When I first ventured into South-East London and the Elephant and Castle area, I could not help noticing the hideously ugly buildings that towered on the other side of the high-rising Strata building. After doing some research, I discovered that the buildings made up the
Heygate Estate, which used to be a council house area from the 1970's onwards. It was only a few years ago that the estate was abandoned.
The whole area is under demolition at the moment. Last summer, I managed to get through to the estate along with a few friends. The entrance we used to get it has since been blocked, so I am quite glad we made it there when we did.
The estate has a certain ghostly feel about it. It reminds me of the pictures I have seen of the town of Prypiat in Ukraine, which was abandoned after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Time is standing still, and I find myself thinking about the lives people have led there. The estate is quite fascinating in an urban decay kind of way.
See for yourself. Here are some pictures I took:
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| Anyone up for Pacman Heygate-style? |
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| A view from the estate towards the new Strata building. |
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Access to the old flats and apartments is blocked by glass walls, barb wire, or metal gates.
The porches are full of abandoned furniture and rubbish. |
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| More rubbish, this time on the ground. |
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| There's a lot of colourful graffiti around. |
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| Words of wisdom by the old surgery entrance. |
