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Report - - Southall Holder Station #960 - April 2015 | Industrial Sites | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - Southall Holder Station #960 - April 2015

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Adders

living in a cold world
Regular User
Southall is a district in the western arsehole of London in the borough of Ealing, not too far from Heathrow Airport. It doesn't boast too much, and is hardly the choice location for strolls in the wilderness, but not far from the railway lines is a 83 acre site that used to house the Southall Gas Works, who used to manufacture town gas for the surrounding area. The plant is now long gone, and the majority of the site is now used as a car park for nearby Heathrow.

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However, what does remain on site is a 7,500,00 cubic feet, 300+ foot tall waterless gas holder that was constructed in the 1930's by the Gas Light and Coke Company. It's somewhat of a local landmark, which isn't surprising as the rest of Southall is pretty featureless and shit.

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A curling staircase wraps up and around the structure, which is a nice change from the usual ladder and ironwork involved in climbing traditional water gas holders.

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And they've covered it in bright red LED lights, at a guess to warn approaching aircraft of its presence, but it could also be to provide Southall residents with hope, and reassurance that the world isn't that bad after all.

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Part of the site is still in use as a pressure reduction and storage facility of natural gas, and so National Grid who currently own the site have worked hard at trying to secure the perimeter from inquisitive passers-by.

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Palisade fences, electric fencing, palisade fencing with electric on top, IR cameras, beam sensors and ladder cages are part of the repertoire they've got under their belt, which makes getting in a bit interesting, and very comical.

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But once on top you get a fantastic view of absolutely nothing. Southall is flat, and the car park at the base is hardly a spectacle.

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It's the structure itself that offers an impressive view, and by making your way inside you can take the concertina stairwell down to the bottom to fully appreciate the size of this monster.

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Light spills in from the top of the tower, and the glossy, oily walls help reflect some of the light to the base.

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I took two visits out to the holder. The first a night time visit with Gabe, Seffy, Monkey & WDW, and then a daytime revisit with Gabe to get some internals with decent light. We'd spoken to others about getting in here, so a big thanks goes out to @GAJ & @bhg for proving it was do-able, and helping out with bits and pieces.

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Both times were a fun day/night out, although will be happy never to return to Southall.

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Seffy

SWC
Staff member
Moderator
Southall really is a shithole... Looks a lot worse during the day too!

Top drawer photos man, mine were all shit :p Felt so good to finally get up here, and it just proves that it pays off to keep checking things eh.
 

Bertie Bollockbrains

There is no pain
Regular User
Fantastic stuff! Is this the one I see from the train to Paddington?

Yep agreed Southall really is shit. My work sends me into there a lot.
 

canute

货车司机和国王
28DL Full Member
Nice work - really like that internal view looking up to the light :thumb

Sounds like it's the high point in Southall in more ways than one
 

zombizza

Sore Knee
Regular User
amazing. there is something about this, and its deceased sister in battersea that really attracts me. I only wish I was up to it
 

GAJ

Mr Muscle
28DL Full Member
Awesome stuff as usual adders! Nice to finally see some good shots from here :thumb
 

WhoDaresWins

Let's do this
Regular User
I'm glad to of finally done this after looking at it every time I head into and out of London! Only good thing in Southall.
 
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