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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Antony Thrower

Inside the abandoned children's home which once regularly hosted Jimmy Savile

An urban explorer says he felt “creepy vibes” when he stalked the haunting halls of the abandoned children’s home where Jimmy Savile was once a regular visitor.

Bryn Estyn Children's Home in North Wales is now in a state of ruin with several smashed windows after being vandalised several times over the years.

The building has a horrific past as gang rape, strip searches and vicious canings were a way of life inside the home.

Evil Jimmy Savile was a regular visitor in its heyday and it formally closed in September 1984, reopening five years later as the Erlas Centre and housing Wrexham council departments.

It was recently visited by 34-year-old Daniel Sims, known online as Bearded Reality.

This large hall is lined in dark wood (mediadrumimages/Bearded Reality)
Jimmy Saville was once a regular visitor to the home (Getty Images)

He said of his experience inside: “It wasn’t the building that hurt us, it was the people who were employed there.

“No real scary moments, more just creepy vibes, and when a random alarm went off it gave us a little shock as we did not expect any alarms in the place at all.

“The atmosphere was very relaxed at first and we were super happy that we were able to manage the quite difficult climb to get into the building.

Windows have been smashed and boarded up around the property (mediadrumimages/Bearded Reality)

“As we wandered around and looked at the spender of the building and were puzzled how the power and lights were still on and working. We were hit with some old alarms which gave us a bit of a shock but we pressed through to film the rest of the building.

“The outside of the property is a very grand massive entrance and could become something great again.

“The place has definitely taken a beating from vandals over the years but could be restored.

The dorm halls in the children's estate (mediadrumimages/Bearded Reality)
The main stairway inside the closed home (mediadrumimages/Bearded Reality)

“Inside is not too badly beaten up and has some amazing grand features such as the wooden rooms and grand staircases it is just crazy to think about what went on here behind closed doors.

“Firstly I love capturing things that people don't generally see the different odd and amazing things, secondly, the rust decay and everything being overcome with nature is quite exciting to document and capture.

"I am always pleased with my work and what I consider a massive portfolioI have been building over the years sharing my work and what I do brings me joy and allows people to see what would normally be not seen.”

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