Tales of the Urban Explorer: Tilstone House

Is my memory finally starting to wane?

For the life of me, I could not remember how we entered the grounds of ‘Tilstone House’, a former country wedding venue, and now a partial wreck due to the fire around three years earlier.

After checking the Google Maps overheads, it came back to me.

This was another Daresbury Hall in the sense, that we had to crawl through a hole in the fence, scramble through thick brambles, get a view of the house, look for cameras then timidly walk around hoping we had no missed any surveillance gear attached to the corners.

Unlike the 'hall', there was nothing, and it was in markedly better nick than Daresbury without even a hint of scaffolding. Had the owners given up trying to secure 'Tilstone House'? You can't exactly walk in through the front gate, but this was easy..., like very easy.

Built in 1888, by Lord Daresbury…, hang on a minute.., isn’t that bloke not content with one massive house that hosts Zombie Apolocayse runs now? It seems not, these rich landowners had the peasants by the balls in those days and lived a lavish life with multiple mansions to live in.

Prices for weddings start at £4000, but don’t bother filing in the form, as they are unlikely to respond. Not giving a thought to weddings, we snuck around the rear and @anidiotexplores found a loose window that was amiable to being opened.

We were inside, and the vandals had solidly beaten us to it.

A luxury staircase donned with the finest Axminster carpets, chandeliers on the turn, and a ropey-looking upper part. Best not to start jumping up and down to see how long it lasts.

No doubt there’s been some swinging on that chandelier, looking at all the bent parts.

Properties don’t half deteriorate quickly if not heated and looked after. Look at the grisly colours of the corridor.

This little office looked interesting, a shame it was burnt.

A few souvenirs had survived; some paper doesn't burn as well as others.

One of the kitchens, and while it’s not completely gutted, you can see extensive smoke damage. What are those things on the table?

Some kind of batteries, and I don’t mean the teapot.

Water carafes for the guests sat waiting for their orders. Tap water in the UK is free if you order food. Bottled water is a different matter and ridiculously expensive.

I have been advised to never open fridges, but still do. Those blue bags…, now what’s in there, human kidneys ready for the black market?

Take your pick for bath time. A spot of Ant Killer could do wonders for your itchy ball sack?

Ugh, kind of grotty but a few could be saved.

Again chandeliers are meant to be pulled off the ceiling and swung on, right? Not that I do any of that shit.

A small bar, could we order some refreshments? Exploring is a tough old job.

The scene could almost pass for normal besides the window frame that’s been pulled off its hinges.

Mahogany furnishings, some wrapped up in cellophane. Were they planning to take some of this stuff out of here?

… or had this just been delivered when the disaster struck? Either way, it's sad to see expensive furniture lying here and waiting for the next set of arseholes to come in and destroy it.

These old mansion houses are part of England’s heritage, and there are LOTS of them dotted around the country. Most are not in this sorry state.

The bedrooms looked quite stripped, the bases and mattresses mostly separated.

That skylight window being wide open is hardly going to help ‘Tilstone House’. As it rains in England a lot, the floor will soon get soaked and then the roof will eventually collapse.

Ugh really. Can’t you use the fucking toilet instead?

Sections of ‘Tilstone House’ looked great and then we would suddenly come to another burnt section and the view would change dramatically.

For those cold nights when you need an extra sheet or blanket.

It’s a corner shower that technically still works. Stand for long enough and England's rain will pour through the roof and wash your sweat away. Cavemen used to do it, why can't we?

Blimey, up here things were getting downright derpy.

I thought coffins were supposed to be in the cellar areas. Those vampires don't like the sunlight much and being pink, you know there's a girly one in there not daring to open the lid.

I bet they all work too.

Walking around the upper towers was a little sketchier than the lower reaches.

Now that's a great way to take a bath, in style. Gently lower yourself in, and pray the floor doesn't collapse.

One of the more luxurious suites.

Once you traverse the gap you enter reality again. The left side looked very ropey, the right, not much better. I took a running jump and hoped the floor, far side would not crumble and give way.

After that, it was one vandalised room after another.

The roof has gone on the right side. It’s adios to this room; it’s not going to last much longer.

What a mess, and nobody seems to give a crap. Lord Daresbury would be turning over in his grave. Maybe he still roams the area and is locked in a coffin somewhere in the lower vaults?

There was definitely evidence of those bloodsuckers types at 'Tilstone House'.

Ha, now who do you think wrote that?

The surrounding grounds were fabulous and we snuck several externals before noticing that there was probably someone still living next door?

It looked a little sealed and gave off a distinct aroma of human habitation, so we didn’t hang around long.

Back through the jungle, past the laughable fencing, and off to the next explore.

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