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11 months ago
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An urban explorer has discovered an abandoned housing estate in London, with over 170 flats left derelict and full of personal effects.
The explorer, who goes by the name Ashley Urbex, 26, discovered the estate in South London, made up of 16 four-storey blocks.
Containing 172 homes, the residents of the Maryon Grove Estate in Woolwich were evicted from their homes over 10 years ago when the site was earmarked for redevelopment.
Sharing her find on TikTok (ashleyurbex) with her 31,500 followers, she quickly gained over 475,000 views.
'Walking around this housing estate was very eerie creepy atmosphere,' the explorer, from Milton Keynes, England, told NeedToKnow.co.uk.
An urban explorer has discovered an abandoned housing estate comprising of 170 homes
The explorer, who goes by the name Ashley Urbex, found flats full of left belongings including this basketball and trophies
The video, which has over 475,000 views showed a staircase covered in debris and broken concrete
The housing estate has 172 dwellings across 16 apartment blocks. Pictured: an abandoned hallway on the estate
The site was earmarked for the development of 160 affordable homes, but it remained untouched over 10 years after residents were moved out
Maryon Grove Estate has since been demolished following safety concerns voiced by locals
Two flats on the site caught fire in March this year. Pictured: A door covered in graffiti in a front garden full of rubbish
'It was a complete ghost town, some of the flats suffered bad fire damage and were unfortunately trashed due to being easy access and open to anyone to visit.
'Most of the flats still possessed the past owner's possessions, I found rooms filled with furniture, DVDs, books, personal items including photographs, drawings diaries.'
Walking through the flats, Ashley found belongings left behind, including videos, house plants, and family photos.
Known as Maryon Grove in Woolwich, she believes estate plans were approved in 2015 to build 165 affordable new homes, however, no progress has been made.
Residents were moved out of the complex, as well the neighbouring Morris Walk Estate, before it was taken over by the PA Housing association and used as short-term emergency accommodation.
The vacant buildings were then brought under council management in 2021, the Greenwich Wire reported.
The derelict 1970s estate has prompted safety concerns amongst locals, heightened when two flats caught fire in March this year, after which Greenwich Council promised to demolish the blocks 'as soon as possible'.
The TikTok video showed the gardens littered with children's toys along with damaged mattresses.
The clip garnered over 18,200 likes and 600 comments from shocked viewers, including many people who used to live in the flats.
'Omg this is my old estate, I used to live at 75 this is heartbreaking,' said Malisa.'
Pictured: An abandoned TV and armchair gathering dust
Pictured: A littered staircase with paper peeling off the walls
Viewers commented it was a shame the homes were left empty amid a housing shortage. Pictured: The urban explorer points through an abandoned passageway
Diane commented: 'they say there is a housing shortage and yet they leave all these homes just sat there!'
Another person wrote: 'The amount of families that could be rehomed there instead of being sat on a waiting list is ridiculous.'
'My old estate I used to live at 51 I'm actually sad ngl*,' added someone else.
Faye wrote: 'Sad that they left photos.'
Another explorer, Sean Kent, who previously found the complex and posted to TikTok had described it as looking like 'the end of the world'.
Ashley claims the estate has since been demolished.
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