ABANDONED SPACES

There is something deeply fascinating yet unnerving about stepping into an abandoned space - absorbing the atmosphere of a place that used to be filled with people, footsteps and conversations but now rests in the shadows. Featuring a solemn beauty with a quiet and sometimes eerie undertone, here are some of the most striking abandoned places around the world.

Barnes Hospital - Greater Manchester

Abandoned since 1999, this former hospital in Cheadle was completed in 1875 and is perhaps best known for its Gothic-inspired architecture. A grand reminder of its historic past, the site is soon to be developed into high-end apartments.

Photo Credit: Mark Davis

Castle Acre Priory - Norfolk

Situated on the edge of the quaint Norfolk village of Castel Acre, the Priory is one of the best-preserved monasteries in England. Dating back from 1090 it comprises an impressive array of abandoned buildings including former chapels, housing and cooking facilities as well as a herb garden.

Photo Credit: Anna Jacobsen

Detroit - US

With an abundance of derelict factories, houses and public spaces, Detroit is sometimes described as a contemporary American ghost town. After the fall of the automobile industry, the industrial city is now home to plenty of derelict spaces filled with an eeire sense of silence and a testament to times gone past. (*Pictured - Lee Plaza Hotel, completed in 1929 it was once considered Detroit's most prestigious residence).

Photo Credit: Yves Marchand & Romain Meffe

Goqui Island - China

A small abandoned fishing village now covered in wild greenery, the island of Goqui in the Zhousan archipelago by the Yangtze River in China is a beautiful statement to the power of nature and the passing of time.

Photo Credit: Jane Qing

Words by Anna Jacobsen