Clegg Street Railway warehouse, Oldham. (railway / park road warehouse)
The Park Road, or more correctly Clegg Street, Railway Warehouse at Oldham was built in 1876 and although it often know as the London & North Western Railway warehouse it was actually built by the Oldham, Ashton & Guide Bridge Railway which was jointly owned by the London & North Western and the Manchester, Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway (later the Great Central Railway). It was last used in the 1960s and since then has stood empty and becoming increasingly derelict. It owes its survival to the fact of being listed grade 2 on the basis of its unusual curved layout. Over the years there have been many proposals for the re-use of this building but none have succeeded.
An inspection late 2011 was reported in the papers and was declared “safe and secure” http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/ne...afe-and-secure
Then for some reason, it wasn’t as good as they thought
http://menmedia.co.uk/oldhamadvertis...er-of-collapse
http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/ne...s-road-closure
So the decision was made to demolish it. http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/ne...warrant-signed
I was in the area and decided to have a play with a new 8mm lens and this would be a nice easy pop in to get the feel for the new toy. Quick text to RT presented me with the news is was “unsafe mate, due to be pulled down this week”. Not knowing anything of the news above i headed down there to find police in the car park at the back and a new cabin with a guy walking out. Quick chat and around i went to see the boss “Mr D Hughes, of D Huges demolition”. After a quick chat permission was given for a 20 min run around “before the council guys get here” and after chatting to “loneranger” from another little urbex site (28DL) we made our entrance.
Its been 8 months since my last visit, and the building looked fooked then, but dry. This time totally different, damp, wet sodden wood above my head, drips like waterfalls down the pillars. I was more distracted by the 20 min deadline so these pics are not the greatest in the world.
Less waffle, more pics!!!
This was taken by a guy interested in local history and was sent to me last night, brings a tear to the eye. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ikz6h...&feature=email
Sorry if text heavy, it just needed to show the story!
Mods feel free to shorten the links as i don’t know how to do that.
Good bye railway warehouse. One of my first Oldham explores which gave me the bug to do more.
Hope you enjoy!