Italian Urbex - Textil abbandonata, June 2015.

Another of many disused textile mills that I've visited. This manufacturer was based in the middle of absolutely nowhere nestled within a very remote part of Italy. Part of a very long, hot and arduous 3000km road trip across Italy last summer. 

Within the small town it resides in, perched amongst mountains, this is by far the largest building and had a massive factory floor. It’s no wonder that it became abandoned as there are no manufacturing centres for miles.

The building was probably built in the late 50’s / early 60’s although I couldn’t really pin a date on when it was last used, the calendar on the wall of the offices was 1981 and there was no sign of any computerisation. The living quarters and other rooms were all of 60’s / 70’s vintage… quite simply a proper time warp.

I can’t find a shred of information about the company on the internet, nor was there much company literature around, it all seemed to have been cleared out… Presumably the company folded long before t’internet.

All that remained was mostly trade magazines etc. Anyway, there was a shitload of machinery left, all decaying, more so if it was under one of the many drips from the roof.

There were circular sock knitting machines from Leicester, which was cool to see. Most of the sewers were Strobel, Dürkopp Adler or Pfaff (German), AMF Reece (American) with some Singer versions thrown in the mix… there was also an absolute shit tonne of unsold and unused cloth dating from the 60’s and some crazy 70’s t-shirts and stuff.

Photos mostly of the factory floor and associated gubbins as the other bits were shuttered up and pitch black. 

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Ruhrpott, Germany - February 2015

February, a hastily concocted trip saw Cregg and I flying out to Düsseldorf on a whim to meet up with Geo & Jemma who were already out in Europe and to visit our German friends Pierre, Becci and Marcel. 

As always, the hospitality was excellent, as were the buildings we visited and I don't believe appear on the internet elsewhere. Again, research pays. 

Having a penchant for the Ruhr's mining heritage and the way the Germans designed their facilities meant that we made a bee line for one of the most recently abandoned coal mines over there. Derphuize had travelled to Germany specifically to see one of the Kaue rooms and the one here didn't disappoint.

Not quite as large as the one at another nearby mine that we saw last year, but still nicely appointed. Link to the other mine here: http://urbanwanderings.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/bergwerk-w-ruhrpott-germany-november.html

This mine had the oddest headstock I've ever seen with a massive integrated cantilevered coal washery effectively bolted onto the outside of the immense 85m tall winding tower. The facility was never finished nor was it ever populated with the washery machinery and is now left as a big empty dark room full of pigeons and a ropey as fuck staircase.

Pressing on upwards past many barriers designed to stop people reaching the winding machinery at the +85m level, we finally came upon the completely intact Siemens & EPR winder and single control booth, reyt nice.

A breather and some fizzy apple juice later we made our descent and headed towards this delicious prison via a local wurst smothered in curry sauce.

Probably around 100 years old and out of use since 2006 it was again unmolested, full of prisoner graffiti and personal items.

Krankenhaus.

These futuristic, robot-esque guard towers straddled the original walls of the prison allowing the guards a 360 degree field of view/fire over both inside and outside the walls. Signage within the towers gave instruction to shoot at legs first in case of serious rioting.

An afternoon here with pretty much the run of the complex and a working tannoy provided a multitude of lols.

Time to make our way back towards the uk via a breakfast visit to a powerstation known as Ohm or Ω.

Bathed in crisp sunshine, this is now some sort of event space where they've retained the turbines and control panels as features, most interesting and a welcome end to a short trip.

As always, further detailed blog posts to come soon.

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