Elderbro
May 20th, 2008, 13:53
Visited with Maverick and Tart Man.
We’d done Friars Walk before, but were never able to spend a long enough time inside to get decent photos and have a proper nose around – so we went back and did the whole bloody lot!
Unfortunately, even the tightest of tight places get infiltrated by chavscum and Friars Walk is now one of those places – the little sh*ts have managed to get in and have done some damage to the Jungle Gym, plus some pathetic attempts at graffiti with what looked like a crayon… Anyway, the damage was thankfully minimal and security have now been pointed to their access (different to ours) so hopefully that’s the last of that ;)
Anyhow, back to the explore. Found a lot of new stuff, including the pristine big heating room at the top of the complex, which lead to the roof. Also looked through some of the old blue print folders in the basements, which were packed with intricate plans of how the shopping complex was designed. There were plans for a health club, hotel and nightclub – all which never materialised. We also stumbled across a tramps lair, full of knick knacks and dirty sleeping bags. Luckily, it was behind a door that he/she couldn’t get through on their side, else it would soon turn into a Hobo Hotel…
Security logs stated that they’d visited 3 days ago so we were on stealth mode, but if they did visit that night, our paths never crossed. Judging by the incomprehensive pap that was written in there, I doubt they’d know what to do with us if they did catch us.
This place never seems to amaze me with its 95% electricity coverage, running water, flushing toilets, working lifts (BING!), working security cams/monitors and best of all, the tannoy system still works! “Spillage in aisle 3, spillage in aisle 3…” ;)
Friars Walk is still sealed tighter than a drum and with plans for the renovation of this end of Reading dragging on, it’ll be here for plenty of time. Enjoy the pics.
The main concourse
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2013/2507270829_69098005ac.jpg?v=0
Reflections
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2217/2508100084_0ca4ccf30d.jpg?v=0
Chavs had dragged this upstairs for some reason?
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3195/2507263885_871e195657.jpg?v=0
Effective security
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3166/2507283029_8bb51ee475.jpg?v=0
Self Diagnostic System in the security room
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3222/2508124344_4c432b0a6e.jpg?v=0
CCTV video archive
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3260/2508126604_68dec387e6.jpg?v=0
Security Log - great spelling guys...
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2282/2508126816_92c0155b05.jpg?v=0
Typical basement service corridor
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2085/2507308721_bec4c5e9cc.jpg?v=0
This was probably security's...
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2180/2508137026_aec49458b6.jpg?v=0
The upstairs heating control room - everything still working
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2080/2507330567_fa35426d6c.jpg?v=0
View from the roof with Western Tower in the distance
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2387/2507319971_89998c5437.jpg?v=0
A different view of Friars Walk
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3098/2508149208_cf4cbf9894.jpg?v=0
Spread 'em...
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2094/2508153994_44d456a8fd.jpg?v=0
Sprinkler system
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2282/2507333529_bfdd0ba1b6.jpg?v=0
Dialage
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3108/2508158444_03f590f3a2.jpg?v=0
One of the trillions of service corridors in the basement
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2252/2508165634_cff5ebf956.jpg?v=0
Blueprints
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2082/2507348393_afb600c9e9.jpg?v=0
In the ball pool! The kid in me took over at this point!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2382/2507353689_4983cae180.jpg?v=0
Jungle Gym inflatable organ
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3269/2508178616_ef25ec442f.jpg?v=0
Cheers.
We’d done Friars Walk before, but were never able to spend a long enough time inside to get decent photos and have a proper nose around – so we went back and did the whole bloody lot!
Unfortunately, even the tightest of tight places get infiltrated by chavscum and Friars Walk is now one of those places – the little sh*ts have managed to get in and have done some damage to the Jungle Gym, plus some pathetic attempts at graffiti with what looked like a crayon… Anyway, the damage was thankfully minimal and security have now been pointed to their access (different to ours) so hopefully that’s the last of that ;)
Anyhow, back to the explore. Found a lot of new stuff, including the pristine big heating room at the top of the complex, which lead to the roof. Also looked through some of the old blue print folders in the basements, which were packed with intricate plans of how the shopping complex was designed. There were plans for a health club, hotel and nightclub – all which never materialised. We also stumbled across a tramps lair, full of knick knacks and dirty sleeping bags. Luckily, it was behind a door that he/she couldn’t get through on their side, else it would soon turn into a Hobo Hotel…
Security logs stated that they’d visited 3 days ago so we were on stealth mode, but if they did visit that night, our paths never crossed. Judging by the incomprehensive pap that was written in there, I doubt they’d know what to do with us if they did catch us.
This place never seems to amaze me with its 95% electricity coverage, running water, flushing toilets, working lifts (BING!), working security cams/monitors and best of all, the tannoy system still works! “Spillage in aisle 3, spillage in aisle 3…” ;)
Friars Walk is still sealed tighter than a drum and with plans for the renovation of this end of Reading dragging on, it’ll be here for plenty of time. Enjoy the pics.
The main concourse
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2013/2507270829_69098005ac.jpg?v=0
Reflections
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2217/2508100084_0ca4ccf30d.jpg?v=0
Chavs had dragged this upstairs for some reason?
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3195/2507263885_871e195657.jpg?v=0
Effective security
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3166/2507283029_8bb51ee475.jpg?v=0
Self Diagnostic System in the security room
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3222/2508124344_4c432b0a6e.jpg?v=0
CCTV video archive
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3260/2508126604_68dec387e6.jpg?v=0
Security Log - great spelling guys...
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2282/2508126816_92c0155b05.jpg?v=0
Typical basement service corridor
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2085/2507308721_bec4c5e9cc.jpg?v=0
This was probably security's...
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2180/2508137026_aec49458b6.jpg?v=0
The upstairs heating control room - everything still working
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2080/2507330567_fa35426d6c.jpg?v=0
View from the roof with Western Tower in the distance
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2387/2507319971_89998c5437.jpg?v=0
A different view of Friars Walk
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3098/2508149208_cf4cbf9894.jpg?v=0
Spread 'em...
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2094/2508153994_44d456a8fd.jpg?v=0
Sprinkler system
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2282/2507333529_bfdd0ba1b6.jpg?v=0
Dialage
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3108/2508158444_03f590f3a2.jpg?v=0
One of the trillions of service corridors in the basement
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2252/2508165634_cff5ebf956.jpg?v=0
Blueprints
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2082/2507348393_afb600c9e9.jpg?v=0
In the ball pool! The kid in me took over at this point!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2382/2507353689_4983cae180.jpg?v=0
Jungle Gym inflatable organ
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3269/2508178616_ef25ec442f.jpg?v=0
Cheers.