A top Urban Explorer has shared photos from his latest foray up to Scotland, with images taken from inside a well-known abandoned property in Dumbarton. Kyle Urbex took the pics as he explored the Levenford House Gate Lodge, which now lies in ruins after years of neglect.
The adventurous Kyle came across the house, one that hadn't previously appeared in his own research while passing to go to the nearby Helenslee House.
Leeds-based Kyle, 26, is a keen Urban Explorer and regularly shares his adventures across the UK on Instagram ( @kyle_urbex ), Facebook and Youtube. He has explored hundreds of abandoned properties since 2020.
He said: "Normally, I pick an area on which I want to explore, and in this case, it was the Glasgow area and the gatehouse, which I didn't actually have pinned on my map, it was only as I was passing to go to the nearby Helenslee House that I stumbled across it, but usually I choose from the hundreds of locations I have on my map.
He added that he was drawn to the gatehouse due to its naturally decayed state and ruined exterior, which had been "reclaimed by nature in a way", stating: "I probably spent a total of half an hour just navigating round the site and into all the rotted away rooms. I did find it quite unique in a way because of nature taking over both the interior and exterior of the building something you don't usually find on a residential street that's for sure!"
Speaking about the inside of the building, which many locals are curious about, Kyle said: "Inside it was a total wreck from floors falling through to the windows almost covered by brambles, however, I did uncover some original features of the structure such as the spiral staircase that had certainly seen better days.
"It was quite unsafe inside given the fact majority of the floor had already collapsed, so I had to watch carefully where I was walking but overall I quite enjoyed it although it was a small location it had lots of really nice photogenic features."
So does he ever get scared exploring these abandoned locations?
"I don't get scared because I already know the risks that I am taking," he responds. "I have been doing the hobby nearly two years and visited over 550 abandoned locations so I know the precautions you have to take to go inside these buildings.
"I've already accepted that when you enter there's a strong chance that you are not alone I.e homeless people inside so I've kind of become comfortable with going into these places on my own, although the risks of going solo are extremely high and dangerous and I wouldn't recommend anyone else doing it alone!"
And with that, he adds the caveat that he would definitely encourage people who don't have his experience to avoid going into abandoned buildings unless they are prepared for the risks they are taking.
Built in the 1850s, Levenford House was made for James Denny, a partner in the Dumbarton shipbuilding firm of William Denny & Brothers. It remained in the hands of partners of that company until the 1940s when it passed into council hands and was used as a library headquarters.
The gatehouse which lies at the end of the driveway to the house has fallen into disrepair.
Located on Helenslee Road, in the West Bridgend area of Dumbarton, the house itself and the abandoned gatehouse are considered to be examples of Victorian domestic mock-baronial architecture.
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