On the 17th Of October 1883 the observatory at the summity of Ben Nevis was first opened. It remained open for 21 years, closing in 1904 due to lack of funding. In the 105 years it has remained derelict it slowly fell apart but amazingly some of the original beams used in its construction are still littering the summit of Ben Nevis. To get to the summit is a 4,409 ft (1,344m) climb making it one of the most difficult, highest, remote and time consuming to get to.

Further Reading:

Wikipedia.org

Glasgow Zoo closed on the 23rd August 2003. Two years after the sites closure a few small animals such as llamas, ponies and ostriches still remained. There is essentially no information about this site, including a complete lack of wikipedia page. It seems Glasgow Zoo is destined to be forgotten forever. Sadly I’ve really missed this site, even though it’s only been closed six years it’s been completely destroy by Neds (Scottish Chavs) alot of the buildings are now completely gone including the Tropical House & the zoo shop.

Further Reading:

Tiscali personal site

St. Peter’s Seminary screams 1980 architecture despite being designed in the 1961 and completed in 1966. The church decided young priests should be trained in a community rather than in remote schools and as a result it never met its capacity of 100 students. By the time construction was completed it lasted a mere 14 years after its completion in 1980 it was abandoned by the church and became a drug rehabilitation centre. From the very beginning due to its unique design the building was plagued by maintenance problems. As a drug rehabilitation centre these problems continued and worsened eventually the building was forced to close its doors in the late 1980s, despite all these problems it is a category A listed building.

Thinking of going yourself? Don’t bother. It’s building itself has started to crumble, the vandals have ruined it and the roof above the altar is completely burnt out. If I’d known just how bad it was before I went I wouldn’t have bothered myself.

Further Reading:

Wikipedia.org

Telegraph Article

Risky Buildings

Designed by architect James Miller and opening on the 10th August 1896, Botanic Gardens Station served as a an excellent way for visitors to gain access to Glasgows beautiful Botanic Gardens until its close as a station 43 years later on 2nd February 1939. After it ceased to be a station it served many uses including that of a cafe, a plumbers and even a nightclub although it is more likely that the nightclub was situated in the overground station offices. It was as a nightclub that it finally ended its occupied life after a fire broke out after a battle of a bands contest on the 22nd March 1970. It has remained derelict for nearly 40 years. It is at this point I visited.

Further Reading:

Wikipedia.org