Flashback: Abandoned Hospital in Glasgow

Greetings once again. On my return to this blog a few weeks ago I told you I had a couple of sets from last summer I still wanted to share here before I get to my exploration antics once more when the weather gets better. The previous post was quite special, not only was it not set in Glasgow but it featured photographs taken with an actual camera not a  camera phone. On this post I return to Glasgow and to my shitty camera phone but despair not. This is the best spot yet in Glasgow. But first some back story.

As was often the case last summer I found myself killing time with not much to do after the completion of my master's thesis. And as usual as soon as some rays of sunlight broke through the clouds covering Scotland  I grabbed my bicycle and went off into the distance. This time however I did not go very far. Because hidden in plain sight lies a gem of Glasgow's ruins waiting to be explored. 

I took off into Ruchill park, a place familiar to me form my first year in University. I had lived in the (in)famous Murano street student halls and had a blast at it too. Ruchill park lies right behind them. I had gone there occasionally in those early days. I remembered it had an viewpoint were one could get a neat view of the city so up I went.

Once there I took this photograph for you all to see. It was an unusually nice evening for Glasgow's standard. With very nice natural light that photographers appreciate.

From here I turned north. My thinking was that I'd never been north of Ruchill park so why not? AFter only a few minutes, still in the park this majestic Victorian tower appeared from behind the trees. It had my curiosity.

I approached with care and found a way in through an old people's retirement home. The tower was definitively part of a derelict building and I saw a way through the fence. I jumped in. There was even a mattress to cushion my landing

Once inside I took this photograph. Its heavy on the contrast. It seems that the tower belongs to a greater building.

A detail of the building, a wooden veranda. It looks like this place would have been quite beautiful in its day. Especially for a hospital. Though I did not know what this place was at this point. 

I circumvent the building as to get a better view of what it was like. To my surprise this place is much bigger than expected. This is no derelict building, it is a derelict campus.

Focusing on the building results in an overexposed white sky but it lets us see more detail of the building form this angle. It has been abandoned for a while, the vegetation tells that much.

I approach the tower and find yet another fence. There is a lot to see around so no point in jumping over, at least not yet.

Aha! A way in. But I did not dare to go. This place is so massive I get a sense of isolation. It does not feel like I am in a city. It feels like the middle of nowhere. Like the whole world could be like this. Its an uneasy feeling. Great spot.

I turn a corner. This side of the building faces south and the sunset lights reflect on the facade resulting in this beautiful orange light. Much better angle to take pictures from.

Far away lies the city. With its busy people and tall ugly towers. The feeling of isolation remains however.

The tower from below.

They do not want me to pass this way.

The old and the less old. I imagine those white towers will be derelict one day too.

Another broken window. I'm not the only one to roam these parts...

This building has started to crumble but the tower remains strong.

Another angle.

Power lines and vegetation.

Beyond yet another fence lies a massive building. It calls to me but it will be dark soon. Exploring this one will take too long. I make a mental note to return. You can start to appreciate the scale of this place in this picture. This is not even half the area. It is vast.

More of the far away building. One day I will return. If it hasn't been demolished yet.

Orange light and leaves on an old facade.

Evidence of human presence. Kev and Chrissy where here. I must take care.

The entrance to this basement has been violently ripped. Might there be someone inside. This place makes me feel uneasy so I decide not to go in.

A rusty cart on an abandoned field.

Evidence of bonfire. More human presence.

A booth, it looks new. They are probably planning on destroying this place.

Back to the watchtower.

The far-away building seems closer from here.

Suddenly this. The university of Glasgow was involved here. "Dept, of infectious diseases" does not sound conforming at all. I begin to think of zombies.

A peek inside. Rubble, after the apocalypse.

Inside though a grid.

A more modern sign. Might this place have been up and running not so long ago?

These buildings are nice, it makes no sense why they should be abandoned. I wont complain though, makes for a great exploration spot.

Reigart says keep out.

We saw this before, I gone around this whole area.

A small tree on a balcony.

Same from afar.

Headlines, fascinating.

That veranda again.

The wasteland ends with those white towers.

I move north. Past a section of overgrowth there is another structure. Seems to belong to the same campus

The silhouette.

In between the overgrowth.

That other building is in the worse condition yet.

Time to go home. It will be dark soon. I hop over the fence and go back to my bike. Here I discover the poor thing's wheel is punctured. Is this an accident or malicious interference? Fortunately I am not far from home at all. This place is hidden in the middle of the city. Shocking given its size.

Later I did some research and found that this place was a hospital built in 1900 and abandoned in 1998.   Apparently it will all be demolished soon to make way for more boring blocks of flats with no charm. I hear they will keep the central tower at least. Should make for a nice square.

It seems odd to build something so sturdy as this to then abandon it and wreck it 100 years later. Surely buildings should last for longer than that. For now it makes for a very eerie spot in the landscape of Glasgow. Simultaneously close but remote.

On a side note I found out that this hospital was the scene of a murder. A nurse killed a patient with insulin and the newspapers dubbed her "the angel of death". Freaky. Ghost movie anyone?

Here's a map showing you where the hospital is. Can't believe I've lived so close to it for years and I never knew it was there. Worth checking out before its demolished I say.

View Larger Map

Next up (hopefully) some sweet locations in Luxembourg city. I have already scouted a couple of spots that should make for great posts.

Peace

Iron Ore Mine Landing

People of Earth. I have neglected this site for a long time. But seeing as of today I am once again out of employment it is time to publish the backlog of posts I had planned back in the summer. The first of which is the epic adventure in the Aguamarga Iron Ore Mine Landing.

I have a special relationship with this place. At age six my father took me there for the first time. We went up the side of the hill, through treacherous cliff-side paths ad into perilous tunnels. The best kind of adventure a six year old can have. Since then I have returned often. I think it is because of this place that I am interested in abandoned places and exploration. In a way this post is an "origins" kind of post.

Last summer I decided it was time to take a good camera and finally take some quality pictures of this great spot. I ended up doing better than that I brought my sister who has both a good camera and is a great photographer. This means you get to see my face is some of these pictures. Let us get started in this journey of adventure and self discovery.



I present to you Aguamarga. This quaint little village of the coast of Almeria in Spain has been a vacation spot for my family for years. Almost every summer I come here for two weeks of sunshine, canoeing, snorkeling and general fun times. At this point we have started our climb to the mine landing on the side of a hill on the eastern side of the village.

After getting halfway to the top there is narrow trail with a steep fall into sharp rocks. On this trail there is a bunker; a remnant from the Spanish civil war. To proceed we have to go through it

 
The first photograph of yours truly. If you are wondering why these photographs look way better than the ones on previous posts it's because my sister knows what she is doing.

This picture is taken by me. Inside the bunker. It's pretty cool, you can sit down and see the boats go by in the shade. If you imagine you have a rifle you can feel like a soldier in 1936, waiting in terror for Franco's rebels to come from North Africa.

Right before reaching the mine you have to traverse a thin ledge. It's less dangerous than it looks. This daring woman is my sister.

Here you can appreciate the size of this ledge. It could be worse.

We have reached the ruins. These steps take you some old buildings were the miners would sleep. We will go there later, through a much more dangerous route!

From the side of the hill there are some great views on the Mediterranean Sea. Here my sister took a great picture of some snorkelers.

While Aguamarga is very small by Spanish tourist coast-village standards it still has a fair amount of boat traffic.

Meet my father and cousin in law. The coast line here is perfect for canoeing; there are countless caves and coves to explore with some impressive volcanic rock formations.

This is the main part of the ruin. Railways used to go through those tunnels and workers would dump mineral from above. The carriages would then go to the boats where the mineral was loaded and shipped to other parts of the world.

A close up of the furnace. If my interpretation is correct they used to melt metals in that tower.

The entrance to the tunnels; we will go there shortly.

This is no tunnel

It is a room dug in the side of the cliff. There is a mattress. Maybe someone lives here...

Before we go to the tunnels let's see what is this way.

I remember climbing all the way up as a child and being scared of climbing down. Going up is always easier than going down.

And I disappear.

I come out form another window and I see this. It seems someone has a holiday house here. Nice BBQ.

The inhabitants are not very organised though.

This must be the living room. I might steal their idea one day. Great spot to camp out for free.

Finally we enter the tunnels. They are unstable and have collapsed in many places. My sister looks up one of the holes were workers used to drop mineral into the rail carriages.

We have to go deeper.

It is too narrow from here on. We better escape this way.

The way out

Where we came in.

Climbing to freedom

Lucia follows.

We are out in the open again. This could be a castle. Mines won't look this way now a days.

We need to find a way up.

Lucia leads the way

We reach the top. That round tower was featured in one of the previous pictures form another angle. We need to rush, it won't be light for much longer.

Some tourists on the other side of the ruins

More people, we are not alone here.

"If you stare long into the Abyss, the Abyss stares back at you." 

This pit is very deep.

Old stonework

Lucia waits for me. I am taking too many pictures...

The pizza oven. We are nearing the end of our exploration.

Ruins and the sea

Ruins and the sky

The dessert at nightfall.

An ourangoutang cometh

And we end with a picture of Aguamarga at dusk. This is a really beautiful place. I miss it in these cold winter months.

I hope you enjoyed this entry. I have another set of photographs form last summer. The post will be coming soon. After that I must find new places to explore. I already have a few sports in mind.

Peace.