An urban explorer has documented what remains of a historic Bolton pub.
Churchills, a once popular haunt dating back to the 1800s is now boarded up and in a state of decay - with bar tables and chairs reflecting its past as a boozeer.
The founder of ‘Lost Places & Forgotten Faces’, who only identifies himself as a man in his 20s from Yorkshire named Matt, took his first trip to Bolton this week after he discovered that the site of the pub on Manchester Road had been damaged by fire a couple of times in the past eight years.
Matt, who described exploring Churchills as “a very upsetting experience”.
He said: “I hadn't explored in Bolton yet, so when researching places in the area I saw that Churchill’s had recently suffered an arson attack. I was interested to see the extent of the damage.
“Most locals are disgusted with the state that the pub has gotten in.
"For many this pub was their local for many years, and they made amazing memories there. Seeing its current condition has really angered and upset a lot of residents.”
The historic building, which used to be the Rose Hill Hotel that has stood on the site since opening as a beer house in 1830 by the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Company, was Matt’s 477th explore, and he says that it is the worst state he has ever seen a pub in.
The urban explorer said: “I'm trying to make the public aware of the current state of these buildings, in the hope that raising awareness will force the owners to address the issues. I want to see these buildings restored back to their normal function, instead of just sitting dormant and decaying.
“Exploring Churchill’s pub was a very upsetting experience. I don't think I've ever been inside a pub so badly damaged and neglected.
“I was amazed to stumble across two full sized snooker tables still standing in the games room.
“I had to fight through thick webs just to navigate around the building, which is absolutely crawling with spiders.
“It's such a shame a once loved place in the community has gotten into such a state of disrepair.”
Matt first got into urban exploring during a solo trip to northern Poland in 2019, where he came across an abandoned mansions in the woods and says his favourite locations he has so far explored was Chernobyl.
There are legal and personal safety issues involved with urban exploring, which is why The Bolton News does not condone or encourage it, and Matt says he has encountered police in his time.
“The police sometimes come, but I quickly explain I'm an explorer and show them the photographs I've just taken.
“I haven't been arrested just yet.”
View the gallery to see all of Matt's pictures from his trip to Churchill's, and for more of his explores visit his Facebook or Instagram pages.
If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at lewis.finney@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @lewisfinney18
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