A 22-year-old chemist from Hampshire has swapped Netflix for nighttime adventures, exploring over 600 abandoned buildings in the past decade. Archie Williams, known online as @urbex_with_archie, visits derelict schools, convents, hospitals, power stations, and more, documenting his finds on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
Archie doesn't break in; he finds open windows or unlocked doors. The dangers include rusty nails, broken glass, and even armed encounters. 'I've had people who have come out with guns before and people who have fired warning shots. You'd be surprised by how many people in this country carry firearms when they aren't supposed to,' he says.
Time Capsules and Treasures
Many sites are 'time capsules' where residents left everything behind. 'You can walk into a house that hasn't been inhabited for 30 years and it's as if the residents just walked away,' Archie explains. He has found personal possessions, old appliances, and even a trunk containing a World War I flag and a blood-stained stretcher from the trenches. In a London property, priceless antiques were hoarded two to three feet high, with excrement in valuable teacups.
Ethical Exploration
Archie adheres to the urban explorer motto: 'Take only photos, leave only footsteps.' He refuses requests to steal and sell items. 'By English civil trespass laws, you're allowed in anywhere that has an open route of access,' he notes. He has faced police, security guards, and dogs but avoids legal trouble by explaining his activities.
His fascination began after visiting Bodmin Jail in Cornwall as a child. 'I just love having the opportunity to see stuff that you wouldn't otherwise see,' he says. He explores in groups, covering up to 15 sites a day, eager to document them before they collapse, are set on fire, or redeveloped.
Sad and Strange Encounters
Some properties hold tragic stories, like hoarders who died or homes where murders occurred. 'You get some places where you get a really bad feeling,' Archie says, attributing it to pheromones left in the air. He has encountered drug farmers and gangs, often leaving quickly. In one abandoned convent, he found valuable books and priests' robes. In Scotland, a house abandoned for 52 years still had made beds and burnt-out lanterns.
Archie believes these places are worth preserving. 'This country is getting filled up with toy town houses with no character,' he says. 'These places need to be documented before they disappear.'
