The Urbex Trio

10/09/2026

St Stephen’s Church was built in 1969 and officially opened in 1970 by Bishop David Cashman of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Arundel and Brighton. Constructed to serve a growing Roman Catholic community, it represented a more modern style of worship compared to many of the area’s much older churches.

Despite its modest appearance, the church housed several interesting features. Its stained-glass windows were dedicated to Bishop Cashman, while the large wooden crucifix in the sanctuary was crafted by pupils from St Paul’s Roman Catholic School. The carved figure of Christ and the Stations of the Cross were donated by André Lacome of Lourdes, creating a connection with one of the world’s most famous pilgrimage destinations.

The church also contained wartime relics recovered from Ypres following the First World War, donated by a local resident who had served in the military. Wrought-iron candle stands, produced by a local blacksmith, added further character and craftsmanship to the building.

For many years St Stephen’s served its congregation faithfully, but declining attendance eventually led to services being suspended, leaving the building largely unused. In 2026, plans were submitted for the demolition of the former church and its replacement with three three-bedroom houses, marking the end of the building’s role as a place of worship and the beginning of a new chapter for the site.

Although not an ancient church, St Stephen’s remains an interesting piece of modern ecclesiastical history, reflecting the social changes, faith, craftsmanship and community spirit of the era in which it was built. As redevelopment approaches, another small part of local history is set to disappear from the landscape.

Information online but if anyone know different then please feel free to comment

09/09/2026

Cobweb bungalow

We believe this one was left like this in 2019. We had been keeping an eye on it for a few years and then saw someone do it so went to have a nosey. Now all cleared and possibly up for demolition.

09/09/2026

Vehicle graveyard

09/09/2026

Established in 1945, the site became home to a major scientific research facility where hundreds of staff worked on developing crop protection products, studying plant diseases, pests and agricultural innovations. Over the decades it grew into an internationally recognised centre, attracting scientists and visitors from across the globe.

The complex remained at the forefront of agricultural research for more than 50 years before operations finally came to an end in 2001. Since then, the laboratories, offices and conference facilities have been left empty, slowly succumbing to decay but mainly vandelism

Walking through the building today, it’s hard to imagine the level of activity it once saw. Corridors that were once filled with researchers now sit silent, while former laboratories and offices remain frozen in time, offering a fascinating glimpse into the site’s past.

Although redevelopment plans have been proposed over the years, much of the former research complex has remained abandoned, making it a striking reminder of a period when this quiet rural location played an important role in scientific research and agricultural development.

07/09/2026

For many people in Swindon, the distinctive red-roofed Pizza Hut at Shaw Ridge was a familiar landmark for decades. Opening during the growth of the Shaw Ridge Leisure Park, it became a popular destination for family meals, birthday parties, school celebrations and the chain’s famous unlimited salad bar and ice cream factory.

During the 1990s and early 2000s, Pizza Hut was one of the UK’s best-known casual dining brands, and the Shaw Ridge restaurant was part of that success. Thousands of local residents passed through its doors over the years, making it a recognisable feature of the leisure park.

Like many large dine-in restaurant chains, however, Pizza Hut faced increasing challenges in recent years. Rising operating costs, changing customer habits and growing competition from takeaway and delivery services affected restaurants across the country. Despite continuing to trade through 2024, the Shaw Ridge branch closed suddenly in January 2025, leaving the building vacant after decades of service.

Its closure came months before the wider Pizza Hut restaurant crisis that saw dozens of UK sites shut their doors during 2025.

The empty building did not remain unused for long. In 2026, plans were approved to transform the former restaurant into a McDonald’s drive-thru and takeaway. The conversion involved partial demolition of the original structure, removal of much of the iconic Pizza Hut design and the creation of a new drive-thru lane. Work began in spring 2026, marking the end of an era for one of Swindon’s most recognisable family restaurants.

Today, little remains of the restaurant that served generations of local families. While the site continues its life under a new brand, many residents will remember it as the place where birthday parties were held, endless trips were made to the salad bar, and countless family meals were shared under that famous red roof.

05/09/2026