Central Hydraulic Tower, Birkenhead (Oct '11) 2013

[mookster]

Here follows a tale of derring-do unlike any other in my history...

The Central Hydraulic Tower in Birkenhead was a Hydraulic Accumulator station situated in the docks, it ceased operating many moons ago and the plan is eventually to turn it into a hotel. The inside was the biggest death trap I had ever visited until I saw Grands Moulins de Paris mill. Most of the staircases were rotten with planks of wood the only way across. The ladders up to the top were unstable to say the least, most of them secured with blue twine. And the ladder up to the roof was barely a ladder, 3 missing steps and a half broken side, and it didn't even line up with the roof hatch. And we did this on a night it was blowing a gale. A major rush but looking back, so bloody dangerous.

Excuse the shoddy exterior and interior photos, it's fair to say I wasn't entirely focused on getting composed shots inside...

A year or so ago a group of kids got stranded at the top with the fire service having to rescue them, after this the interior was pretty much stripped out of everything.

A few more here http://www.flickr.com/photos/mookie427/sets/72157627740187149/

 

[Wevsky]

That looks a fun explore that ,nice one mate

 

[Lara]

That sounds like a arse twitching splore, but worth it, brilliant shots!!

 

[Nelly]

Love those stairs!!!

 

[mookster]

Probably the most arse-clenching explore I've done, it would've been dangerous enough in the day but going at night....ha!

 

[Scattergun]

Good you got the chance to do it. Quality views

 

[skeleton key]

Nothing like a long decaying set of stairs to get the heart pumping



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[seaside_rambler]

Oo excellent stuff, like the stairs and signage

 

[Shush]

very nice mooks

 

[Stussy]

Superb Mookster, that spiral staircase is belting!