Pictures of the abandoned Heygate Estate

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:

Anyone up for Pacman Heygate-style?

A view from the estate towards the new Strata building. 

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. 

More rubbish, this time on the ground.

There's a lot of colourful graffiti around. 

Words of wisdom by the old surgery entrance.