Well I made a stop by WP again. The Absence – Presence project is only five weeks from deadline and so I felt it was time to start taking some photos especially after my last roll of film was a dud. This was to be a film only trip as I felt I had the place well covered digitally. Started in the car park and into the site the usual way and headed towards my usual door.

It was shut. Tight. Looking at the frame the whole thing had been well screwed in. A quick wonder round the block to another usually open door. Same again. Odd I was thinking, for a site that was only a few weeks ago, wide-open to now have two doors shit tight. I walked further into the site and every door and window was boarded. Eventually we found a loose board. Popped it out, scrambled through the frame and avoided a very large hole that any unsuspecting person might fall into.

This was the Occ Health/Art Therapy block. This was cool because it held a few of the key shots I wanted to take. I took them (please let them come out) and started to move back towards the corridor. There was a very large hole and a dresser dropped through it in the usual way towards the corridor. As I edged towards it, the whole floor cracked underneath my feet. I stopped. Edged a little further and then felt the floor start to give. There would be no going further forward that way. A similar story at the other side of the locked doors that are avoided by going over the upper floor.

I was in, but pretty much sealed in. There would be no going further forward today. I took enough photos that I think I could use but not necessarily the photos I wanted to use.

Slipped back out the window and replaced the board behind. Poked my head around the wall and spotted someone in high-vis. Waited for a few mins. De-kitted and caught the breath but not the skipped heart beat. Decided that I had waited long enough, picked up my tripod and strolled towards the figure who was stood next to two others, dressed in black. Explorers.

I politely walked past and wished them good morning. I pointed out the Sec that he should be more concerned about the people stealing the slate and lead than the photographers and made for the way out.

The other two explorers caught me in the car park and informed me that there is now a second sec firm on site and that the site had been pretty much sealed up since the weekend before. I had already really done my final farewell visit to the site so wasn’t too worried but I had hoped to be able to pop back to see specific bits. No doubt I will, but I shall have to tread softly.

 

T