ALIENWORKS POWER STATION
THE HISTORY:
All history from @Grom
This small power station in France was once surrounded by a sprawling ironworks was built to provide power for all the local heavy industry. The Cast Iron factories began in the late 1890s, to support this the coal powered power station known in recently years as 'Alienworks' was built in the 1930s. During its peak the ironworks employed 3000 people and produced 400,000 tons of cast iron a year.
The art deco design is unmistakable and has been surprisingly well preserved since it's eventual closure in 1991 due to local health concerns.
Most of the surrounding buildings and ironworks have been demolished as the surrounding area has slowly been redeveloped. The large blast furnace behind the site is the only survivor out of 6 and remains as a historical site used for events. There are no immediate plans to demolish the plant, but having survived over 30 years, it's hard say how much longer it'll last.
The main turbine hall has a variety of different types of turbines of varying ages and sizes. Although there is some graffiti and vandalism, it could certainly be far worse.
THE EXPLORE:
At the tail end of our exhausting yet brilliantly memorable nine day European trip with @UrbandonedTeam @jtza and Alex, it was time for our final power station.
Located in rural France, this one was an incredible experience from start to finish. Kicked off with a traditionally long route around the outside of the plant, cutting through brambles and shrubbery, we eventually made it past the perimeter fence much more easily than we anticipated...
Being one of our final explores, tiredness and restlessness was rife and we were running low on energy before this one, but entering the site and seeing it in person totally eradicated any negative feelings.
As with all places, seeing it for yourself inside is hugely different to seeing it on a screen, but this was different gravy. For me it was just the difference in nature between this place and any other I've seen.
The unparalleled character and individuality of Alienworks is what made it so special to me, combined with its innate ability to raise our pitifully low spirits.
Once inside, the first thing which hits you is the meticulous detail the architects put into this site. The art deco floor tiling is stunning and luckily the small amounts of graffiti did detract from its beauty.
The turbines were all really quite small which made it different to other power stations, and the difference between the outside of the building and the inside cannot be overstated.
Being quite compact, this was a reasonably quick explore and was cut somewhat short by our decision not to venture much further into the connected building, owing to large amounts of asbestos.
Alistair was the only one of us who decide to go in what I can only describe as this asbestos haven, where contractors have obviously began extraction., though it was mostly empty.
Walking out of the site, it really brought home the fact that the trip was at an end, and we'd certainly ended it on a high. So many memories and Alienworks is certainly not a place I will ever forget!
The art deco styling was unmissable.
A view of the turbine hall from the crane.
Part of the turbine had been removed and the rotors were visible.
The stairs led up to the control room from the turbine hall floor.
The panels were all made of marble.
The back of the control room.
The small boiler house stuck with the bright colour scheme of the turbine hall.
THE HISTORY:
All history from @Grom
This small power station in France was once surrounded by a sprawling ironworks was built to provide power for all the local heavy industry. The Cast Iron factories began in the late 1890s, to support this the coal powered power station known in recently years as 'Alienworks' was built in the 1930s. During its peak the ironworks employed 3000 people and produced 400,000 tons of cast iron a year.
The art deco design is unmistakable and has been surprisingly well preserved since it's eventual closure in 1991 due to local health concerns.
Most of the surrounding buildings and ironworks have been demolished as the surrounding area has slowly been redeveloped. The large blast furnace behind the site is the only survivor out of 6 and remains as a historical site used for events. There are no immediate plans to demolish the plant, but having survived over 30 years, it's hard say how much longer it'll last.
The main turbine hall has a variety of different types of turbines of varying ages and sizes. Although there is some graffiti and vandalism, it could certainly be far worse.
THE EXPLORE:
At the tail end of our exhausting yet brilliantly memorable nine day European trip with @UrbandonedTeam @jtza and Alex, it was time for our final power station.
Located in rural France, this one was an incredible experience from start to finish. Kicked off with a traditionally long route around the outside of the plant, cutting through brambles and shrubbery, we eventually made it past the perimeter fence much more easily than we anticipated...
Being one of our final explores, tiredness and restlessness was rife and we were running low on energy before this one, but entering the site and seeing it in person totally eradicated any negative feelings.
As with all places, seeing it for yourself inside is hugely different to seeing it on a screen, but this was different gravy. For me it was just the difference in nature between this place and any other I've seen.
The unparalleled character and individuality of Alienworks is what made it so special to me, combined with its innate ability to raise our pitifully low spirits.
Once inside, the first thing which hits you is the meticulous detail the architects put into this site. The art deco floor tiling is stunning and luckily the small amounts of graffiti did detract from its beauty.
The turbines were all really quite small which made it different to other power stations, and the difference between the outside of the building and the inside cannot be overstated.
Being quite compact, this was a reasonably quick explore and was cut somewhat short by our decision not to venture much further into the connected building, owing to large amounts of asbestos.
Alistair was the only one of us who decide to go in what I can only describe as this asbestos haven, where contractors have obviously began extraction., though it was mostly empty.
Walking out of the site, it really brought home the fact that the trip was at an end, and we'd certainly ended it on a high. So many memories and Alienworks is certainly not a place I will ever forget!
The art deco styling was unmissable.
A view of the turbine hall from the crane.
Part of the turbine had been removed and the rotors were visible.
The stairs led up to the control room from the turbine hall floor.
The panels were all made of marble.
The back of the control room.
The small boiler house stuck with the bright colour scheme of the turbine hall.
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