Urban Research

What to take on an exploration  @Midlands Urban Eye Law: On terms of the law, carrying certain items may be considered a criminal offence. Never bring any items which could be used with intent to break in, Things like tools can be classed as "carrying an offensive weapon" or "being unlawfully equipped" depending on the situation and it can be incriminating. Its highly recommended to leave sharp items and tools at home, If you have to break into the place you're going to explore maybe exploring there isn't worth it, as breaking an entry regardless of the buildings state can be classed as a crime and is punishable depending on the sites owner.  Intro: In general it depends on the place you are exploring. This guide is to help with fully equipping yourself to go on an adventure to an abandoned location prepared. Below is a list of items you'll need and items it'd be ideal to bring. Some items may be useful in your situation some may not be,...

USA Urban exploration and the law This may be a short article as the law isn't as define for the USA as it is in European countries. As far as we know, building that are abandoned for certain periods of time especially if not being paid for, fall into the hands of the state council/government. Meaning being prosecuted for simply exploring is highly unlikely especially if you can prove exploration is all you intended to do. In most states, exploring an abandoned building isn't something that summons police callouts often, and when it does, police simply shoe you away rather than make an arrest, likewise to the UK that is unless there are signs you have or will commit a criminal offence on the sites, which includes breaking in, arson, vandalism, theft and public disturbance. If you have or may have committed one of those offences police may arrest you, and you could be charged with one of those offences. Different states have different laws so its advisable to contact the l...

Urban exploration law UK @Midlands Urban Eye Introduction:   This article is purely to ensure that urban explorers know the law before exploring abandoned sites, hopefully this will give newcomers to the community some extra knowledge to prevent any complications while exploring. Law: In the UK trespassing is a grey area,  Some types of trespassing are safer than others. Entering an abandoned building or site is not actually a criminal offence regardless of it being an act of trespassing. Signs reading "Trespassers will be prosecuted" like the one on the right here are basically pointless as they are untrue. However there are many different types of trespassing and some actions may cause trouble in terms of the law. Trespassing to simply explore is not something police will arrest you for if that is all you are doing, because as mentioned, it is not a criminal offence. However, if you decide to take something, you've smashed or broken something or you...

Eccles Crown Theatre Report BUILT / CONVERTED: 1899 DATES OF USE: 1899 - 1932: THEATRE 1932 - 1963: Cinema 1963 : Bingo CURRENT STATE: EXTANT CURRENT USE: Disused (currently at risk) ADDRESS: Church Street/Mather Road, Eccles, Greater Manchester, M30 0LZ The eccles Crown theatre a listed grade II building, which was originally  Opened in 1899 as the Lyceum in Eccles. This iconic Theatre was designed as a home for Shakespearean performances, But with the advent of music hall it very quickly became home to a variety of shows changing ownership and names in 1907 when it became the Crown Theatre.  Its ownership was later signed over and the building was turned into a cinema in 1932, It was then turned into a Bingo hall and closed in 1963  The stage house was then demolished leaving only the auditorium and front of house areas intact. It was said that the interior had fallen into great disrepair by the late 1980's. In June 2013 a fire started by arsonists destr...

Eccles Monks Hall Museum Report BUILT / CONVERTED : Estimated as far as 1200's. Reformed in 1660 DATES OF USE : 1200's : Unknown 1660 - 1662 : Place of worship 1660 - 1836 : Willis family took residence and ownership 1836 : Farmhouse Early 1900's - 1959 : Farther and Son medical practise 1961 -1980'S : Museum 1997 - 2002:  Restaurant  CURRENT STATE : Severely damaged CURRENT USE : Disused Notable events : Large Fire ADDRESS:  40 Wellington Road, Eccles, Greater Manchester The Eccles monks hall is said to date back all the way through to the 1200's, with an amazing amount of history to the building. It was known to be a Tudor residence with modern additions. From the 1230s the monks of Whalley Abbey owned much of the land in Eccles, which could haven given the hall its name. Alternatively, in 1394 a 'Henry de Monks' was living in Eccles possibly with other family with the same surname which could possibly be where the name may have come from. Although ...

H&M Springfield Brewery Report @MidlandsUrbanEye BUILT :  1873  DATES OF USE : 1874 - 1991 (After 1991 part was still being used for storage) CURRENT STATE : Main site demolished, remaining structure empty and worn CURRENT USE : Disused, set to be revamped Notable events : Huge blaze (2004) ADDRESS:  Grimestone street, Wolverhampton The brewery was built in 1873 when the William Butler and Company needed bigger premises than their existing site in Priestfield. The site of the brewery before construction was relatively hard to construct on due to its wet, marshy landscape. A year after being built the brewery opened for business in 1874, and in its peak was producing 1.500k barrels of beer per week and employing upto 900 people. Multiple warehouses and external buildings operated on the site for a long time, Between 1881-3 a new brewing tower was constructed, enabling William Butler and Company to increase production from 400 to 1,500 barrels a wee...