Tales of the Urban Explorer: Candlestick Cottage

Our next leg was to be the highlight of the trip. 'Candlestick Cottage', was a time-capsule of repute, famed for its isolation, many relics, dodgy upper floors and bleak, harsh sights.

Of course, I didn't know this before my visit, besides the floors which I was warned about.

This is merely my post visit representation of the venue. It was also a fucking long drive, and despite a recent tip that it was 'open' you can never be sure until you arrive and finish your scout.

It may have been isolated but there was a handy road running right past it. That meant no dodging farmers, ducking behind large bushes, climbing over noisy rattling gates or wincing when the local hounds hear you.

Dogs are a proverbial pain in the arse. They break your cover, alert the Karen's and in a worst case scenario charge you down, sinking their frothing fangs into your calf. Thankfully the latter scenario has never materialised yet.

The dirt road leading into the field alongside 'Candlestick Cottage' looked used. Farmer Giles may come racing down there any second in his V8 Tractor complete with a set of pitchforks and tell us to 'fuck off' or he will call the police, or worse bloody Fido may jump down and realise one of my worst fears.

The back looked sealed, with a mass black boards over all the windows, and of course we headed there first thinking that could well be our entrance point. It wasn't.

@anidiotexplores found it before me, and with a quick yell to me, made his way through a smallish window before I could blink.

I managed to get in avoiding a head first entry but it was pretty awkward. My limbs simply don't bend the way they used to.

Inside was dark, very dark and I was glad for the now vintage light I carry everywhere and now a veteran of over 400 explores.

'Candlestick Cottage' was not going to disappoint, it was teeming with ancient items.

'Proper Suede Cleaner'. Can you dispute its claim? The bottle next it looked markedly more recent.

Sights such as this I don't see too often and they are something to behold. That may sound weird but they are so far flung from what you see in modern life that they make you stare in awe. The level of natural decay was staggering, and most of this junk had not been moved in decades.

I didn't not touch or pick up the kettle that looks like a decaying budgie had sat down on it, took a dump and then died 15 years ago. It's now affixed to the handle.

I would need to look a little harder if I was to find the 'Tilley Storm Lantern'. I can imagine some dark and stormy nights on the exterior of 'Candlestick Cottage' happen occasionally.

The Clotted Cream Fudge lid was not opened, the stench from within would likely have knocked me out cold. Ancient perishables are best avoided. The milk carton from 2018, I am certain has been discarded by another explorer.

Black plastic racks looked like they might have housed razor blades once. With a shaving brush evident, this bloke didn't use or know about electric shavers.

Some nice fresh free range eggs I could have gone for. If only I can could find a price. No doubt the advertised fee would be substantially cheaper than today's outrageous food prices.

Episode 2 from December, 1958, this was getting better. I needed to find out about 'that hussy. The postcard is dated 'December 1938'.

You can probably zoom in and read the story if you are interested enough. The magazine was in surprisingly good condition, just a little damp.

This cottage had been ransacked, there was little doubt but not emptied.

The council tax bill was from 1994. I am always intrigued about past owners and why they abandoned home.

Sit down there at your peril.

Who stole the cushions? We could have taken a well-earned breather, enjoyed what was left of the blue wallpaper while getting a deserved warm by that cosy fireplace.

Bibby's Annual from 1936, I dare not open. The pages would have disintegrated into my fingers. I don't believe I have seen any children's books so old.

It's just turned 1pm, or is it 1am?

Grandma Candlestick's room. The bed doesn't half look uncomfortable and the floor as warned hosted some nice large holes.

In the old days, basic components didn't have fancy names. Sugar was sugar, and was white as was flour.

Not very fashionable and I wasn't about to start digging in the bottom section for grannies old stained knickers.

Being in here, that lamp may well have given me some wishes if I had rubbed it a little.

Is this Grandpa Candlesticks bed or just the spare? Both of them must have suffered from terrible backache given all the shit they had to lie on. Clean up a little will you, sheesh!

Mary Critchlow's insurance policy of Wingfield Manor, Derbyshire. A quick check tells me this manor is now an unsafe ruin. A lot can happen between 1973 and now.

There was no shortage of beds within 'Candlestick Cottage', each one more uncomfortable looking than the last.

I tried to capture this old torch twice, both of my efforts look slightly blurred.

The dresser on the first floor landing area hosted several coins. I was hoping they may be pre-decimal but no such luck. If the shitheads had been here, they would be the first items to go.

Probably from the 1940's at a guess, though I should have checked the editions.

They were in decent condition and quite readable.

1927, 1916!.., oh wow…, how old can we go? The latter one was written during the First World War. I struggle to read the prose from these times, the handwriting is generally of this style and the English is quite different from modern times.

Is Sam Rains even still alive? The exercise book style did spark a few memories of mine from primary school.

Hot news from Halloween 1953. Princess Margaret is being ousted out of some important position, maybe for shagging the wrong types of blokes.

Don't go too close to that wardrobe, it's purposely looking to fall on some unwary bastard who walks past it. I take it back, some wankers have been here.

For the most part, 'Candlestick Cottage' has survived the outside elements, but there was a little poking through in places, ah wait.., it's a fake plant!

I remember Vimto being purple, not yellow. It was hardly my favourite as a kid and I didn't 'always drink' it.

If you look at old footage, the kid's bikes tend to look like this. Is it the black and white shots, or were they constructed with rust and crap from their inception?

It looks like a replica, but being in here, I knew better.

Where where the Candlesticks? Probably stolen, just the like Axe's from 'The Axe House'

'MDCCCLIX' is 1859. It's quite old, but I expected that.

We left in a daze knowing we would likely never see anything so old content wise..., ever again.

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