Anyone photographed Cardross Seminary?

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I'm thinking of taking a trip up to South-West Scotland to photograph Cardross Seminary. It's a really striking modernist building in the Le Corbusier style which was abandoned about thirty years ago and is now decrepit and vandalised. Apparently it's an amazing location. I'm into black and white photography and the place looks irresistable. It looks like a post-apocalyptic site, or The Zone from Tarkovsky's film Stalker.

I'm just wondering if there are any issues re getting into the place, it it fenced off, patrolled or what? Will I be prosecuted if caught, beaten up and robbed by junkies etc.
 
It's rather easy to access once you follow the path through the forrest along the golf course. However, there is a massive fence which is quite painful to climb over if you don't have something to cover the spikes. I reckon the fence is about 2.5-3m tall and goes all around the compound.

The area is quite small and only the main building is accessible. The dining area to the side and the nuns dormitories are totally destroyed with the ceiling fallen in and I would not advise you to try and enter it as it is extremely dangerous.

The altar/main building is safe to access on ground floor and 'cellar' (under ground). The external concrete staircase is also safe but once on the upper floors you really have to be careful. All the beams are rotten and the floor has fallen out on most areas. I walked along on one of the beams to take a picture from above in the middle but this was absolutely stupid and extremely dangerous and I would never ever do something like that again - DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS THE BEAMS.

You can walk on the balcony area as this is solid concrete and will see the men's dormitories and toilets/showers facilities.

The altar on the ground floor has been damaged - someone actually tried to blow it off and it's a bit chipped.

Very eerie place and quite often you will find other people/neds lingering around. Don't go alone as the building is really not safe in some places. There are holes in the ground which you could get severely injured if you fall down.

I suggest, if you haven't already, to read about the architect and it's history as it's very interested and unique design in Britain. A shame they let it fall apart like that.
 
It's in even worse condition now. Another fire a few weeks back destroyed pretty much all of the wooden structural parts that were left, the library is totally destroyed.

Here are a few shots I had taken a year back before the recent bout of vandalism.



There's also a new documentary coming out about St Peters. I'll post info on that as soon as I get it.
 
Also Gillespie, Kidd & Coia are the architects. You should get their books as all their architecture is a bit depressing and worth looking for to scout other locations. There is a set of student accomodation north of Glasgow which is now abandoned that they designed. They look like lego blocks.
 
Hmm... I won't make a special journey just for this. Maybe if I can find some other sites in the same area I could stop over a cople of nights. Thanks.
 
KayJay said:
Also Gillespie, Kidd & Coia are the architects. You should get their books as all their architecture is a bit depressing and worth looking for to scout other locations. There is a set of student accomodation north of Glasgow which is now abandoned that they designed. They look like lego blocks.
Click to expand...

Don't get me started on GK&C architecture :annoyed:
 
KayJay said:
There is a set of student accomodation north of Glasgow which is now abandoned that they designed. They look like lego blocks.
Click to expand...
Notre Dame College of Education @ Bearsden - horrible, just horrible.
 
Rooster said:
I'm thinking of taking a trip up to South-West Scotland to photograph Cardross Seminary. It's a really striking modernist building in the Le Corbusier style which was abandoned about thirty years ago and is now decrepit and vandalised. Apparently it's an amazing location. I'm into black and white photography and the place looks irresistable. It looks like a post-apocalyptic site, or The Zone from Tarkovsky's film Stalker.

I'm just wondering if there are any issues re getting into the place, it it fenced off, patrolled or what? Will I be prosecuted if caught, beaten up and robbed by junkies etc.
Click to expand...

Now why is it you think a Junkie would be beating you up and robbing you? :thinking: You should be more concerned about being involved in a rta before you even get to your destination :lol:
 
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