The Goods Yard, Stoke-on-Trent - November 2023

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To quote the developer Capital&Centric:​ We’re creating a new community next to Stoke-on-Trent’s main train station, turning an unloved industrial site into a vibrant urban quarter. The Goods Yard will be a major new destination for residents, locals and visitors… a place to live, work Read more

Odeon Cinema, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent - July 2023

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Hanley Odeon opened on the 13th of February 1938 with "Educated Evans", it was one of the original cinemas in the Odeon Theatres chain. The site was formally occupied by the Grand Theatre, designed by Frank Matcham which burnt to the ground in 1932. The cinema was designed by the Harry W. Weedon Read more

Clifton Cinema, Wellington - May 2023

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This cinema was opened by the Clifton chain on the 18th of January 1937, and was a copy of the Walsall Rosum another cinema owned by the chain. Seating was provided at both stalls and circle levels, and the proscenium was 42 feet wide. In 1975 new projectors from Westrex were installed, and shortly Read more

Oulton Abbey, Stone - December 2022

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Oulton Abbey, formerly Oulton House, was built by Thomas Dent, a solicitor, in about 1720. It was later owned by John Joule, the brewer, who added a new front in 1822. Between 1835 and 1838 it was occupied by the Duke of Sutherland while Trentham Hall was being altered. Between 1838 and 1853 it was Read more

Taylormade Castings, Stoke-on-Trent - November 2022

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Unfortunately the information available about this company and site is very limited, it borders on a vast area of land that once housed the steelmaking behemoth known as Shelton Bar, who's fiery glow is said to have inspired H. G. Wells' The War of the Worlds (even if that is just an old wives Read more

Theatre Royal, Merthyr Tydfil - May 2022

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Found myself in glorious South Wales for a day and a night in May with MotionlessMike - much fun was had and quite a lot achieved. We had a few places that we particularly wanted to look at, but much of the time was spent looking at random bits that happened to be nearby. This place was one the Read more

St Cadoc's Hospital, Caerleon - May 2022

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Another stop on the May 2022 rambling tour of South Wales with MotionlessMike. Visited here back in 2016 (report), six years later it is barely any different. Ground floor areas are still for the most part in use, the upper floor has been out of action for a long time and is now just used for file Read more

Burslem Market Hall, Stoke-on-Trent - February 2022

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Another case of persistence having paid off after a decade or more of attempts, seemingly nature finally took it's course and facilitated a way in. With the best part of twenty years of disuse this is a rather nice one, basically untouched, not wrecked and just naturally decayed. The pièce de Read more
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