[Thompson]

I was out for a wander looking for anything worth exploring and I'd had no luck when I passed Barnsley Town Hall. Scanning the outside on the off-chance there was a way in, I noticed a variety of workmen going in and out of the front-door.

So in I waltzed, getting clocked by a suspicious security guard watching screens in the corner who didn't do anything except make my heart skip a beat and up to the second floor.

Barely able to believe my good fortune - the first time I'd visited and the top floor was being renovated. So on with my hi-viz, getting to enjoy for the first time being 'undercover' on a live site.

Barnsley Town Hall was completed in 1936, with a facade of portland stone. In The Road to Wigan Pier George Orwell said ' total cost of the Town hall was £148,697 and was incurred at a time when the town admittedly needed over 2000 houses, not to mention public baths."

On the inside the place is pretty much dead, with very few actual council functions not based in the new office blocks just over the road. Apart from a ceremonial hall, I couldn't see anything else that looked even vaguely functional, so my guess is it's more a photogenic setting for weddings and official visits and something for people to do TV interviews in front of than anything else.

I actually took these after the main event because I noticed the access to the roof so quickly but I don't really want to spoil the build up for you.

Sums up Barnsley in one image...

A safe I found.



But all this is just boring preamble because after seconds of getting to the top floor, I noticed some rather promising looking stairs and darted up them, making sure I wasn't seen.

And I found myself...



I could hardly believe my luck, especially considering I'm such an urbex-noob.





The way up...



View down Regent St. from the middle of the tower.



Clockface



and mechanism..



And finally up a hatch to the top.



and some views of Barnsley





While the photos aren't the best with this camera, the sense of thrilled achievement was unbeatable.

Hoping to go back soon in the evening with a Fujifilm bridge camera for some better pics.

Full album's available here, thanks for looking!