Tales of the Urban Explorer: Priory House ('The White House')
What could be better after a hard day exploring than to end on a nice chilled white country house that is barely standing?
I knew of ‘Priory House’, or ‘The White House’ as it’s occasionally named from other posts on those ‘other’ social media sites.
It took quite a bit of detective work to find it, as besides a few clues about the town, for once nobody was giving the location out easily.
It's nice to clear the dust out and use my location-finding skills once in a while and keeps me from being lazy.
There’s fractured information about ‘Priory House’ littered around the internet. One story tells of a ‘John Holmes’ who got into financial troubles and had to let the house go. Before that, he was known locally for hosting elaborate garden parties.
Another tale from 2011 depicts a teenager who died due to smoke inhalation after being caught by a blaze in the then derelict house, and whose corpse was found under a mattress.
By all accounts, this story was hosted in the Yorkshire Evening Post but when I checked their archives, I found nothing.
I have no reason to doubt either story, the latter one meaning there could well be ghosts, or perhaps walking zombies walking around inside. It all makes for a more interesting visit.
After climbing a medium-sized wall, we were out of sight and walking toward what was left of 'Priory House'. When 'John Holmes' left does not appear to be on record, but I am estimating 20+ years with what I could see.
This was not going to amount to a A+ class explore, together with lost troves of gold relics, but rather... more piles of stone, wood, and miscellaneous other shit covering what the house used to contain.
Getting inside was hardly an issue, the window gaped in front of us enticing us into the gloom.
The white tiles indicate it could have once been a kitchen area.
… just as the wooden horizontal slats make this suspiciously like what was a staircase. As much as I tried, upstairs was going to be out of the question on this occasion.
Passing by several completely destroyed rooms, I noticed yet another ex-set of stairs leading upwards that was also missing.
Other rooms were quite inaccessible unless you wanted large beams to fall on your skull whilst trying to get in.
Spare tyres and what looks like the wheel from a golf cart.
When stone steps have this much-dried shit stuck to them, they are tricky to climb.
The fireplace and the built-in cupboards are recognisable, but little else.
These shelves had been attached to the wall by someone in the past, and miraculously are still attached.
It was easier to exit via the original window than to access the other areas of 'Priory House' using the interior passages. Many were blocked.
Guess what’s over there?
This once elegant house was not getting any better, the further inside we dug.
Is that real glass in the window? I didn’t bother wandering over to check.
Now just look at that; it's a real desk, with real drawers that can positively be identified.
I found more doors in wayward positions such as this one than attached by their hinges.
You might think there could be some important documents contained within or at least a few vintage porn magazines?
Fuck that, I am not going up there.
Sometimes you need to hold your breath inside derps that have decayed as badly as this one. One bad move and it comes down around you.
Upstairs was not going to happen in this part, but I did manage to climb a mound of dirt to take this one from an upper vantage point.
‘Priory House’ appeared to be a menagerie of several buildings that were once connected. It would have been some place once.
The rest of our exploration consisted of external shots as many blockages impeded our internal curiosity.
A huge bay window sticks out further than what seems possible.
As if there were not enough other access points into ‘Priory House’. This one was a little small to climb through.
The local wildlife and flowers were having a great time. Nettles were still in abundance and hindered our progress.
'Priory House' is slowly sinking into the ground and within another decade will be gone from this world. It is beyond saving and disappointingly we saw no undead or otherworldly beings inside.
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What if a snake pops out while you are exploring this kind of place. Will you be ready? It really looks dangerous
Snakes are rare here, in fact I have never seen one in the wild.. ever!
Really? It's safe then hehe
It is.
Sounds like a Horror Movie House
Wonder you used Compass and paper map or Google map to find location?
Literally, I have heard this from relative I meet like getting into financial troubles selling land or Property and than after 20 years or 30years while walking from that place they tell oh, it was mine and now it's worth is in trillion.
Woah, didn't see that coming :!
This house is indeed giving a horror vibes but sadly nothing showed up... Maybe Ghosts were protecting themselves from Hooman that's why unaccessible rooms there....well, do you really thought or make scenarios in mind while paying a visit or after that? Curious to know the feeling or how heart beats. Hehe!
The art of google maps is the one. You do get used to searching for things after a while.
Yeah.... Makes thing perfect!
So beautiful
I've recently found out about a little town in the county where I'm living which has no locals there anymore and the single source of life there is just the nature which is taking control over all the buildings left, no matter if they were houses, schools, hospitals, shops, and so on. When I've read about it, I've instantly thought about you and that it would make it a great subject for a post in this community :)
That sounds perfect, go ahead and post it if you have the content and are willing to write it up.
I'm not that brave to enter this kind of places haha
I love how nature has reclaimed a lot of this place. I wonder how many of these kind of buildings are hidden in the deep vegetation around the country. More "green house" than "white house" :D
LOL, it is now, the foliage around it made it look better than it is. It was that time of year.
I'm surprised there wasn't more greenery inside the house given how much it was covered on the outside. I expected it to be totally overrun. Sorry this one turned out to be a bust. It still looks like it was kind of a cool explore even if there weren't a lot of artifacts.
It was as expected, I had seen other images of it years before and it was a mess then. The desk was a surprise.., the last sign of humanity inside.
Interesting. Shocking that it lasted that long then without someone fire bombing it!
It must often be disappointing to not come across the undead. Gotta keep looking, I guess!
I am thwarted time after time, it's terrible 😀
I don't think it will last another decade tbh!!
just thought I would try this out for size, found it on a wall in germany. Testing before I unleash it all across FB
LOL, they will think it's cool.., and your point will likely go right over their heads!
😂👍
wild animals risk involved too
Not here, we don't have dangerous species in the wild.
Wow there is not much left of that place. Almost reminded me of lord of the rings and a hobbit house.
With little inside!
Mr @slobberchops, That huge semi-curved window could have been a beautiful dining room to enjoy a relaxing breakfast or a delicious dinner by the panoramic view towards the outdoor garden.
I did the tour, and I was afraid to go under those huge beams, those spaces where you held your breath for fear of a collapse. It is possible that it was looted in the past because of the few utensils left in sight.
I felt it stuck out a long way, that is some design. Little was left, and I should have explored it 10 years ago.
When I buy my new house I would like it to have a bay window, so to place my dining room overlooking a garden with hydrangeas would be fascinating for me.
So much green it was hard to know whether it was growing upward or hanging down at points!
Some of that place looked well fragile
Yes, it reminded me of that school in Liverpool were I did a double-take after @dizzydiscovery said..'one touch and that shit will cover you'.., sometimes I am too reckless.
Nice post as always. Well done.
@tipu curtate
This seems more rural than urban, but nice to see a distinct lack of human destruction.
It was a house.. once!
Wow very nice post. I enjoyed reading the post. thank you
This might sound weird, but it's one of the most beautiful time capsules of yours so far. I love how everything human is decaying and the tree roots are growing through everything and it's all green and pretty. I really enjoyed this one :)
I wish it could have been a Time Capsule. This is a true nature version!
It's great and I'm glad you captured it as it is right now.
I swear if it was possible to live in such a house and keep it maintained while the bushes overgrow it. I would. Definitely stay there!
It looks insanely beautiful from the outside! The inside not so much of course.
All the greenery also wants to live inside, and that kind of messes things up. If only it could be content to stay out there.
You might think that it was a bust, but I loved looking at the photos and the way nature is taking it back. Very nice.
Bit of a state that place - demolition time me thinks !
LOL.. kind of yes.
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Interesting that there's a whole movement and a community about this activity, what I find pretty compelling and I myself always felt attracted by.
Somehow these posts evoke me that adventurous feeling we all have inside.
Have you ever thought about taking some representative object or piece of something from each of those places you visit/explore and have them all in a place of yours to, maybe, remember each of these adventures?
Or, in the opposite, maybe to leave some representative object in all of these places, like a toy figure, a Hive sticker, or whatever fits you to let to know every other explorer you were there.
Just guessing 😊
Yes, that is part of it.
I never take anything, there's a code of ethics which true explorers follow.
Some newer explorers do this, but I don't. Again.., it's take nothing and leave nothing but footprints.
This was almost 'not a house'. A decade is too much to expect for that to last.
It might be there, but you can't see it anymore!
Que lastima una gran casa, y como la naturaleza las invade, seria bueno restaurar y tomar parte de su historia hacer de ella un centro cultural, a veces olvidamos que son recursos que podemos aprovechar para otra función a la comunidad. muchas gracias por tu publicación
what a journey! love urbex content.
Interesting hobyy you've got. But do you find sometimes something "different"? !LUV
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Amazing place, and amazing photos, a lot of them :D Must have been a really cosy place to stay before it got abandoned and left for nature to take over. It is always fascinating how the flora takes back its place after the human intervention is gone. Thanks for sharing!
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Although there is nothing much left but still the you captured the greenery looks awesome. nice clicks ofcource.
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I must say that these photos are fabulous and you did great work while capturing these clicks. Just amazing
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That is some find I must say! I have been reading your posts for quite some time now and I have to admit I still cannot decide if I like your Tales of the Urban Explorer adventures more or the gripping style you use to write the "The Horrors of Kwiksave" series.
Though there is one thing for sure every time I read your "Urban Explorer adventures" I pray and hope that you get back from your adventure safely and without any injuries and do write more often the follow ups on the "The Horrors of Kwiksave" series
You know it has been a long while since you did one of those "The Horrors of Kwiksave" posts.
Your posts are never hard to find dear @slobberchops as they are always in the trending section.
Though for this one I got here through the leo threads route
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Yes, I have been dawdling a little on the 'Horrors'. I do need to get that finished, it's been going on for literally years now.
Dear Sir I cannot complain for not finishing them part, even though every time you write about your experiences you bring it to a point that one is hoping you do not end the narration there but it does making one wonder what would happen next.
I know that is your writing style and very effective as a story teller.
So from the readers perspective it would be a lot better of you do not finish the series but keep writing them a bit more frequently.
Agreed. The trouble is, I prefer writing 'Mort the Shit Manager' which while the character may be genuine, the narrative is pure fiction.
Well One can hardly tell because the detailed narrative is such that everything is so well interwoven and real.
Plus With all the attention 'Mort the Shit Manager' is getting at the hands of the writer I would say he is such an integral part of the narrative.
I don't claim to be good at writing, I don't know why people think that. I write them and post them with barely any editing. This is not my profession, it's just for fun.
I love how nature just slowly takes back what house construction once did to its natural habitat. But looks like it many be a few decades before the house is fully taken over.. but give it time the plants will.
Thanks for sharing your urbex adventures.
You might not be able to see it soon, or at least parts. It was a huge rambling old house, and likely full of history. I struggle to find any old info about residential properties, there's limited info out there.