital.
Closing and Redevelopment: As military needs changed, the hospital was handed back to the UK government by the USAF in 1995.
Decline and Abandonment
Closure: The RAF hospital officially closed on March 31, 1983.
Fire and Ruin: After the USAF handed the site back in 1995, the buildings were largely left empty and became dilapidated. A significant fire on October 24, 2004, left Nocton Hall as a shell.

25/09/2025

Part 1. RAF Hospital Nocton Hall was a 740-bed military hospital in Lincolnshire that operated from 1947 until its closure in 1983. The site evolved from a World War I convalescent home into a large World War II complex to treat RAF personnel, and later served families and civilians before being leased to the U.S. Air Force. After handing the site back in 1995, the hospital complex was largely abandoned, significantly damaged by a fire in 2004, and is now a derelict ruins.
World War II: The RAF established a major hospital complex at Nocton Hall to provide medical support for the numerous airbases in Lincolnshire.
Post-War Expansion: The hospital officially opened in 1947 and was expanded to serve RAF personnel, their families, and local civilians, becoming No. 1 RAF Hospital Nocton Hall.
American Role: The Nocton Hall site was leased to the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1984 for use as a wartime contingency hospital.
Decline and Abandonment
Closure: The RAF hospital officially closed on March 31, 1983.
Fire and Ruin: After the USAF handed the site back in 1995, the buildings were largely left empty and became dilapidated. A significant fire on October 24, 2004, left Nocton Hall as a shell.

23/09/2025

Kingswood closed down because its parent company, Inspiring Learning Group, went into administration. This led to the closure of seven Kingswood residential activity centers. While Inspiring Learning Group said it was "devastated" by the closures, PGL acquired three Kingswood centers, ensuring planned residentials for over 50,000 young people in 2025 would still go ahead.
Peak Venture is now establishing itself as one of the area’s leading residential educational activity centres. Situated on the doorstep of the beautiful Peak District, near Sheffield, South Yorkshire, with dramatic gritstone edges, wild heather moorlands and gentle limestone dales. Set in 9 acres of parkland the centre was historically named as ‘Scout D**e’ after the rural reservoir opposite the centre, with its use varying over the years, from a US Army base and wartime evacuee camp.
Peak Venture is one of two watersports equipped Kingswood centres, which really attracts groups to venture here. During the summer, fully supervised water-based activities take place on the adjacent Scout D**e Reservoir, including raft building, kayaking and canoeing. All sessions take place under the regulations of the Adventure Activities Licensing Service (AALS) and all buoyancy aids and waterproof jackets are provided.
Close to the main buildings the activity park nestles in sheltered woodlands and fields, from high ropes to climbing, low ropes to aeroball and abseiling, with the new 3G Swing bringing an element of high adventure to the centre. Peak Venture’s outdoor areas also benefit from new external lighting to enable activities to operate all year round.
Kingswood Peak Venture in South Yorkshire was opened in 2010 and closed January 2025. Prior to that, it was operated by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council. Kingswood acquired the center as part of their expansion throughout the UK.

20/09/2025

Heaton Royds School was a primary school located between Bradford and Shipley. The school provisionally taught pupils aged 2 - 11.
The school closed in March 2010 after being declared structurally unsound, and a disposal of the land was held up when the Government requested that the Council keep the site free as the possible location of a new school.
The site was eventually sold to Inter City Money Limited for £461,000 at auction in September 2015, and in 2018, a planning application for 14 new homes was submitted. However, arson attacks in May 2018 and October 2018 caused unrepairable damage to the already vandalised school, and it has stood derelict ever since.
Residents living nearby say that since the school closed in 2010, the site has become a haven for wildlife including roe deer, foxes, owls, bats and birds.

15/08/2025

This property is located at Lawford Boarding Kennels Greensbridge Lane, The most recent sale for this property was recorded on 04/11/2021 for £800,000. Cant find any information as to why the boarding facilities closed.
From the information i have found this became a dog rescue centre, please read the article added and you will see why it closed for good. Was very sad to see so much land go to waste, not sure on when the fire happened.
There has been much confusion after a dog rescue charity closed 'suddenly' in a Merseyside area.
A closure sign has appeared on the gates of The Merseyside Dogs Home, based in Halewood at Greensbridge Lane.
With the website also stating "Our centre is not currently open" and the lack of updates on their social media page, people were quick to jump online to express their confusion
The RSPCA has called for a probe into a dog rescue centre after a raft of allegations sparked a social media storm.
Merseyside Dogs Home (MDH), based in Halewood, has been accused of keeping dogs in unsanitary, freezing cold conditions where disease is rife - leading one owner to successfully sue the charity for £1,000 in vet's fees.
https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/online-storm-surrounds-merseyside-dogs-15832171?int_source=amp_continue_reading&int_medium=amp&int_campaign=continue_reading_button -readmore-target

08/08/2025

Couldnt find any information on this place. Interesting to see ☺️

01/08/2025

This place was massive, wanted to explore properly but others let me down and didnt feel safe going alone 😂. Might have a trip back one day to see more
HISTORY: Rylands Mill was named one of the top ten most endangered buildings in the UK by the Victorian Society. It was built in 1864 by Manchester's first millionaire, John Rylands, as part of the flourishing textile industry. Business increased rapidly, and in the course of a few years extensive properties at Wigan, along with dye works and bleach works, were purchased. Valuable seams of coal were afterwards discovered under these properties, and proved a great source of wealth to the purchasers. In 1985 the mill was taken over by Wigan Technical College and became known as Pagefield Campus, until it closed in 2007.

25/07/2025

This place was amazing to see. Beautiful building yet left to rot. Has 24/7 security now so could only see the outside. The security i met was lovely and allowed us to take more pictures. His dog was a cutie.
St Joseph's College in Walthew Park. The Grade 2 listed building is a former Roman Catholic seminary. The foundation was laid in 1880 and opened in 1883 to educate and train priesthood candidates aged from 11 to 24. It was founded by Bishop Bernard O'Reilly to be a seminary serving the North West of England and was the geographic centre of the diocese of Liverpool.The college closed in 1991

19/05/2025

Hornthorpe kennels was the previous name to this kennels.
The new owner took over in October 2002 and renamed it to Eckington kennels and cattery, this business was disolved in 2016.
From what I can see these kennels were getting quite a few bad reviews which may have played a part in the closure. Will add pictures of a few of the reviews and how it looked previous.
When we arrived the house had been demolished as planned but the kennels and cattery blocks were still there.
Extremely trashed but it was an interesting explore

Urban Explorers - Echoes Of The Past

05/10/2025

02/10/2025

30/09/2025

28/09/2025

25/09/2025

23/09/2025

20/09/2025

15/08/2025

08/08/2025

01/08/2025

25/07/2025

19/05/2025

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