James Charlick - Urban Exploring

Cab Vista (by jamescharlick)

For over 50 years Pyestock was at the forefront of gas turbine development. It was probably the largest site of its kind in the world. V bomber, Harrier and Tornado engines were tested on site, and the power of the air house allowed Concorde’s engines to be tested at 2,000 mph. Every gas turbine installed in Royal Navy ships was checked here; captured Soviet engines were discreetly examined.

Cell 4 was an integral part of the massive supersonic-testing expansion of Pyestock, as the need to test engines in close association with their air intake systems was an urgent requirement for this new generation of aircraft. The cell was constructed in 1975 for £6.5m.

Shortly after its construction, the cell was modified to enable it to fly the Rolls-Royce Olympus 593 which was being developed for Concorde. The cell’s abilities were enhanced to be able to fly at Concorde’s cruise parameters of Mach 2 at 61,000 feet. 

However with the decline of supersonic projects and its specialised, power-hungry needs, Cell 4 was soon surplus to requirements and was mothballed in the 1980s.

Sci-Tech (by jamescharlick)

For over 50 years Pyestock was at the forefront of gas turbine development. It was probably the largest site of its kind in the world. V bomber, Harrier and Tornado engines were tested on site, and the power of the air house allowed Concorde’s engines to be tested at 2,000 mph. Every gas turbine installed in Royal Navy ships was checked here; captured Soviet engines were discreetly examined.

Cell 3 (pictured) was mostly underground and was a supersonic replacement of Cell 2, allowing for higher speeds and a greater engine temperature range.

It was the first stop on our tour of the site, and we were anxious not to get trapped inside while security lurked above. There were one or two jumpy moments while we tried to figure out if we could hear voices, rain, footsteps or pigeons above.

Daybreak (by jamescharlick)

That special early morning hour when the city lights are on and colour is beginning to appear in the sky is rather wonderful to sit and enjoy.

I recommend clicking through to Flickr where you can blow this up to 1880px wide.

Urban Dawn (by jamescharlick)

A hazy dawn over Canary Wharf.

4am is a very antisocial time of day for more or less anything, let alone 30 stories worth of stairs. It was worth it though to see the city as the sun rose.

Desolate (by jamescharlick)

We crammed 6 people into 2 rooms of this little house, each wanting to photograph the same features. Most of the house was empty save for some small items giving a hint as to the lives of the family that lived within. Among the cobwebs were 1950’s ration books, a baking certificate dating back to 1896, and this ancient pram and doll.

The Sun’s Out, Let’s Go Underground! (by jamescharlick)

I wanted to take a look around a few places last weekend but then the snow happened and I thought it best to both stay out of tubes that fill with water and away from anywhere I didn’t want to leave footprints. 

A week later an unusual bright orange/yellow orb was seen over England and I wanted to start making up for lost time.

This culverted brook once fed several local mills which were built along it’s length, but post World War II it was largely covered over and enclosed. All in all it made for a pleasant, if extremely slippery walk. 

That orange orb thing has vanished again now. I wonder what it was.

Cinders (by jamescharlick)

The quarry on this site dates back to 1851 and cement was manufactured since at least 1898. These workings date from 1949 and ceased production in 1991. Cement was fired in two vast 350ft kilns, and most of the site is dominated by the two huge parallel tubes suspended on an impressive concrete frame above the factory floor.

It was an odd experience walking alone through such an imposing space. This was compounded by the cars and vans parked below and the lorries in rows outside - the site opposite is still live and they obviously stored vehicles here - giving the workings the feeling that everyone had simply downed tools and gone home for the weekend to return again Monday morning.

Hunter Killer (by jamescharlick)

Foxtrot B-39 (U 475), a hunter killer submarine, was built in 1967 and used specifically for training foreign submariners - Libyan, Cuban and Indian. 

She was in active service with the Russian Baltic Fleet until April 1, 1994, having spent 27 years in active service.The vessel arrived in London from the naval base in Riga, Latvia, in July 1994 under the command of its Captain Vitalij Burda who bid official farewell to his second home for the last 23 years.

A seriously cool thing to look around, and great company to do it in.

Nautilus (by jamescharlick)

Foxtrot B-39 (U 475), a hunter killer submarine, was built in 1967 and used specifically for training foreign submariners - Libyan, Cuban and Indian.

She was in active service with the Russian Baltic Fleet until April 1, 1994, having spent 27 years in active service.The vessel arrived in London from the naval base in Riga, Latvia, in July 1994 under the command of its Captain Vitalij Burda who bid official farewell to his second home for the last 23 years.

A seriously cool thing to look around, and great company to do it in.

Mach 2 (by jamescharlick)

For over 50 years Pyestock was at the forefront of gas turbine development. It was probably the largest site of its kind in the world. V bomber, Harrier and Tornado engines were tested on site, and the power of the air house allowed Concorde’s engines to be tested at 2,000 mph. Every gas turbine installed in Royal Navy ships was checked here; captured Soviet engines were discreetly examined.

Cell 4 was an integral part of the massive supersonic-testing expansion of Pyestock, as the need to test engines in close association with their air intake systems was an urgent requirement for this new generation of aircraft. The cell was constructed in 1975 for £6.5m.

Shortly after its construction, the cell was modified to enable it to fly the Rolls-Royce Olympus 593 which was being developed for Concorde. The cell’s abilities were enhanced to be able to fly at Concorde’s cruise parameters of Mach 2 at 61,000 feet. 

However with the decline of supersonic projects and its specialised, power-hungry needs, Cell 4 was soon surplus to requirements and was mothballed in the 1980s.

Abbey Mills (by jamescharlick)

Abbey Mills Pumping Station is a Victorian sewage pumping station dating back to 1865, nicknamed the Cathedral of Sewage because of it’s elaborate, ornate Byzantine architecture style.

The station takes it’s name from a water mill which was replaced by the pumping station and owned by the local abbey.

Abbey Mills was built in association with the Northern Outfall Sewer which was built in the 1860s to carry the increasing amount of sewage produced in London away from the centre of the city. 

It is still in full working order and occasionally works as a back-up to the adjacent modern pumping station.

As you can imagine, walking around such a magnificent structure was quite an experience!

Black Widow (by jamescharlick)

Foxtrot B-39 (U 475), a hunter killer submarine, was built in 1967 and used specifically for training foreign submariners - Libyan, Cuban and Indian. 

She was in active service with the Russian Baltic Fleet until April 1, 1994, having spent 27 years in active service.The vessel arrived in London from the naval base in Riga, Latvia, in July 1994 under the command of its Captain Vitalij Burda who bid official farewell to his second home for the last 23 years.

A seriously cool thing to look around, and great company to do it in.

abandonedporn:

Hemorrhage (by jamescharlick)

Sometimes I should hurry up and blog my images before someone beats me to the punch!

This military hospital dates back to 1879, built on a hill since the theory at the time was that a fresh breeze would blow away infection. Eventually closing in 1996, many reasons were given for the closure, including maintenance costs, efficiency, and asbestos.

(via abandonedography)

Supersonic (by jamescharlick)

For over 50 years Pyestock was at the forefront of gas turbine development. It was probably the largest site of its kind in the world. V bomber, Harrier and Tornado engines were tested on site, and the power of the air house allowed Concorde’s engines to be tested at 2,000 mph. Every gas turbine installed in Royal Navy ships was checked here; captured Soviet engines were discreetly examined.

Cell 4 was an integral part of the massive supersonic-testing expansion of Pyestock, as the need to test engines in close association with their air intake systems was an urgent requirement for this new generation of aircraft. The cell was constructed in 1975 for £6.5m.

Shortly after its construction, the cell was modified to enable it to fly the Rolls-Royce Olympus 593 which was being developed for Concorde. The cell’s abilities were enhanced to be able to fly at Concorde’s cruise parameters of Mach 2 at 61,000 feet. 

However with the decline of supersonic projects and its specialised, power-hungry needs, Cell 4 was soon surplus to requirements and was mothballed in the 1980s.