Wills' Office building, Bristol - 2005

[BlackSheep]

This place is quite local to me, and seemed simple enough for my first foray into this 'urban exploring' business. It's the office building attached to the old Wills' tobacco factory in south Bristol. The steel and concrete frame/shell that remains is listed, and will be converted into apartments (surprise, surprise) in the new year.

http://blacksheep.taffers.com/urbex/UEpic01.jpg
The building itself, seen from within the original grounds.

http://blacksheep.taffers.com/urbex/UEpic02.jpg
Other side of the grounds from 1st-basement level.

http://blacksheep.taffers.com/urbex/UEpic03.jpg
South stairway entrance to 2nd-basement.

http://blacksheep.taffers.com/urbex/UEpic04.jpg
Steel beams in the darkest corner of the basement.

http://blacksheep.taffers.com/urbex/UEpic05.jpg
Sub-level in basement. Maybe a plant room / utilities? The holes to the lower-left look straight out to the water, which flows wholly under the building.

http://blacksheep.taffers.com/urbex/UEpic06.jpg
Sub-level from opposite end.

http://blacksheep.taffers.com/urbex/UEpic07.jpg
Access steps to sub-level from 2nd-basement.

http://blacksheep.taffers.com/urbex/UEpic08.jpg
Obligatory up-the-liftshaft shot!

http://blacksheep.taffers.com/urbex/UEpic09.jpg
Pipes and stuff in the 1st-basement.

http://blacksheep.taffers.com/urbex/UEpic10.jpg
There are two sets of these strange holes in the basement floor. Too regular to be damage, maybe they were skylights for the floor below.

http://blacksheep.taffers.com/urbex/UEpic11.jpg
First basement level long shot, lift and stair cores centre-left.

http://blacksheep.taffers.com/urbex/UEpic12.jpg
Gratuitous semi-arty sunset shot!

Time and balls prevented my exploration above ground level (no-trespassing signs! eek!), maybe one day I'll get there. Really want shots from the roof and down that liftshaft!


(hope this passes muster as a first attempt!)

[mr loft]

http://www.riskybuildings.org.uk/docs/30wills/

for more info