Just Mugs - 28th April 2007
Production at Just Mugs ceased in 2004 leaving nearly 100 unemployed. Just one of many such companies in the famous Potteries areas to close of late. Mostly due to cheaper production costs overseas.
Royal Doulton - 29th April 2007
500 people lost their jobs when Royal Doulton closed their last remaining UK factory in 2005. The majority of the factory's production was moved to the Far East with all of Doulton's manufacturing operations to be moved overseas eventually.
Whittingham Asylum - 07th April 2007
Whittingham Asylum is now earmarked for re-development starting in 2008. Much has changed in the year or so since my last visit. Floors are much more dangerous with many of them fallen through completely.
Wigan Police HQ - 17th March 2007
The old Wigan Police HQ stands in the centre of Wigan directly next to the Magistrates Courthouse. It's large, and very ugly cube like concrete structure made way for a much more modern and bigger headquarters elsewhere in the town.
Denbigh North Wales Hospital - 21st January 2007
The construction of Denbigh North Wales Hospital was completed in 1848 and at it's peak had capacity for 1500 patients. It is grade II listed due to it's Victorian asylum style architecture. The hospital was finally closed in 1995 and has lay derelict ever since.
RAF Nocton Hall & RAF Hospital - 13 January 2007
Nocton RAF Hospital was used by American and British forces since the early 1900's. Full closure of the site occurred in 1995. The adjoining hall was burnt down by arsonists in October 2004. 70 fire fighters attempted to control the blaze.
Cherry Knowle Asylum, Sunderland - 10th September 2006
Cherry Knowle Hospital, formerly known as Sunderland Lunatic Asylum was built in 1895 on a 1400 acre site. Cuurently derelict, the whole site is now planned to be demolished to make way for housing.
Wallerscote Soda Ash Works - 09th September 2006
The Brunner Mond owned soda ash manufacturing plant in Wallerscote was closed in 1984 and moved to Lostock, leaving behind only a soda ash storage facility which is still in active use. The entire site is earmarked for housing re-development in the future.
Whittingham Asylum - 18th June 2006
The fourth County Lunatic Asylum at Whittingham standing on an eminence, erected in 1869, from designs by Mr. Henry Littler, architect of Manchester, at a cost of £338,300, is of red brick and forms a quadrangle of detached blocks of buildings.
Sharoe Green Maternity Hospital - 16th June 2006
Preston's historic Sharoe Green Hospital is set to be transformed with the creation of scores of new homes and a business park. The day before our visit vandals had set fire to parts of the hospital. We took a quick tour before it was demolished for good.