#abandophiles

[urbanrelics]

CHARBONNAGE H

This spectacular extraction building is one of the last abandoned buildings on this largely reconverted colliery. Due to the difficult access, it has managed to remain beautifully intact over the years...

As early as 1901, a rich coal seam was discovered underground in this region. The mining concession was applied for and granted in 1906, but it would take until 1930 for the first load of coal to be brought to the surface. In an attempt to develop a different, newer mining method, exploitation was delayed for years due to numerous setbacks, before it was decided to return to the tried-and-true mining method. By then, the world had descended into war. A significant portion of the installations were seized by the German occupying forces. Finally, in 1930, the mining site was able to resume operations.

The coal mined was primarily bituminous coal. Since this was primarily used in heavy industry, the Belgian steel producers in Liège and the Borinage region were the main customers. The mine had three production levels: at 720, 800, and 900 meters, served by two shafts: an air and material shaft and a production shaft with four elevator cages.

In 1955, this operation reached its peak with a production of 1.6 million tons of coal. Over the course of 60 years of operation, a total of nearly 75 million tons of coal were extracted here. Due to increasingly fierce competition from cheaper overseas coal and the rise of oil and nuclear energy, the fate of the Belgian coal mines was effectively sealed by the mid-1950s. The first mine in this region to fall victim to this closed in 1966. This mining site managed to survive until 1992, but was then also forced to close its doors.

The mine site has since undergone a thorough redevelopment, with most of the mine buildings being repurposed. Only this headframe and a water tower have been waiting for a new lease on life for 30 years.

[musicforawhile1]

Wanna take a shower?

[doubtspirit]

Vintage kitchen. Find the missing parts

[urbanrelics]

WHEEL OF FORTUNE

This relatively small building is part of a coal mine that I visited twice before already. This particular building is called the 'reception building' of the coal mine and houses the machinery that was used to hoist the elevators out of the mine.

The eye-catcher in the building is the gigantic pulleys, driven by several turbines, which suggest the impressive forces generated here to lift the heavily loaded elevators from the mine shaft to the top.

[urbanrelics]

CHAPELIER FOU

The castle and adjacent farm were founded in the early 1630s by a scion of a noble family. The estate then extended over more than 500 hectares. The lord of the castle, a count, marquis and - in this village - a baron, was a well-known soldier during the Spanish Netherlands. He lived in the castle with his family until his death in 1655.

The lord's military background is still very prominent today in the armory with remarkable stucco decorations, representing military trophies, as well as plant and floral motifs.

The castle is divided into two parts: the central part built by the count, consisting of a large living space formed by a long volume of ten bays. Later the two classic side wings were added at both ends. In the middle of the facade there is a monumental portico with a flattened spherical roof. On the tympanum the coats of arms of the counts, carved in sandstone, are still visible.

The castle has been left behind many years ago. To this day it is still filled with antique furniture and artefacts.

Unfortunately a lot has been stolen too...

[urbanrelics]

MANOIR DE L’ANTIQUAIRE

This impressive mansion is part of a classicist farm complex, dating back to the middle of the 18th century. The extensive farm complex consists on the street side of this manor, a carriage house, a gatehouse and a caretaker's house. At the rear are several stables and a barn converted into an antique shop. At the far end of the site are the old stables.

The luxurious finish of the mansion, including the finely sculpted mantelpieces in marble and stucco, the slate floors, the wall and ceiling paintings and the carved wood bed, is a clear remnant of the past splendor. It is not surprising that the farm complex was marked as architectural heritage as early as 1981.

Little is known about the earliest history of the farm. The whole became vacant when the antique shop located in the outbuildings went into bankruptcy in December 2019.

[urbanrelics]

FARM OF THE GOATS

There is not much interesting to tell about the history of this old farmhouse. It is a location that has been known in the Belgian urbex community for a long time. Who owned it or why it has been languishing for so long? No idea... In the living area everything was turned upside down and rummaged through, but here and there there were a few nice rooms, which were only affected by the ravages of time...

[urbanrelics]

CHATEAU ROLLS ROYCE

The castle domain was created in the late 18th century. The wealthy notary A.S. started construction of the castle in 1780, originally consisting of a classicist main building, which was symmetrically flanked at the front by two lower, 19th-century side wings and several outbuildings, including a beautiful and almost unique winter garden.

After the death of the notary, the property passed into the hands of his only son, who gave it significant added value by creating an English landscape garden. The surrounding park includes a pond with island and historic duck decoy, beautiful old woodland and a former ice house. When the son also died, the castle remained empty for a while. In 1831, the castle briefly served as the command post of Leopold I, first king of Belgium.

In 1859 the whole was sold to a baron, who used it as a summer residence. In 1909, a wealthy Antwerp banker buys the castle. He builds the two towers that flank the castle. The castle remained in the hands of this family until the mid-1950s. Today, the castle and park are owned by the Luxembourg real estate company, which wants to start a hotel there in the future.

In the urbex scene, this chateau was known as 'Chateau Rolls Royce', for many years, because of the beautiful blue Rolls Royce Silver Shadow. Rolls Royce built the Silver Shadow between 1965 and 1979. At the time, it was the most expensive and luxurious model introduced by Rolls Royce. This particular car was built in 1975 and was first registered in January 1976, as one of the last variants of the model. The colossus, weighing more than two tons, was more than 5 meters long, 1.80 meters wide and had a cylinder capacity of 6,750 CC. It reached a top speed of 205 km/h without much effort.