Abandoned Scotland: Dalquharran Castle

POST FROM WWW.ITALIAPERDUTA.COM

Original post: Dalquharran Castle.

Out exploring in April 2011, we actually went to visit Loudoun Castle theme park but after walking up to the front entrance we were swiftly turned away by angry security concerned we were going to pinch gardening equipment (despite having nothing but camera equipment in hand). So our backup for the day was Dalquharran castle (old and new). It was actually a really good explore with the sunshine beaming (a rarity in the Scottish climate). We first made our way to the new castle, looking at the surrounding buildings and architecture. Sadly both castles are now shells with several of the upper floors being removed in the new castle and the walls crumbling in the old. Some detailing such as the fireplaces could still be seen in the upper floors of the castle and the basement had several items scattered around. 

Check out the video below to see the results of the day and more of what is left of the castles:

Built around 1790 Dalquharran Caslte replaced another castle of the same name, located within a few hundred yards from its present site. Built by Robert Adam, famous for Culzean Castle, it was extended in 1881 with the addition of the side wings.

Dalquharran Castle now lies in limbo, waiting for developers to renovate it to its former glory. Various rooms have been cleared however most of the upper floors are open to the sky.

Articolo di Abandoned Scotland - www.abandonedscotland.com -

Original post: Dalquharran Castle.

Photos on flickr: Dalquharran Castle.

Abandoned Scotland: Glasgow Botanic Gardens Station

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Original post: Glasgow Botanic Gardens Underground Station Video.

We visited the underground station in the Botanic Gardens in Glasgow as one of our first explores, for most of us it was the first time we had been inside an abandoned railway tunnel. I think we all feel this was the best railway tunnel that we’ve been down in Scotland so far and it would take quite a bit to top it. 

The Botanic Gardens Station, Glasgow, was built 1896 and was part of the line which connected Stobcross with other forgotten stations in the Partick area and beyond. The station was the first on the line to close in 1939 and lies abandoned to this day. After its original closure the station building was converted into shops and was later a nightclub before it was destroyed by fire in 1970. Nothing remains of the building and the only evidence of the station's existance is the ventilation shafts visible from ground level within the Botanic Gardens.

Item by Abandoned Scotland - www.abandonedscotland.com -

Original post: Glasgow Botanic Gardens Underground Station Video.

Photos on flickr: Botanic Gardens Station.

Abandoned Scotland: St. Peter's Seminary

POST FROM ITALIAPERDUTA.COM: ABANDONED SCOTLAND, ST. PETER'S SEMINARY

We publish today the first article of "Abandoned Scotland", a passionate team of urban esploration that undertake a very interesting journey to discover hidden and abbandoned places or off-limits zone in the beautiful Scotland. For those who want to know the urban exploration of Abandoned Scotland, this is their blog, rich of photos and videos: www.abandonedscotland.com.

Original post: Our first video St. Peter's Seminary.

Well it was back in March 2011 that we decided to visit St. Peter’s Seminary, since then an arts group called the NVA have made plans to renovate it and have the existing buildings back in use for art exhibitions and education. It will be interesting to see how it turns out with it’s new lease of life. In the meantime here is the video from our visit:

St Peter's Seminary was built in 1966 and is situated in dense woodland to the north of Cardross. IT was supposed to house up to 100 students, training to be catholic priests however never reached its full capacity. Due to maintenance problems the building fell into disrepair and was abandoned.

Its present state is a sorry sight, however surprisingly the building is listed Category A, which is the highest level of protection for a building. Nearly all parts of the building which are not made of concrete have been destroyed by vandals and the weather.

This is what remains of the students bedrooms. This one is one of the few remaining with what could pass as an intact floor.

The main hall of the Seminary.

Item of Abandoned Scotland - www.abandonedscotland.com -

Original post: Our first video St. Peter's Seminary.

Photos on flickr: St. Peter's Seminary.

Models of the past

ORIGINAL POST: MINIATURE DEL PASSATO

Self taught ceramic and wood artist Paul Charron has been creating facade replicas of historic Western American architecture since 2003, inspired by his love of the west and the history of it's settlement. These are not doll house or model railroad pieces, but Paul's view of the intrinsic value held in a building's existence. Although painting and photography can capture the beauty of a building and it's environment, Paul feels that only three dimensional representation through fine detail can produce true realism. Through his patience and perseverance, Paul strives to attain the most detail he can with his mediums. His three building facade from Virginia City Nevada for example, has nearly 1000 hours of work involved. Although currently spending most of his spare time creating in his studio, he intends on gradually shifting his entire concentration to documenting the West's historic structures through his art. He is looking forward to sharing his passion and unwavering dedication to his chosen theme at history and art museums and western art galleries throughout the west.

The description of this awesome project in the hands of his own words:

"I create replicas of historic Western American building facades in approximately half scale. I concentrate on mid to late Nineteenth century buildings, because this was a time of so much activity in the West. I try to present the buildings as they may have appeared a century ago in a weathered and abandoned state, brought about by the death of a once vibrant community.

I have always been intrigued by Ghost Towns and the history of the American West. The fact that men and women with great determination and ingenuity settled such a vast region in such a short span of time is certainly a great accomplishment. I am inspired by the spirit of their endeavors every time I look at the remnants of the towns they built and left behind. There are few architectural masterpieces in these towns, but many simple, elegant, and well built monuments to this fascinating time in American history.

My art can be described as Realism, although I do take artistic license in rendering the colors and tones of the building facades, and portraying various architectural elements at different points of time in the building's life. No attempt is made to entice the viewer to look into the windows, the art is the building itself, and the spirit held within.

Working from my small home studio in Corvallis, Oregon, I first conduct research using information taken from site visits, historical photos, and Library of Congress Historic American Building Survey (HABS) diagrams. A great deal of time is taken to convert this information into templates and stabilizing supports for forming the building's shell, which is made with mid and high fire clay and/or wood. Clay shrinkage must be accounted for to achieve an approximate half inch scale. Doors, windows, and architectural details are created using various tight grained woods, metal, and glass. Color and texture is applied using fine mortar, aging solutions, powdered coloring dyes, earth tone chalks, and acrylic paints. Finished pieces can be hung or set on a pedestal or narrow shelf."

Some of the beautiful works of Paul Charron can be found in the image gallery on original post and in the facebook page dedicated : Bulding in the Past.