Urban explorer visits abandoned Saddleworth High School

Saddleworth high school taught teens in the area for more than 100 years.

Built in 1911, the grade-II listed building has not yet been demolished and its fate for the future lies with Oldham Council.

Staff and students relocated to a newer, state-of-the-art building in Diggle earlier this year which is better equipped to accommodate the school's growing number of pupils.

A message was left on one of the whiteboards. Photo by No Limits Urbex.

Yet considering the old school in Uppermill only closed its doors in February, when No Limits Urbex ventured inside just six days later, the school appeared to be deteriorating already.

Founder of No Limits Urbex who goes by the name ‘Mr M’ said when they arrived at the school, the power had been left on and it felt “a little unnerving” walking around.

Mr M said: “It was like someone had moved out in a hurry, loads of stuff was just left there but some stuff was taken.

“Like in the cooking classrooms, all the cookers were pulled out from where they were fitted but were not taken.

“It was just dead weird."

However, Mr M said he was most struck by the oldest part of the building.

He added: “I was set back by the part of the building that was built in the 1850s, right out by the front.

“It was still original with all the old cupboards.

“The science classroom had all the original benches but then contrast that to the next turn around the corner – it was just brilliant for me, that part.”

The corridors and classrooms are eerily quiet. Photo by No Limits Urbex.

Yet he said some parts were less brilliant as Mr M and his two accompanying friends felt as though they were being followed throughout the entire three-hour exploration.

Mr M said: “It was like an old person with slippers was shuffling behind us and we turned around but nothing was there.

“The old part was creepy as – it was like there was an old janitor knocking about.

“I don’t believe in that ghost stuff and I certainly don't pursue it.

“It would have to jump out and hit me in the face.

"But it seemed to follow us everywhere we went like it was just around the corner.

"It was the weirdest feeling ever - in the newer bit, the atmosphere was totally different."

An old school bench. Photo by No Limits Urbex.

Still, Mr M said the whole experience was "nostalgic".

"It takes you right back to school.

“Walking down those corridors that were once bustling with teenage attitudes and compare it to now, being quiet with just me and my camera walking around”, he added.

The photographer, who has an interest in history and researches ahead of most of his trips, said he’s always been drawn to exploring abandoned buildings.

School chairs have been left as though it was any ordinary day. Photo by No Limits Urbex.

The 38-year-old said his passion for urban exploration sparked when he was young, and ignited his passion for photography.

He said: “I’ve been doing it since I was a kid really because I grew up on a council estate, so there were always abandoned buildings and factories.

“I was always in and out of them and I just had an interest in the history of these buildings.

“While people were going in and smashing stuff up, I was going in to look at it and I was just in absolute amazement of it all.

“It all stemmed from there really and so when I got a bit older, I started getting into photography."

Since No Limits Urbex ventured into Saddleworth, a “tour bus” of copycats has since arrived in the school with Mr M estimating around 50 different people have since gone in.

Cookers have been pulled out but not removed. Photo by No Limits Urbex.

However, he was the first to go in once the school gates had officially closed.

When asked about some of his other explorations, Mr M said two of the creepiest places he’s explored include a mental asylum in Scotland which had been built in 1840, which involved sleeping overnight in a cell, and a Victorian morgue that had been completely sealed off from the public since 1960.

He said the morgue was especially eerie with aprons still being hung up and wellies, fluids and gloves scattered around.

“We climbed through a window into the morgue and I just saw the slab.

“I survived it anyway but I think that was the creepiest place I’ve ever been to in my life”.

Mr M said he does try to obtain permission to enter buildings, though admitted it’s gotten harder in recent years.

“Sometimes I’m just rocking up and I try my luck, but I go at night and sneak in commando-style”, he said.

The crew usually go in the early hours and won’t emerge until the following afternoon, sometimes surprising security teams on the way out.

However, he’s adamant that he’s not committing a crime and takes extra precautions.

The playground is eerily quiet. Photo by No Limits Urbex.

He said: “If there’s access, there’s access but if there’s not then we’re not going to force it because then that’s breaking and entering.

“What we do is a civil matter – it is trespassing but as long as we’ve not broken anything or taken anything.

“You take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footsteps, it’s the code."

But the council is warning people who enter the site without being allowed are putting their own safety at risk.

Cllr Jean Stretton, cabinet member for neighbourhoods at the council, said: “There was a small window for accessing the former Saddleworth School while the school were still moving items in transition to the new school site.

“However, now the school have completely vacated, the site is not safe to enter and anyone doing so, or promoting it as a place to ‘explore’, is putting themselves and others in danger.

“Security teams are on-site working closely with police. Anyone entering the site is trespassing and faces criminal prosecution.

“Oldham Council is progressing with plans for demolition, including the removal of asbestos in the coming days and weeks.

“Please do not risk your own health and safety or waste vital emergency services time by coming to the site.”