Creepy images of an abandoned shopping centre in Greater Manchester are reminiscent of the classic 1970s zombie movie Dawn Of The Dead.
The Wheatsheaf Shopping Centre, in Rochdale, closed its doors for good at the end of 2020 due to the economic impact of the coronavirus. Since the lights were turned off, the once thriving shopping mall has lay abandoned with shoes, clothing and furniture still displayed in some of the shop windows.
Photos taken inside the desolate centre by urban explorer Jake were uploaded to his Facebook page Exploring With Jake earlier this week. The creepy pics showing mannequins, locked up store fronts, goods still in the stores and even what appears to be discarded ammunition make it appear like the set of the classic 1978 zombie film Dawn Of The Dead.
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Dawn Of The Dead was directed by horror maestro, George A Romero, and follows a group that have taken refuge in an abandoned shopping mall which they eventually try to escape will fighting off hordes of the invading undead. The zombie classic was later remade in 2004 directed by Jack Snyder (Justice League/Man Of Steel).
Speaking to the MEN, Jake said he found wandering around the empty rooms to be a "creepy and surreal" experience. The Wheatsheaf Shopping Centre opened in 1991, and its announced closure in 2020 sparked anger and disappointment from both shoppers and traders.
The centre, which housed local stores such as Fizz Bomb and Russell's Cafe, lost a number of key tenants since 2017 including Wilko's, Ryman's and New Look. The centres bosses, MCR Property Group, said a 'nationwide shift in shopping habits' meant people had stopped shopping in town centres.
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According to Rochdale online, prior to its construction, the site was used by many businesses including a tea merchants called Tower Place as early as 1885. Dating from 1910, the site was a woollen mill, iron foundry and, in 1976, The Famous Army stores, Cradock’s footwear, Coombes footwear and the White Lion Hotel.
The shopping centre has now been put up for sale through commercial property consultants, WTGunson, for a figure of nearly £3 million. Arranged over five floors the 162,862 sq ft building can currently be used as space for retail, restaurants/cafes, offices, medical and leisure etc.
Click the gallery below to view the creepy images of the abandoned Wheatsheaf Shopping Centre
Property details on the WTGunson page state "other potential uses could include self storage, education, events, community use etc subject to planning." The information on the website also states a pre-application proposal for the building's demolition and erection of a new residential scheme has "received a positive response from the local authority" but would be subject to obtaining any necessary consents.
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