Spooky images of abandoned orphanage where kids sobbed themselves to sleep

Publish date: 2024-08-03

An urban explorer has shared a series of eerie images of an abandoned property that could soon be lost forever.

The derelict Balrossie School, near Glasgow, was originally used as a home for the orphaned children of killed sailors, dates back to 1899.

The building was purchased by Glasgow Corporation, in the 1960s and it served as a residential school until it was closed in the 1990s and it has lain empty for almost 25 years.

More commonly known as Balrossie Orphanage, the crumbling building, which is situated 20 miles west of Glasgow, near Kilmacolm, was visited last week by an urban explorer.

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Leeds-based photographer and urban explorer Kyle Urbex has ventured into dozens of abandoned sites over the past 18 months and said Balrossie had been high on his list for quite some time.

Kyle told Glasgow Live he was glad he got there when he did as it looks as if the old orphanage has only months left before it's gone forever.

He said: "I arrived [at Balrossie] last Saturday and when I first got there I noticed that half of the building had already been demolished. There was a big massive pile of rubble in the middle".

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"I reckon the rest of it will be gone very, very soon," he added. "I can imagine it'll be gone within the next few months, or something like that.

"That's why I go exploring; to capture all these forgotten buildings before they're gone forever."

Amidst all the rubble and debris, signs of the old school's former use were evident, despite it having closed back in 1998.

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The site has repeatedly been the target for vandals, and, in 2013, the building's fate was sealed when it was subject to an arson attack.

Following the resulting blaze, which was attended to by more than 20 firefighters, a building inspection was carried out and the Balrossie school was declared unsafe.

Parts of the building have since been demolished, and more of the structure is expected to follow suit soon.

Kyle admitted that, due to the Balrossie's deteriorating condition, his latest Scottish excursion was particularly dangerous and that he had to make extra sure certain parts were stable before proceeding.

"It was quite dangerous. Essentially it's a construction site. The second building I went in didn't have an upstairs, as the floor had already caved in. I tried walking up the stairway, but it was literally starting to fall apart.

"I do take extra precautions. For example, if I'm upstairs in a building and it feels quite weak then I'll always put something that's heavier than myself there first just to make sure."

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