Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends. Photo Challenge Season 4, Episode 2! I put a shout out for desolate and dilapidated buildings that have seen better days. And what a repose I got. From my overflowing mail sack I can tell that this is a subject very close to your hearts. From historical abbey ruins to the (literal) collapse of our high streets, all forms of bleak emptiness, complete with a side order of brutalist beauty, are here.
Before we crack on, just time for a couple of quick Parish Notices:
1/. Although I'll throw out March's Photo Challenge in the comments section below in the next couple of days, what I would also like from you (as I said in the supplementary blog post I put out earlier in the month) throughout the year is a tree and a sunrise/sunset reprise. These two challenges were so popular I'd love to feature any further photos you might wish to submit between now and the end of the year. As and when you send them I'll post them as a footer to the main Photo Challenge.
2/. If you like 'people photographs' I'd love you to send me pics of either people you know or even people you don't know! Again, this is not a formal Photo Challenge - but if you don't mind sharing, I'll post them on an ad-hoc basis. Let's build a rogues gallery of the great and the good!
Right, enough of my gabbing - Rol, what have you got for us?
"Hi John, a house in Wales that took my fancy."
"Followed by the remains of ...something... on a Dorset beach."
"And finally, just down the end of our road. When Louise finally chucks me out, this is where I'll end up. At least there's a mattress." Thank you, Rol. Is it a firm mattress?
David Cooper finds himself back on British soil for a change: "Hi, three photos from me this month, John: the old Argos in Swansea."
"I’ll be honest with you, although this is in Nottingham (Queen’s Road) I have no idea what used to be here."
"And the recently demolished Galaxy Cinema in Long Eaton. David." Cheers, Coops. I wonder what the last film they showed was. Confessions of a Window Cleaner?
Tim from Hucknall: "Hi John, dilapidated you say! I’ve hundreds of pictures (as I’m sure you have) that fit this brief. I’ve narrowed it down to five: we kick off with a brace from central Manchester. I loved the Hotspur Press building and was gutted when it was burnt down last year (problems over planning allegedly may have played a part). I think the Withy Grove Stores is still hanging on in there."
"Next it’s back to local wanderings and the old coach houses for Bulwell Hall. Makes you realise how impressive the hall (long since demolished) would have been."
"Then we head north to Low Newton by the Sea and the Rod Stewart pill box - always makes me smile & hum ‘Sailing’ as we wander by!"
"Finally it’s back into Nottingham and a fantastic building on Castle Gate that gives a nice perspective on what Victorian Nottingham would have looked like. Cheers, Tim." Good work, Tim. Strong Hotspur game! See also Pete Zab's pic below.
Celia a.k.a. Sun Dried Sparrows: "Hi John, hope you're well. I love seeing dilapidated and neglected buildings so I'm really looking forward to all the entries here this month. Here's a couple from me: the old shed at the bottom of our garden, much neglected and overtaken with ivy before we decided to restore it. And part of an outbuilding behind one of the local manor houses, which still looks very much forsaken. Can't wait to see the rest!
C x." Thank you, C. You must send me a picture of your new shed!
Ernie Goggins: "Mr John - three buildings that have seen better days. The first is what remains of the solitary confinement cells on Devil's Island (probably even more overgrown now as this photo was taken in 2002). The second was taken in Mostar last year - they have not quite got round to repairing all the buildings shelled in the Balkans War yet. The third is a close-up of the now departed Marian Court housing estate in Hackney. It was a bit of local scandal as it had been empty for years until the council moved a small number of families in 'temporarily' in 2018 and then started knocking it down around them in 2021. This photo was taken in 2020.
Ernie." A strong trio, Ern. I'd say 'Hackney' is a strong contender for a podium finish.
Graham's back. He's got a book of portraits coming out soon - I'll be sure to send you the link nearer the time. "Found this old one fr you, G."
K from the Kotswolds: "Hello John, my latest offerings Best wishes,
K."
1) The back of a former pub in Abbey Street, Derby circa 1994. I think last orders were called some time ago!
2) Mrs. K and I spent our 2005 wedding anniversary visiting Hiroshima. This building has been preserved as a reminder of the devastating impact of the atom bomb.
3) Opposite Dursley Library in 2023. I passed by a couple of weeks ago and it’s pretty much unchanged!
4) A short walk from Casa K, Jan 2026, and an abandoned farm building. Nature is slowly reclaiming the exterior.
Thank you, K. I think No. 4 could be the answer to Rol's impending accommodation crisis.
Germany calling - what's the word on the street, Walter?: "Hi John,
here are my entries for the current photo challenge. First a picture from a former manor house in Cochi, Kerala. Next, the sad remains of a former forester's house in the forest of my hometown."
"And finally, a former pub in the centre of Kirchheim which closed overnight about 40 years ago and whose one remains untraceable to this day. Walter." Verdammte Scheiße, Walt! I presume they've checked the beer cellar?
Alyson: "Hi John, a couple of photos for this month’s challenge. All taken locally but tinkered about with as I was prone to do back then. Anyway, hope they fit the remit, Alyson." Yes they do! Thank you, Alyson.
The Swede: "Hi John, an iconic East Ham night spot. Pull up a chair and make yourself comfortable." Well, ladies & gentleman, I think we have a winner! I think it's the way the 'C' has just lost the will to live.
Charity Chic: "An aptly named former pub on the Merrylee Road Glasgow, G43 - now a Tesco Extra!" Sign of the times, CC. Bloody Tesco. Pubs are closing faster than Tory MPs are defecting to Reform and Tesco build new stores every 100 yards. Great photo btw.
Neil Abdo asked me if I'd seen this derelict building on the site of Nottingham City Hospital. I'm afraid I haven't Neil, through I may go back and give it a coat of looking at.
Miss Turner has found me another old church. Well, her dad has: "Courtesy of Daddy Turner."
Looking at the sign I can see that St. Mary in Arden Church has been given historical monument status. Which is how I feel these days. Thank you, MT.
Johnny Legs has gone all mono syllabic on me: " Machu Picchu." Cheers, Johnny.
"And Barnard Castle." Thank you, Claire. I hear Barnard Castle is now sponsored by Specsavers.
Riggsby's playing home & away: "This pic is pretty old, and I tried to make it look old at the time. I took the picture in North Walsham in 1979 when I was learning photography, mentored by my Physics lecturer. He let me borrow cameras, a tripod, various filters and other accessories. This was taken on B&W film which I developed and turned it into a sepia print. The lecturer gave me darkroom time each week at college (Norwich City College). I set up the dark room at lunchtime ready for a class he taught in the afternoon. In return, I was able to use use the darkroom and materials, including some very expensive photographic paper. I thought this print with the sepia tinting was fantastic at the time! Goodness knows how I've still got it."
"We don't see many dilapidated buildings here in San Diego or Southern California in general. This structure is being repurposed for a new building in a shopping center, and shows the way buildings are constructed here, primarily using light wood-frame (platform) construction, which is flexible to withstand earthquakes. Thankfully, I've not been in a major 'quake since living here, but have felt the tremble and shake of several small ones, and then exchanged "Did the earth move for you too?" stories afterwards."
"This is the remains of a newly built house we used to walk past on our after-dinner walks when we were living in Pacific Palisades in LA. The plot is in a prime location looking out over the Pacific Ocean. The fires in January 2025 were devastating, with the Palisades Fire alone destroying or damaging over 6,000 structures and burning more than 23,000 acres. The scale is unimaginable." Thank you, Richard. No smart ass quip from me this time.
Another Nottinghamian, Pete Zab: "Hi John, I've got four pictures for you. The black and white ones were taken this week and feature the derelict Basford Business Centre, and the closed Via Fossa bar in Nottingham. The colour picture was taken a couple of years ago and is one of my favourite dilapidated buildings - the Hotspur Press in Manchester. Not sure how much of it is left after a catastrophic fire last year, Pete." Thank you, Pete. I'll ask Tim about The Hotspur - I'm seeing him next week.
Adam: "Buildings that have seen better days is very much an interest of mine. (You and me both, Adam. JM.) First up, an abandoned school in Pukara, Italy."
"A neglected outhouse, Todmorden, Calder Valley."
"Thank God it's Friday! Sale, Manchester."
"My favourite: Bolton. Several derelict buildings combined into one. Garages and Mechanics, maybe?"
"Lastly, a former Blockbusters in Burnage, Manchester - the death of the video rental scene." Nice one, Tim. Blockbusters gets you a podium finish, for sure.
"Matthew & Sam: "Hi John, a couple of derelict structures within a walk from our home in SW Scotland:
Doocot/Dovecote - this circular structure on the Corsewall estate would have had a conical slate roof and dates from the mid 1800s. It could have been used to provide some food for the house but also as a status symbol.
Dairymans Cottage - dating from around the same time. Our neighbour, Tam, remembers being in the pub in the '80s along with the tenant of the cottage when the building caught fire, leaving just the walls.
M and S x." Great pics M&S, and great back stories.
Alfa Dave says: "How about this from Porto?" Nice one, Dave.
Kate: "I took this one a few years ago; I quite like walking under seaside piers when the tide's out. Brighton was a different experience!"
"Houses returning to nature on Kefalonia."
"This one's for sale and even comes with a free tree!"
"Hill House at Helensburgh, near Glasgow. The whole house is under cover to try and dry it out. It might not look dilapidated but they're trying to stop it getting that way!" Thanks, Kate. You not putting an offer in on the Kefalonian gaff?
Vaughan: "Shampan Restaurant, Cardigan."
St. Dogmaels Abbey with dog."(It's Harry! - JM.)
"The Cilwendeg Shell House Hermitage."
"Wheal Coates, Cornwall." Like 'em, Vaughan. A strong quartet.
Book Club Lou came back!: "Bolton Abbey, Wharfedale on a fine September day last year." Thank you, Lou. Looks beautiful.
A few from me before we wrap things up. But before that can I just say a huge thank you to everyone for your continued support. Photo Challenge wouldn't exist without you. And please don't fret about the spin-off stuff I mentioned at the top of the blog. It's just a bit of fun on the side - not in any way compulsory!
OK, first we have the John Player building in Radford, Nottingham. It finally came down in 2022 giving way to the, by now, obligatory student accommodation.
Sheffield - a bleak outpost.
Leicester Indoor Market: I took a few photos before they paved paradise and put up a Spoons. I'm not even joking.
A former railway building at the back of Nottingham Midland Station.
A Peterborough pub with no beer.
The Grove in Lenton, Nottingham. Another Dry January.
London Road, Nottingham. I took this from the canal towpath below that runs parallel.
