Tales of the Urban Explorer: Oakwood Nursing Home

"I was here a few days ago; it's quite bare, stinks like shit upstairs, and houses the most fierce pigeons I have ever seen"

Stinks like shit? How could I possibly not visit 'Oakwood Nursing Home', if only to breathe in some reeking fumes?

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It was June 2022, the Manchester Urbex scene was getting dire, and we were all feeding off scraps. Later in the year, we would tread further afield. It was either that or suffer from explorers' famine and malnutrition.

@anidiotexplores was priming me with information… "There could be Karen's, it depends on how lucky we are as it’s next to a small housing complex".

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Arriving early could have been the deciding factor as we climbed over a medium-sized fence in eyeshot of said houses, rounded a corner, and quickly scarpered out of sight and through what looked like a tradesman's entrance.

"Someone's been here", exclaimed @anidiotexplores as though other explorers didn't exist in North-West England. It was hardly a surprise to me I hustled him through the door which was left slightly ajar.

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While 'Oakwood Nursing Home' may look regal and elegant from the outside, the interior was dirty, dusty, damp, and very neglected.

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The paint was peeling off the walls along with wallpaper if it existed to start with.

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I have seen some bad crappers, but in this case, the entire lot had gone walkabout. There might be bog paper, hand cleanser, and a non-working hand dryer but the expectation of crouching down whilst expecting solid porcelain under your arse would end in tears.

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Add a little spider-web to the ‘Sun-Pat Crunchy’ and you have a tasty winning delicacy.

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There’s no shortage of loos in ‘Oakwood Nursing Home’.

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The grand staircase with a priceless clock perched at the foot of the banister?

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It's a step up from Poundland and wasn't working.

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This used to be the front door, it's looking a little tired in today's world.

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When @anidiotexlores told me it was ‘quite bare’, he was hardly exaggerating.

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We climbed up the master stairway and found the second floor to be in much worse condition. Walk across to those pigeons and you are likely going to feel the touch of death.

That floor was completely destroyed underfoot. Much like all the other rooms, you can sanitise your hands.

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Edith Horrocks, your room is disgraceful! I didn't want to touch her door; I mean… you don't know where that faeces originated?

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I was seeing many more pigeons the further I ascended within 'Oakwood Nursing Home' but had suffered no attacks so far.

‘Just wait…’, warned @andiotexplorers with a knowing smile.

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The corridor past this shit-covered chair was starting to reek badly. I have been in many pigeon-infested dens, but they didn't stink as badly as this.

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Climbing to the top floor, and peering through the banister slits.

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'Go up there if you want to be attacked', said @andiotexplorers with a dare. 'I'll wait down here'.

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Spiral staircases are always cool and generally made of metal. This one was pure wood, covered in shit, but I had to ascend and take a look. We are not named ‘explorers’ without reason.

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So the floor is a little cracked, what about it?

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This final room was the 'Room of the Dreaded Killer Birds' and I poked my head up to see them all perched atop and waiting like dive-bombers in an ordered line. One more step and they would swoop down, emitting lethal toxic shit-droppings as their choice of weapon.

I dared to step forward and sure enough, they started their deadly descent in a steep arc. Fucking hell, I backed off quickly making a shit load of noise, and ran away terrified.

These pigeons were some kind of deadly new breed that hunted in packs. Maybe they had been trained by wolves?

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Wiping the sweat away from my brow, we resumed the exploration and entered the 'Meeting Room'. It was extremely well-ventilated and of course, catered for those clean freak types.

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A solitary pigeon will likely freak out if I approach it, but I wasn't going over there for a piss lest the floor collapse, and jeez... what a fucking odour.

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I generally am quite immune from extreme pungency in derelict places, but this one sticks out in my head. Other than the ground floor it was the selling point.

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‘Nursecall 800’ units are expensive, several hundred quid for one such as this.

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'Fuck this man, let's descend', I said after gagging a little more.

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Don’t touch the banister unless you want to inherit some lovely pigeon disease.

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The finest quality wooden supports with stale spider webs.

We left and made our way to the entrance when @anidiotexplores suddenly stopped, backpedalled, and ran around the other side of the building.

“What is it”, I exclaimed?

A burly bloke was approaching the tradesman’s door and miraculously had not seen me.

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I quickly followed and made for the safety of the house corner hearing no angry 'OYYYYYYYYYYYS' and heavy footsteps following.

@anidiotexplores had made his way to the far corner to distance himself from BurlyDude and for good reason.

"There goes our external shots", I thought hurriedly taking what I could. The grass looked cut and maintained on this side, we should have noticed.

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We peeked around the corner. No sign of BurlyDude but there was now a car on the grounds. We took no chances and cut through some long grass and trees toward a wall.

It was a five-foot drop to escape and onto hard concrete. Ow…, my poor fucking feet.

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“What are you lot doing, causing trouble, breaking fences, destroying property…’, the accusations kept on coming from a mouthy middle-aged bloke across the road from the wall who was far from happy at seeing us both jump down and had appeared out of nowhere like Mr Ben.

We made our way back to my parked vehicle grinning cheerfully at MouthyMan who despite all the talk, didn't appear to have the 'walk'.

I eventually waved at him and yelled, 'Garden Maintenance' beaming a large smile before climbing in the car and driving off.

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It’s probably hunted 😂 it’s in a very bad condition

From the outside it looks decent, you never can tell until you get in.

Now that carriage clock is a real bobby dazzler, wonder why the bus gang haven't had it away?

@anidiotexplores hid it, and brought it out.. just for me!

lol bless his little cotton socks

Every time you mentioned tradesman's door I couldn't help but think filthy thoughts.

I love the fact that the second floor has moss growing like a carpet 🤣

I love the fact that the second floor has moss growing like a carpet 🤣

We can get one shipped to your door sir, just place it on an upper floor.. stand on it and have an ambulance waiting outside your door. Instant hospitalisation!

That might be handy for those Mondays I don't want to go into work!!

@tipu curate 🪺

The stairways in there are pretty cool. That is crazy the moss all over the floor. I wouldn't trust it either. If it is growing that think it is likely rotted to hell underneath!

I could tell with that one, and there was little reason to approach the pigeons that generally freak out and start flying into the windows creating loud bangs heh..

So many cool buildings. I love the architecture of this one. I say it almost every time but it's shocking how people just walk away from the properties. Looks like this place could have made nice apartments or condos. That spiral staircase was really cool. Great explore. thanks for sharing.

They could well do something to it. If it was completely abandoned there would be no caretaker, and he's probably pissed that we (and others) got in there.

The exterior looks like it once was a gracious building, but what the heck happened here one wonders!
Seems like someone has plans to restore it, no wonder you two were scolded like 2 little schoolboys :)
I'm a real sentimentalist as buildings like this always put my imagination into overdrive - there once was life in there, likely originally a family home turned into a nursing home, and now just a smelly mess!
I still say you are brave for venturing into these derelict buildings.
Here in SA we're starting to see abandoned homes here and there, but the difference is they get stripped of EVERYTHING by thieves; plumbing, electrics, steel gates, doors, window frames, whatever they can take, till only the brick shell is left; it's just awful!
But, you have fun, just don't get caught next time :):)

I don't feel brave, and it's really no scary when you are in a pair. All I think about is getting the snaps and getting out before anyone turns up!

Was the peanut butter good?

I little crunchy, but that was to be expected 😆

Without going too far Mr. Pigeons are beautiful, but if left to roam free they cause disasters I know because one of my properties was invaded by them and I had to pay for decontamination to be able to sell. It's shit all over the handrails of the main staircase horrible and the whole house.

I see lots here, they love abandoned buildings and yet there's plenty of dead ones about. It can't be that good?

Haunted House 🏠

Only by flying rats!

The building/apartment looks pretty good if it was in a good shape. Still wondering why its owner left it behind. Weren't you scared climbing up those stairs? Cause the wood looks pretty old and must have become less strong.

Those stairs were actually quite solid, and compared to some of the dodgy stairs I have risked my life on, I felt safe. Those pigeons were bad-ass though.

They really messed up the apartment real bad...

These pigeons were some kind of deadly new breed that hunted in packs. Maybe they had been trained by wolves?

They're obviously werepigeons! Now there's an interesting idea for a story :) ...

I eventually waved at him and yelled, 'Garden Maintenance' beaming a large smile before climbing in the car and driving off.

I'd have loved a picture of his reaction 🤣🤣🤣

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I have to say this place scores 11 out of 10 in the staircases category ! Plus I love those moss carpets - I gotta get me one of them !
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Did you have any of the sunpat extra crunchy ? 😂
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Those pots looked out of place, I was lucky to get any flavour!

Yea I would of thought they would be extra extra crunchy at least you had 2 tubs to take your pick from 😁

and houses the most fierce pigeons I have ever seen

They have a kingdom to defend!

😀

Gorgeous building from the outside. I could see someone with a lot of money turning that into mansion or luxury apartments.
Of course it would never happen as I'm sure it's cheaper to just start from scratch.

Do you ever wear a mask? Or is that for wussies?
Sometimes I have an asthma attack just looking at your amazing pictures (not really, but my chest gets a bit tighter, as though I'm holding my breath).

Do you ever wear a mask? Or is that for wussies?

My comrade @anidiotexplores used to, but in more recent times has discarded it. He has an intense dislike for Pigeon shit. Wrong kind of hobby right...?

I imagine how that stairs made of wood is still standing, after so many years. There's been actually no sign of rot on it. I'll be scared to actually climb that, for fear that it might cave in.
Seems like that chair became Pigeons toilet, what a sight.

I am not sure how long this one has been closed, but it's being maintained. It could well be off the scene by now, I have not seen any recent reports.


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Impressive photos with an amazing architectural build where the nature started conquering it. A building with character and that tells a story.

Very nice architecture and pictures, it look definitely hunted

Should have been beauty in its time. Sad to see the great wood work decay like that. Pigeons are dirty creatures we have plenty here, but l have never seen one attack.

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So scary! can't imagine myself at that hunted place

Funny how the outside looks all fine and grand but the inside is nothing to write home about.

It’s a typical example of never judge a book by its cover

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Que hermosa casa, y que lastima se este destruyendo, siendo un gran nido de palomas, ese valor histórico debería arreglar. Muchas gracias por tu post.

Wow, this place is amazing, and the design is just full of history. For a nursing home, it doesn't look very ergonomic. My knees hurt just looking at those spiraling stairs. Great set!

In all fairness, one of your cleaner urban explorations.

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