Urban Exploits

10th August 2009 Pyestock: PART 5 (Further exploits and exiting the site)

We edged our way back through the darkness of cell four, back into the engine testing warehouse. After stealing some more cheeky snaps we stepped back out of the building, and continued around the edge, masked by the enbankment that rose to our side. Walking on we rose from the opposite face of the enbankment out into a courtyard with buildings rising to either side. The space was more open and we decided to resort back to stealth in order to avoid detection by any roaming security patrols. As we rounded a corner out onto a road our decision was made all the more sensible as we heard another vehicle approaching in the distance, staying low we kept silent as a truck passed on the road which raised above us. Sensing that the area was clear we edged forward, coming out at the side of another large warehouse which we found to be locked, however signs on the building indicated that this was the Air House, a building which had been used to compress atmospheric air to a high pressure before being pumped to the experimental test cells and rigs [Engine Test Facilities. http://www.ngte.co.uk/doc/doc/etf3.htm]

Moving along the road to the side of the building we came out at crossroads, and to the front of this a large platform rose in front of us. Climbing up a rusted and creaking steel stairwell I emerged at the top of the platform and looked down its length. I am pretty sure this was the large assembly bays used at Pyestock for performance general maintenance on engines and other equipment in use at the site. Unfortunately I did not have the courage to sneek any further forward into the platform due to the risk of being seen at such a high and open point on the site, however I paused to get some more cheeky snaps and admire the view, before climbing back down the stairs and continuing our journey.

Rounding a corner we came out at the edge of a ginormous blue pipe which appeared to be running from the air house. I could see a maintenance ladder and began ascending it, finding a metal walkway which ran across the width of the pipe. Pulling myself up onto it my jaw dropped open in awe again, stretching out before me were the iconic blue pipes we had seen from the outside of pyestock, however now I was sitting on top of one of them looking out across the ginormous field of pipes, spread out in a column and stretching off into the distance. Obseving byond the pipes I noticed security hut with trucks outside of it and decided to keep low, edging forwards and descending the ladder on the opposite side, climbing up onto the next pipe in the column before signalling that all was clear. Continuing forwards we climbed and descended the pipes, moving further into their depths. Finding a larger maintenance platform running over the width of the pipes we decided to risk detection by security by ascending it. Walking across to its outer edge I was able to take some aerial snaps of the pipes stretching into the distance, and we then scaled back over the pipes out to the road.

With time getting on we decided that it was best that we made our exit, and made our way across the facility to our planned exit point. (Thank you 3 hour fence recce) With that we were free! We walked away unscathed and buzzing, but I can honestly say that by this point I was in need of a shower, derelict sites are quite dusty!  Of course, we had not managed to cover the whole site, but there is always another day for that and more discoveries to look forward too, on my list is definately Monks Tunnel and the Battle Test House. Asides from that I hope you have enjoyed reading our mixed perspectives of the experience. More urban exploits will be added in the near future so stay tuned!

10th August 2009 Pyestock: PART 4 (exploring!)

Walking into the warehouse for the first time was defiantly a memorable experience, the sheer scale of the place defiantly shocked me the pictures I had seen did not do the place justice. The smell as well was quite overpowering also just the fact that somewhere like this had just been left to rack and ruin.

Some of the engineering that must of been used to build this place just to say very clever people!

we started taking pictures all sense of wonder taking over any sense of being quiet, well for a couple of minutes at least, then obviously started hearing all the noises of such a huge place every little bang or noise obviously being a security guard coming to throw us off the site, at this point I also realized that the shutter on my camera is not the most subtle noise in the world sounding like a bull in a china shop every time a picture was taken-Thank you Sony!

Still amazed at the sheer scale of the place went to walk up some stairs which creaked ominously when we walked on them so we decided against that.

I then walked into a corridor at the side of the building that led to some offices and strangely enough a staff kitchen that had just been left as if people had just left at first glance we thought builders were using the room but we took a closer look and found that the hot chocolate and coffee were from 1993 very strange and weird to see them still them still here.

also hearing rats and mice in the dark is not to pleasant especially in such a dark place

eventually we decided to go back downstairs myself still panicking that we would be caught so went back downstairs to have a look down some more corridors, I had remembered a torch thankfully although didn’t want to go to far in.

With some amount of trepidation we decided to move on see what the rest of the site held.

10th August 2009 - Pyestock: PART 3 (Inside Pyestock at last!)

I couldn’t believe it, after three hours scouting the perimeter we were inside Pyestock! I hid amongst the ferns and trees looking in front of me, although we were in we still had no idea where security were lurking, and to be kicked out now when we were so close would be heart braking. Hearts thumping, eyes wide we both opened our bags, taking out our cameras silently and then creeping forward through the foliage. I must admit that excitement had taken hold of me, but although I was moving fast I was staying hyper vigilante. Ever noise out of place caused us to freeze on the spot, each step carrying the potential of a cracked twig or fern and an alert to an unseen patrolling security guard. We eventually came out at a large open area full of old roads and huge dereclict warehouses. There was a garage sized storage building about 20 yards across from us, and as we hid among the last of the cover provided by the trees I pointed and whispered “we’ll have to run over there, behind that building” with that we were off, running across open ground, the threat of a security guard seeing us constantly ringing in our minds. 

I threw myself against the protective cover provided by the storage building, stopping to take a quick breather and a sip of water to quench the thirst I had been gathering in the muggy mid afternoon heat. We then edged towards the side of the storage building, cameras in hand, and I glanced around the corner. A large concrete plain stretched before me, the photos did not do this place justice, the area was huge and an atmosphere of wonder hung in the air. By the looks of it the area was clear, and so we walked forwards, everywhere we looked there was a potential building to explore, however to our left we could hear the muffled sounds of large machinery and voices. Opting to head towards the right we snapped some photos of the interior of the storage huts before moving out onto an area of grass and rubble in order to capture some exterior shots of the storage buildings. Nealing down I opened my bag, pulling my tripod out and attaching my camera to it. Framing the shot I raised my remote shutter release ready to take the photo when suddenly out of nowhere came the noise of a truck approaching on the road to our side. We stole a quick glance at each other and then ran for an area of bushes providing cover at our side, throwing ourselves through a gap and into cover just as a patrolling truck drove into sight on the road. Staying low and peering from a gap in the bushes we couldnt believe our luck, just a couple of seconds further in the open and we would have undoubtebly been caught. Waiting until we were sure the area was clear we exited the cover and were able to finish taking snaps of the storage buildings.

With our confidence growing but still staying vigilante we both agreed it was time to try and enter one of the huge warehouses. The easiest bet was one directly across the road we were next to, although there was a fence providing cover it luckily had enough space for us to squeeze underneath. I opted to run across first without the bags and scan the other side for any possible signs of danger. Although I could see some parked cars in the distance I felt that staying low would help us avoid detection and signalled that the area was safe. With the building to our sides we quickly ran to an enbankment, and looking down it steep sloped we saw an entrance to the warehouse. Descending the embankment we made our way silently towards the warehouse door, and peeking inside our mouths dropped open in wonderment and awe.

10th August 2009 - Pyestock: PART 2 (Scouting the perimeter and the first entrance)

well from the last blog the biggest challenge, and part of the fun once we had finally got in was the fence and conquering it.

The time was just past lunch and the weather was holding, cloudy but warm

Intimidating at first was the impression we both got, and seeing pyestock so close but yet so far was a little annoying, we started to walk up and down the first length of fence looking for any sign of a way in to this almighty area.

Walking down the first length of fence it seemed in-penetrable with no way in other then suddenly gaining super strength/powers etc. so with a spring in our step we walked the fence. On the first walk round we found 3 places that could be a potential but as this was a recce we both continued onwards to see if we could find someway in.  All this time we always were on the lookout for the security myself in particular feeling extremely nervous at this time, but also enjoying it all the same.

Strangely enough we never did see security until we were on the site. we continued our walk around the site always seeing glimpses of pyestock but not being able to  get there.  Never has about a inch and a half seem so annoying!

We came to the main road a couple of times and decided to stick by the fence through all that nature could throw at us brambles, holly bushes and stinging nettles, at this time we did find one potential until we tried to find it, didnt work.

we continued on found the main gate no way in there seemed to be a lot of security about for some reason :P once we had walked around once we went back to the best potential entrance, unfortunately we were both not as acrobatic or as adventurous as other urban explorers and one of us got stuck in the tree.

at this time I was feeling slightly dejected and was on the point of giving up so on the way back to the car we decided to stop one more place.

We did get in, Can’t really tell you how, a magician never reveals his secrets, once we were in I have never felt such a buzz it was like wow we are in,