Tales of the Urban Explorer: Chapeltown Training Centre
When I hear the word “Chapeltown”, I instinctively think of Leeds and a particularly seedy suburb that has more of its fair share of unrest historically.
On checking for some history of this wreck of a building, I spotted a lot of Chapeltown references, all in Leeds and none in Sheffield where this clusterfuck is, or was.
I can realistically envisage it's gone now and is a big pile of rubble. The Google images are hopelessly out of date, recorded even before my visit a year past, and don't tell me the latest information.
So history is sparse or maybe non-existent, but as ever I focus on the personal experience and adventure of exploring.
I stared at @anidiotexplores wondering when he had turned into 'Dhalsim' from Street Fighter. How did he get through that nasty, twisty gap so easily?
Someone with incredible strength had bent back those bars but getting past them was an exercise in frustration. It looked easy, should have been easy, would have been for the younger me, and yet was not.
All the while, laughing motorists were passing by and I was fortunate not to have caused an accident with the many wondering eyes watching me struggle past this pokey gap.
Like that pointy bent spike, you needed to be ‘Dhalsim’ and bend in the right direction at the right time, or get spiked in the back or chest, whichever you prefer.
‘Chapeltown Training Centre' looked partially demolished, but this a blessing as getting inside was never going to present us with a problem, all those holes offering an audience.
Once, they gave a crap about their security with many barred windows on show. It all looks a little overkill for a training centre, or maybe it was an initiation centre for criminals and this room was once a cell complete with a basic bench in preparation for jail time?
Being partially demolished I was hardly expecting a wonderful business time capsule; we need to look at things realistically.
I thought for a minute the homeless were taking refuge here. With a large demolition vehicle wielding a swinging huge ball and chain outside, it's not the best of homes, even of the temporary type.
On the upper floor I spotted this newspaper from 1967.
I always find these fascinating to read, this one proclaiming wages will be increased to 15s. As this is pre-decimal, I will explain to you this is 75p. Is that per week, and not even 1 US Dollar?
If it’s per hour, that would make it around £30 a week which is slightly less than my pittance of a wage well over a decade later.
A strange colour for a board, presumably once pinned to a wall in order to educate these apprentice prisoners on how to evade possible sodomy, though I could not find any decaying KY Jelly loitering around on the floor.
I don't give a crap about revealing the location; it's likely nonexistent now.
Front doors rarely open and this one was no exception.
Strange, why should there be a number on this door it looks quite flimsy to be a cell. One large kick and it would make for an ideal escape route.
Upstairs was looking very messy and even I was struggling to find anything to home in on.
A decent proportion of the building was intact. Had they changed their minds about the demolition? The industrial units who had half done the job were noticeably absent from the surrounding grounds.
Maybe I had gotten it wrong, and that's why the presumed ubiquitous dildos and rotten cucumbers were absent. I tried to read this literary nonsense but started falling asleep after just a few seconds.
That's mesmerizing wallpaper. Drop a little acid and many things could be found within..., if you stare long enough.
Ah, so it was a proper training centre for respectable people (or budding IT goons). The word 'Chapeltown' must have influenced my preconceptions.
Straight out of a TV murder show, it needs some dramatic music and visuals to make it complete.
That’s not used bog paper on the stairs, but wallpaper that got so damp it no longer sticks to the wall.
I wonder if they have returned to flatten the rest of this horror. At least it’s protected by that sharp metal bent thing, but kids could easily circumvent that.
Nice house, a shame you are knocking it down.
'Aggressive Security' was not aggressive enough and we got in, but to be fair, we don't commit crimes, just take photographs.
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Great Post mate, I'm not far from here, probably around a 20 minute drive.
It was not really worth it then, but on our agenda. Now, it's probably gone!
Dhalsim that made me giggle.
That wallpaper was a bit funky!
Dhalsim wasn't my character, it was always Ken or Ryu with the Urokens!
I was always Ken although when they added new ones, I cant remember which one it was I chose some thai boxing chap I think it was. Might have to have a play, its been a while!
Aggressive Perimeter Security sounds pretty intimidating. This place had cool historical tidbits in there like the insurrection in Ghana.
I love the old newspapers and what they give us. I try and get a clear shot for reading later!
Which reminds me, I better get rid of my old magazines 😄
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I think it is rose grown up to the door, I have a similar one in my garden :)
Lots of things grow in these places, most of them intent on tripping me up.
That looks like a fairly interesting place. Finding the old newspaper is a bit of a bonus given the condition of the rest of the building. I'm a bit shocked there wasn't more fire damage give the ease of access.
It was a lot more open before looking at maps, but then the bulldozers had not moved in creating big holes to walk through.
That aggressive security company sure was passive. I would wager trespassing, ahem, urban exploring would have been a crime but I bet you left clean places where your footsteps were and left it better.
Always amazing how much falling wallpaper does for the derelict ambiance of a place.
Also, I think your drooling and gobsmacked legion of fans would love to see a shot of our fearless hero wrangling himself through that precarious bent gate!
Fans, what fans? These are embarrassing moments for me as I lack the grace of someone younger 😃
The photos are very colorful, I find the HDR style, and the story is engaging.
I hope so, as the content is quite drab at some of these derpy ones. You have to look hard to find anything.
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'98% success rate in preventing a crime' Is this some sort of Minority Report voodoo shit going on?
PS Chappy, although being a shithole drug infested whorehouse had a couple of banging clubs in the 80s. You walked, floated out!
I have been through the Leeds variant several times, and even being from the 'wrong side of the big hill' still know of it's notoriety. Bet the chips are still cooked in lard there though..., hmmm, don't you miss those heart attack instigators?
You are among the 2% not aggressively arrested. Congratulations! It does look pretty sad, I'm sure after demolition someone has something nicer planned. At least I would hope!
What's that then, a few knuckles to the chin before the cuffs are fitted?!
Exactly! Beat you half to death and then they arrest you...
Go.... It does look scary!
Your posts are theeee best!
The pictures are lovely. I love how the plants are growing on the building
When I saw the wallpaper, my first thought was I could not handle looking at it all day, then I read your comment and said oh hell no, I am not about to get high and have to stare at it, or the carpet on the stairs, can you imagine them both together? Talk about mind-blown.
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You see all types of stuff on walls when in certain states, I have been there.
Talk about a wild trip, I once found myself walking inside a spinning kaleidoscope, I must say it was one of my favorites.
@slobberchops I just finished reading your post and I must say, your exploration adventure was quite a ride! The way you described the building and your experiences really painted a vivid picture in my mind. It's a shame that such historical places are being demolished. Also, finding a newspaper from 1967 must have been like finding a time capsule. Keep up the great work and looking forward to your next exploration! Cheers! 😊
They are all fun, why do you think I do this stuff?! This one is likely gone by now.
That place looks to be incredibly sturdily built! The corner where it's been partially demolished (in the second-to-last photo) makes it look like the facade was rough-hewn stone OVER brickwork. That's a lotta sturdy stuff to bust through. But modern demolition techniques will prevail.
I was 100% with you in believing that the building had been some sort of detention center though. That wallpaper alone was enough to punish anyone spending time there! 😵
Thank you for sharing!
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It wasn't a bad house, the upper areas were good, no need to demolish it. Unlikely I will be going over there soon, it's quite far from where I live, so don't know how it's faring now.
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The leaves had reached the top of the building and it looked very beautiful
Hello brother, good day. This is the first time I know about this information, although I know some exploration in my country, Egypt, about the Pharaohs’ civilization, but this is good for those who have a broader look. Thank you, my brother.
What a shot!... You have the soul of a street photographer!... :))
Another bizarre and amazing place!... Great job as always @slobberchops friend, thanks for sharing!
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This one was a bit normal/typical of an abandoned building. There weren't graffiti, so I guess the security sign is serving as a good deterrent.
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Spent a couple of summers near Roundhay 30 years ago
Do not remember a sunny day like this 😃
Yes, I try to explore on sunny days as it makes the lighting better, especially indoors where to sun can filter though. Restricts my exploring potential as it pisses down here a lot.
Newspaper headlines similar to what you read today, same shit another day!
Appears wall paper was all ready waiting for you, roll up go plaster elsewhere, made to last....
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I still get amazed by your pictures.
I seen many take pictures of abandoned places but all I see is mess and no life in them.
But yours... You have the gift of bringing your pictures to life and you tell a story ❤️ I Loove it.
I always wanted to take pictures of a abandoned place myself but never got to it. I love the history and to feel like you stepped into time.
Thank you for sharing and hope you keep safe while exploring.
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You should give it a try, preferably not alone, it's better to have some backup as they are dangerous places.
I hear you there, and I don't think I would go by myself.
Best thing would go with someone with experience.
Thank you for your advice and for sharing your jurneys.
And you sure take amazing pictures.
The old documents might be the coolest part of the that exploration. It’s pretty amazing to see a piece of history just preserved in all that decay. There’s a true beauty to destruction and dilapidation.
The newspaper was the highlight of an otherwise dull explore. You have to find something in all of them.
My area does not have to many cool places to explore like this. There’s a few abandoned towns that are north of me by 6-12 hours that would be cool to explore. I’ve heard it can be pretty creepy in those area.
Going through the shots seeing good building demolished is annoying but please what led to the destruction of the building?
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Like you say Mr aggressive was shit at security, and a training course on spreadsheets, fuck me I could think of nothing worse.
Many more to come, was in two this morning, one of which was sealed just hours after out visit, strange eh?
yeah weird!!! hows the burglar? lol