History
Opened in 1980 and closed in February 2017, Mepal outdoor centre was a joy filled activity paradise used by schools, youth groups and colleges who could accommodate in the centre’s in-house and could enjoy activities such as sailing, rock climbing, canoeing and archery.
The centre can be located along the A142 surrounded by a 22- acre lake. Sadly since closing the centre faced an arson attack in 2016 when the centre closed its doors for good, losing its soul.
Since it’s closing the centre has become a haven for criminal activity being used as an illegal rave centre on Christmas day in 2018 and has fell victim to crimes such as theft, vandalism and arson.
Our Visit
31/7/20
After reading about the centre on 28dayslater we drove the 40 miles from Northamptonshire down to Mepal. Upon arriving we could see that the site had been used as a vandalism shell. Parking up and entering the centre wasn’t an issue. The first thing you encounter is a tented which in it contained a huge floor area and a small climbing wall.
As expected the site was trashed on top of the additional fire damage. As we entered the larger brick building; which i assume was the accommodation block, we soon realised it was this building that has fallen victim to the fire (at the time we hasn’t researched it’s history) it was damaged to the extent that we couldn’t recognise the way in which it could have been before. The upstairs of the brick house seemed unstable so we chose not to enter this part.
Just left of the tented building was small bricked building which had a pungent smell coming from it however we couldn’t see what it could have been before as there didn’t appear to be anything on the walls or floor.
Round the back of the bigger building layed a climbing apparatus, while it looked quite strange, it appeared it was the only part of the site that hadn’t been vandalised
I sadly didn’t get many photos at the time however i will attach what i do have. You could see that while it was used, it was a well loved place that children enjoyed to be at, it’s just a shame how it was treated after closure
Opened in 1980 and closed in February 2017, Mepal outdoor centre was a joy filled activity paradise used by schools, youth groups and colleges who could accommodate in the centre’s in-house and could enjoy activities such as sailing, rock climbing, canoeing and archery.
The centre can be located along the A142 surrounded by a 22- acre lake. Sadly since closing the centre faced an arson attack in 2016 when the centre closed its doors for good, losing its soul.
Since it’s closing the centre has become a haven for criminal activity being used as an illegal rave centre on Christmas day in 2018 and has fell victim to crimes such as theft, vandalism and arson.
Our Visit
31/7/20
After reading about the centre on 28dayslater we drove the 40 miles from Northamptonshire down to Mepal. Upon arriving we could see that the site had been used as a vandalism shell. Parking up and entering the centre wasn’t an issue. The first thing you encounter is a tented which in it contained a huge floor area and a small climbing wall.
As expected the site was trashed on top of the additional fire damage. As we entered the larger brick building; which i assume was the accommodation block, we soon realised it was this building that has fallen victim to the fire (at the time we hasn’t researched it’s history) it was damaged to the extent that we couldn’t recognise the way in which it could have been before. The upstairs of the brick house seemed unstable so we chose not to enter this part.
Just left of the tented building was small bricked building which had a pungent smell coming from it however we couldn’t see what it could have been before as there didn’t appear to be anything on the walls or floor.
Round the back of the bigger building layed a climbing apparatus, while it looked quite strange, it appeared it was the only part of the site that hadn’t been vandalised
I sadly didn’t get many photos at the time however i will attach what i do have. You could see that while it was used, it was a well loved place that children enjoyed to be at, it’s just a shame how it was treated after closure
