Dust to dust

Peter's dramatic picture of the warehouse in its last few days in existence

1 More Image(s) In Gallery

Peter’s images chart the fall of Oldham’s railway warehouse
A photo collection showcasing one of Oldham’s oldest listed buildings highlights the “beauty in decay”.

The work of photographer Peter Yankowski Walker of Shaw chronicles the derelict Clegg Street Railway Warehouse in Glodwick, over the last three years, until its demolition in January.

The Victorian warehouse, built in 1876, had been isolated since it was last used in the 1960s. The roof had fallen in and thick wooden floors had rotted during several failed attempts to sell and redevelop the famous curved building.

Peter (47) took the building’s crumbling features as inspiration for his work: “I’m a photographer, but also an artist,” he said. “I’m always looking for another element. My aim was to capture the beauty in decay, and to preserve a visual record of the building’s existence.”

Other fans of the building flocked to capture their own pictures once demolition was announced. None had followed its plight as long as Peter had.

“A friend and I first started exploring the building around three years ago. It looked interesting from the outside, so when we got inside and saw the curved structure, we thought it was just beautiful. Urban exploration can be quite dangerous, so we never went in on our own.

“If it had been redeveloped 20 years ago it could have been fantastic, but the structure had just gone through.

“I’m really sad to see it go, but I know that it would have needed taking apart brick by brick and then rebuilding.”

Though protected by a Grade II listing due to its four-storey, curved shape, demolition came after an inspection considered it in imminent danger of collapse.

Peter’s work will be presented alongside that of a Bradford photographer in an exhibition named “Two Northern Photographers” at Water Street Gallery in Todmorden.

The gallery’s director, Rosemary Holcroft, said: “Peter’s images are absolutely stunning. They’re an important document of this building, so heritage lovers will also enjoy it.

“He has used natural lighting, so the images are really colourful.” The exhibition runs until Sunday, March 25.