Tales of the Urban Explorer: Hyde Library
“Hyde Library is open, we need to get there quick”....
@anidiotexplorers as always, the eyes and ears of the Manchester Underground was telling me this over Facebook messaging. Facebook does have its uses..., but not many.
It was one of those old majestic buildings that I never manage to gain access to. We added it to the itinerary and scheduled it for a visit hoping for some success.
The present building was built in 1897, opened 2 years later, and the children's library section was added in 1931.
In 1946 the book fund was improved and the building was completely redecorated, the children's library and reference library were reopened.
In the 1950s the Library was recovering from a period of wartime neglect when it had been used as a first-aid post. It was closed in 2014 amid much protesting. As per the norm, it would all be in vain.
Source
As we approached @anidiotexplorers was in contact with another set of explorers. The Tour Bus was in full swing and as we struggled to find the way in I noticed a bunch of lads within the grounds.
"That's them... I know them", said @anidiotexplorers.
Better to know them than not.
He started waving and yelling like a crazy bastard and soon got their attention.
The benefits of collaboration; we had approached from the wrong angle and were soon skirting around the front, heading up the side and entering a large gap via the back that has since been firmly sealed up.
If they spent lots of money making the front look majestic, it appeared the cash had dried up when it came to the rear.
It looked boring, plain, and not at all photogenic.
I was quite overwhelmed that I was actually inside. Normally the entrance point would seal up before my very eyes on approach like some magical fucking conduit.
"You are not worthy..", a deep booming voice would emit causing me to cower in fear and terror. It had happened many times before. Some of these places are so full of themselves.
If you think it looked great from the outside, it was a different story in there.
Outside was an overcast day and a little cold. I felt a chill when entering this substantial-sized building that had seen little love over the last half-decade.
Wallpaper does not do very well when the central heating is permanently switched off.
This staircase looked so much better when actually standing in front of it. I am quite disappointed this photograph does so little justice.
We made our way up to what was some kind of reception area.
This part was quite soggy underfoot and I quickly backpedaled as it got progressively worse. It's not as though there was a shortage of sights and I was happy to miss this part.
Why are photocopiers so disposable? Is it because nobody wants to give themselves a hernia lugging them down the steps?
It looks bad but the floors were sturdy enough compared to some of the death traps I visit.
That spiral staircase was oh.... so inviting. I guess visitors would not be allowed up there even during the old opening times. We took little time climbing up, our footsteps making clanging noises on the metal.
The two pigeons on the left were far from happy to see us. They did keep quite still for once which is better than trying to fly through solid glass.
It looked like something from His Dark Materials; from another age! Plenty of embedded rust on this old relic; it has got to be a camera?
The white substance was tempting. Should I roll a twenty uptight and take a snort?
Thinking it was a little discoloured I thought better of it, and it had no 'Best Before' stamped anywhere. Yes, that was the determining factor.
Is it some kind of laboratory from the 1950s or items you might find in the chemistry class at school? I couldn't quite decide.
Blimey, I do love seeing stuff like this. It was back down the spiral staircase and yelling to those other explorers who couldn’t wait to get up and look themselves.
Hyde Library for the most part was quite empty and had several sets of staircases.
We descended with me taking note of the wear on the banister. I would guess this is the original woodwork from 120 years ago.
Collecting fire extinguishers can be obsessive. There would be little chance of burning down the library.
The Rutherford Gallery is not going to open, that is quite certain.
Some steps led us into a basement that was more than a little wet.
It almost looks new and those switches could do something.
If you think it looks spooky and scary, you have to remember there were around SIX of us in there. It kind of defuses that element to a near nothing.
One of those login terminals for customers; it wouldn’t spring to life no matter how much I coaxed it.
The old folders were just that. Not a scrap of paper in any of them. I thought there might have been a stray girlie magazine in at least one; most disappointing.
If you feel tired during your visit to the library there's always comfortable seating available.
In several different places..
The server room was looking a little rusty. I doubt those connectors would function now.
We pushed and heaved and the damn door would not open. Surely that's a breach of health and safety rules? I will send a report in later.
I would have thought these scales would be better located in that secret chemistry laboratory. Then I could have been sure about that 'dodgy powder'.
We spent around 45 minutes in Hyde Library. That’s a big explore for us speed explorers. What a blast!
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'Tales of the Urban Explorer'
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Holy shit, it's incredible how things can go completely to pot in only 6 years. It does look like a grand building on the outside though!
Those switches with the red and green lights really does make it look like it ought to be in an original Star Trek episode. I'm sure Spock would be able to tell the trajectory of random asteroids after staring at those.
Turn off the heat and they are doomed here. It's such a damp country and it rains a lot during certain times in the year.
I haven't watched Star Trek. Is Spock a genius in the series?
Yes, he was the show's genius, and alien, all in one. The show was produced back in the 60's and the "computers" that were shown were really just walls or boxes with lights flashing on them, with which the user's could apparently determine all sorts of things:
Bit of retrobright and that printer would be good as new.
That spiral staircase is worth a few quid!
You could start your own fire brigade slobberfire
That's my first spiral staircase, they are quite rare!
I'm just loading the van up with an oxyacetylene torch and some blankets. 😉
fr? I'm not sure if I've been to a spiral staircase but I didn't think they'd be so rare. A few days ago, someone remarked that a spiral staircase in a house was a "sign of wealth" and I found it strange. I thought spiral staircases were commonplace!!
Wow, what a cool old place. That banister looks like Wolverine had been there. That lab or whatever it was up the stairs was really cool!
The lab was great, you don't see things like that often. The atmosphere was something I can't bring over in my writing. Those pigeons were astonishingly well behaved and barely moved.
If it had been a little cleaner it might have almost been like something out of MYST.
what is myst?
Old school computer game.
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It's amazing almost some of those doors seem untouched but then the floor tells a different story!
The spiral staircase! Oh my! I love these O.O
Thanks for the post!
It was wet, green and slimy in several places. Makes for nice images though!
Oh 100%! Love it!
I wonder if they should hire a resauration team. While it's very aesthetic, it could fall on its own weight!
The rusty thing looked like a slide projector. That was an amazing collection of fire extinguishers.
The loss of so many public libraries is a crying shame. I doubt the new 'culture secretary' will do much about it unless they just stock her books.
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A slide projector, you think so? It looks well before my time. The locals were not amused when it was closed. I spent quite a lot of time in public libraries when I was in short pants.
I was always in my local library, but then I read all the time as a kid. Don't use them so much now as I read less books, but there is still one up the road.
Come to think of it, the one in my village.. come small town has also closed.
I'm assuming ours is still there. I ought to check.
I love the clanging noises as you go up or down those spiral staircases. That terminal looked newer than 2014. Sometimes it's easy to miss how time flies
Terrible condition inside, and probably grade listed so will rot away even more. Just like the Police Station thats coming up!
Ooo a cop shop!!! That will be fascinating!!
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There were jails!
That was my hope, the bars!!
Not those kind of bars!
You never know in a cop shop!!
wot no books?
i love that wrought iron staircase
Not a one, just those slimy binders with water dripping on 'em.
The inside of the Hyde Library is like the other face of the medal. The spiral staircase looks new. I don't think that the old relic was a camera.
Perhaps, they had the change to do experiment for the chemistry lesson at the library. I would love to see some old dusty books on the shelves.
It does say 'Technical School' etched on the brickwork. Maybe that relic is 100 years old!
I didn't expect the internal look. btw is there any paranormal activities story going on in there?
I'm not sure, there are people who do this but it's not my thing.
I love the grotesque textures of the passage of time, the color of the oxide. Greetings
The new "Fallout" graphics look fantastic 😄
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What happened to the books?
Every last one.. gone!
great place, unfortunately it is in neglect
Hyde Library?? That's so cool! Just look at that place, judging from the outside only, it's stunning piece of architectural history. Just getting to photograph it, in my opinion.
The wallpaper sliding off the walls like magic, I'm so jealous! I've needed that service before! I love spiral stairs, although, sometimes coming back down them is awkward. I'm sure it's because I'm left handed. :)) who would have guessed? Experiments at the public library? That was too crazy. Lol was that a lunchroom? Now, I'll have to look back. Those new buttons looked like an attempted replacement/renovation that wont be happening. What a gtand old staircase! I wonder how many backsides slid down that bannister? Weeeeee!
Such a great find. It wasnt as impressive as one would think, yet, i was impressed. Splendid post! I wspecially liked the write up on this one.
Yes I loved this one and couldn't quite believe the guardians let me in! The number of these types I have tried and failed is quite ridiculous.
What I love about these is the etchings on the external brickwork, with dates and titles. So much effort went into it, something you don't see now.
That is exactly what I love about these old buildings! Not just any old building, but, ones that they have put much effort and thought into it. I have to wonder if the built it this way because it was going to be a place of knowledge a place of under and a place of inquisitiveness. All those things lead to a higher level of thinking, at least I think. So in my opinion oh, the beauty that is put into this would not be wasted. I find it's a shame that they have not repurposed this Jewel yeah, but I find that here in the states they take the most amazing pieces of architecture and bulldoze them for something more modern or usable. Because that's so worth it. LOL
I love exploring abandoned places too. Fun to photograph and gives you that thrill of being in some kind of haunted house, something most people don't do very often. I'm sure you had a lot of fun exploring that place. Keep up the great work!
This is what I do, lots more coming soon!
@slobberchops It really has a beautiful front that building, but inside it seems to me that it had a nauseating smell, I do not know if it is the case but it was the impression that gave me that chaotic environment.
I admire your taste for exploring this kind of places, it's good that this time you were exploring in a group.
I can't recall any bad smell in this one apart from the usual musty old one that gets everywhere. I only explore with a partner, these other guys happened to be in there and are also explorers. It's a big thing here.
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Staircases were a grand reminder of back when..., looked so good from the front, back had no comparison which is surprising.
Courtyard another very school like feature, not sure about some of the things you found another nice explore ticked off, thanks for awesome share once again!
I am glad I managed to get in this one. So many have been disappointments especially lately. You would think every other property is empty here!
Old places held a lot of style from era, nice to get to see then imagine the grandeur.
Although in this case possibly the old 'Ma am' rushing around with words gushing, or sitting outside the Principles office waiting, 'talking in the library punishment'... 😁