Tales of the Urban Explorer: Providence Mill

I am reading an old article that states 'Providence Mill’ might be demolished after a fire’. What makes me laugh is the fire was almost 10 years ago, and the mill remains.

Providence Mill is a derelict 19th-century former textile mill, and was expanded numerous times through the decades becoming one of Bradford's largest mills.

The mill was last used in 2006, by a furnishing company who abandoned the premises due to structural issues. It has remained empty since then. In 2013 a fire partially destroyed Providence Mill. It is currently up for sale at £200,000.

Why has it not been demolished? That is because it’s in Bradford, a place where nobody wants to live. Half of the town centre is made-up of derelict buildings such as this, full of holes and eyesores.

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The land may be relatively town centre but this is not London and trying to sell the land after the expensive procurement of demolition may not be feasible.

'so let's just leave it to rot and maybe it will demolish itself after one hundred years or so'

We had tried and failed Hollings Mill which is almost next door. That consisted of climbing a tree that happened to be growing alongside the building, transferring your weight onto a drainpipe, and then scrambling through a window.

Except the window had a whole bunch of solid wire netting around it now. Someone had noticed and sealed the place up. I am unsure if I could have done the rest, to be honest. It was stretching my capabilities.

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Providence Mill’ was a different situation and needed us to crawl under an ineffective gate with a large gap. It’s everyday tactics for us Urban Explorers.

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The prize of this arduous effort was ‘Providence Mill', a location of the poorest 'F' grade standard. If you wanted rotting floors, rotting stairs, no windows, and pure derpyness this would be your place.

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… and don’t get me started on the roof, what roof?

There were several sections to ‘Providence Mill’, all of them in absolutely terrible condition. That fire from a decade ago must have wiped out any redeeming features.

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I wish I could say 'great graffiti' but even that was crap, faded, and lacked the quality of its South Yorkshire cousins.

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…’@anidiotexplores wields a red t-shirt in an attempt to brighten up the surroundings of ‘Providence Mill’…

Bricks, pillows, and mushrooms; the walking was not very pleasant and uneven.

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Whoever got hung up there also got decapitated. May as well do the job properly.

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The only way across is to jump down, and then climb up the far side. Not a big deal, but as there was diddly-squat on the other side, I remember sighing in discontentment.

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Should I try and climb the ladder, do you think it would take my weight or collapse immediately?

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This part of ‘Providence Mill' did have a little roof left, but that had not stopped many holes from appearing underfoot.

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Yes, maybe not this time. As well as most of the bottom rung being absent and rotten, it looked a little burnt.

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Thanks, @anidiotexplores for sticking your foot in my photograph. This was the alternative route out, and you had to jump which created some unwanted momentum that propelled you down to the bottom.

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Casting a furtive glance at the rotting ladder in the corner and all the goodies I would miss on the upper floor, I jumped and immediately went into a run, using the bottom wall to kill my movement.

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This is where the cool people hang out then?

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It’s a little drier and there’s cock graffiti, what more would you want when shooting up?

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Old rusted machinery with what looks like insulation padding around it

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… and more evidence of the local smackheads and their behavioral patterns.

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I was hoping for a little more, some paperwork, some history, some real live smackheads maybe?

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It’s not bad, I could not draw anywhere near that well.

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The same artist methinks. If they take the skip away, then it’s gone forever.

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There were easier ways into ‘Providence Mill’ besides jumping over the tall red gates.

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As I mentioned in my last post, leaving your car close to a monstrosity such as this can lead to popped tyres, broken windows, and a burnt-out car. Yet they still leave them.

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24-hour access to the surrounding buildings, and for what?

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These decorative ash trays were attached to the exterior of ‘Providence Mill’ a nice touch and tells me everyone smoked around 1870.

Can you see the building opposite that looks like it's been renovated into housing? Imagine that view every morning when you look out of your window.

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We left ‘Providence Mill’ in search of something a little more upbeat.

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That's a rough place to make a bed. They must have done some updates at some point. That Pex tubing doesn't look that old. I'm guessing if it had been older it would have been copper. Unless maybe someone was doing a grow there more recently. I guess you have come across that before.

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It has been added to over the years, copper would be the first thing to go, as is with every place I see. Sometimes the thieves are inside stealing it and they get kind of angry at being disturbed.

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That doesn't shock me at all!

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Did you climb the ladder? It really seems rotten and ready to collapse :)

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Lol no, I didn't. There was nothing up there to see anyway, besides the image of yourself falling to your death!

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I really do wonder why they don't demolition these houses because I don't want to even imagine what goes on in there, exhale

That ladder is not looking climb able at all, even as light as I am, I won't want to take my chances, lol.

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It would create some space, but the building may be listed (can't be demolished). If this is the case, it would need renovating, the cost would be enormous. Yet somebody owns this, and it's doing nothing for them.

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That's true, I think that's enough reason why it wasn't demolished. It's totally a waste of time, effort and money.

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Fortunately from what I read you did not go up the staircase, it looks very crumbling because of the water, it has a lot of mold and mildew.

In places like that, have they tried to steal some of the equipment you use for your photography work, because of how lonely it looks? Mr @slobberchops There are always others peeking in.

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LOL, yes going up there would mean certain injury. I know my limits!

have they tried to steal some of the equipment you use for your photography work, because of how lonely it looks?

I rarely meet anyone and am always with @anidiotexplores, so safety in numbers.

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I rarely meet anyone and am always with @anidiotexplores, so safety in numbers.

Very good for you, Mr @slobberchops and your team, so we continue to know more genuine and interesting stories and urban tales.

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A very al fresco explore that one! I always wonder about the skag-hounds. Must they find the filthiest broken down of places to actually do the shooting up? Cant they find a p;ace that's a bit more easy on the arse to sit down?!

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This one was particularly shitty, but an explore is an explore. It's Bradford.., what you expect? :)

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What makes me laugh is the fire was almost 10 years ago, and the mill remains.

What the fuck 😂😂sounds like something that's supposed to be happening in my country.

This is where the cool people hang out then?

Ofcourse broh! Didn't you know???

Laughs laughs..

On a different note, it looks like that place is ready to fall within 10 years 😂😂

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There wasn't much left. From other accounts, it's been quite sealed up until recently.

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"This is where the cool people hang out then?" 💉😂😂😂 haaaa haaaa haaaa...

Another article full of photographic magic (because despite running into those strange visual chaos, you take great photos @slobberchops friend)... But also, as always, hilarious, witty, shrewd and fucking ironic! ... Great work style! 🔝🔝🔝... I send applause!!!

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Thanks, I met some Smackheads once. They were terrified of me and thought I was the cops, ready to bust them heh...

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Someone decapitated Minnie Mouse? Tragic.

As always, a nice pictorial record of this abandoned place.

Becca 🌷

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Someone decapitated Minnie Mouse? Tragic.

Yes, very mean.

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Well, some may say she had it coming, that annoying squeaky voice and all.

Becca 😊

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i really liked your abandon building post you are making and decided to visit an abandon village near my city. so wait for it .xoxox

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Awesome, please add it to the UX community. I will look for it.

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It's interesting to read about urban exploration and see the remnants of oil industrial buildings. The photos are especially cool, but too bad there's so much graffiti on the buildings.

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Not too much left in that place. I've never been to Bradford, and now I know what I'm missing !

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