Tales of the Urban Explorer: Pendleton Bowling Club

Pendleton Bowling Club had been a nemesis. Over around three years I had tried it, noting every visit the view was getting noticeably worse, the vandalism more predominant.

@anidiotexplores was also getting pissed off at the lack of access. It was deemed open by some random bastard, only to be sealed upon arrival. Was it more bullshit information again?

Pendleton Bowling Club 118 years old and a victim of the COVID Scamdemic, that created so many more explores for the likes me ME!

Source

Before it was wrecked and torn apart, this was a vintage building.

I knew only too well where to park, as right outside the gates was a dead giveaway. This ex-club is on a busy road and you can bet passing cops would notice a suspiciously parked vehicle at the entrance.

What a mess, every window that could be smashed, was smashed.

… and now a few items that used to live inside, are in the car park, destroyed and useless.

There was once a door there, and it was reported to us that 'the front door is open'.

Well…, what door? The owners have created a new impenetrable one and at least one shithead decided to try and nut it, maybe with their head?

Not dissuaded we checked the left side of the building and noticed what looked like a garage that could be accessed by bending low.

Inside was a load of junk.

Did they run the administration affairs from here and who is ‘Hughes’?

Underwhelming were my thoughts, but let’s snap this crap in case we can’t devour the main course later.

Ducking back under, I looked upon the bowling green. Unleashing a large black bowl on there would cause it to instantly stop due to the mass of weeds.

No bowling is going to happen here anytime.

It was looking dire, but all sides of a building must be checked and the right side that used to house a massive gate (that's now gone), needed checking out.

Climb on the blue bin, and wriggle through the gap while trying not to lacerate your back on the unforgiving tin roof, that was the plan.

On the other side was a helpful chair, and beyond that, an even better open door. It looked like a success and was surprisingly easy.

Inside was damp, smelly and a little sludgy underfoot.

Once you see a cock, you know you have hit the jackpot. A bar without a lick of beer also confirmed we had managed to defeat the concrete front door.

It was early August and I was shivering in here, not due to ghostly spirits flying around me going ‘BOO’, but the dampness had permeated the atmosphere leaving the air hanging and thick.

The upbeat calendar was trying to raise my spirits but it was hardly working.

Could this ever have been a joyous place, full of bowlers getting pissed after their dull game?

Judging by the thickness of the 'yearbook', I have to conclude that little happened at Pendleton Bowling Club.

Watch your step when walking around; you could easily lose an eye, have your ear tickled, or maybe your nose picked by any one of those dangling bits of metal.

Could it be more exciting up there? We were about to find out.

‘Christmas is Shite’, what a humbug.

Someone can’t make their mind up; I think the change is quite apt.

Another smaller bar upstairs; it's quite common if the landlord does not live within the premises, as is the case here.

The floor was very dodgy up here, and though I would have liked to peer out of the front windows, I was apprehensive about walking the few feet to what were once... windows.

Call it a feeling, but I get those sometimes about the quality of what I am about to walk on, it comes with experience.

Was there anything else to see? We traipsed down the stairs which felt a lot safer.

Mr Catlow Esq. is looking a little faded.

With my bright light, @anidiotexplores gives off a shadow on the far wall. It had been a little underwhelming inside Pendleton Bowling Club, much like the garage.

For those exciting karaoke nights…, no doubt.

Just £25 and you can join the club. New seeds on the lawn it says. I wouldn’t call the lawn full of Triffids but it’s gotten quite long.

Do you think it would power up if plugged into a wall socket?

2020 looks to have been the demise year for the club. I looked at it around the middle of that year on my first attempt.

It will take more than this to clean the place up.

Four Brown Ale’s and a single Beck. We could have split them and got pissed. The glasses just need a rub to be clean.

In today’s exploring world, you have to take what’s given. It was not the best but the nemesis is no more.

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