Abandoned Friends School (Closed in 2017) Essex

This place is extremely beautiful & full of history and wonder, come and check it out with me.
Behind the camera....
TikTok: / theurbextheory
Instagram: / itzjustwilll
Twitter: Th...
#abandonedplaces

[@edwoodhouse9205]

I like the way the explorers went from "This place feels like an asylum" to "I could live here." Neatly sums up my emotional journey as a pupil, lol. It's really sad to see a beautiful historic building, one that holds cherished memories for thousands of people, in such a neglected state.

[@TheUrbexTheory]

It's a bit of a shame isn't it 😕

[@user-qc4ye4bs3y]

Thank you for this! I was at Friends School 1975 - 1982 - This brought tears but also fascinating - so many memories (mostly good!) The large two tier room was our girls dorm - called 'the barn'.

[@MD-gx9kj]

My wife was there too and just said the same thing!

[@pooshkahnla6074]

I started there same year as you but only stayed a year. It's still impressed on my memory even though I've never been back...

[@tessabrown4958]

The Governors should be ashamed. The number of times they said, “nothings wrong with this” made me so angry.As for the Art Room! This is so sad.

[@TheUrbexTheory]

It was a shame to see all the art going to waste, some nice pieces there

[@michaeladams5206]

And we thought that the school was never to be sold for housing. How wrong we were. One wouldn't want to live on Mount Pleasant Road now, not so pleasant when the houses are built, nor on Radwinter road when the old printing works site is finished being built on. Someone has sold their soul to the devil in SW these days.

[@benfrost9653]

Very sad to watch but thanks for doing this video chaps. I went to this school 00-07 and hadn't seen inside since I left

[@TheUrbexTheory]

Sad yet exciting at the same time

[@hainesworld1]

Shit man

[@AndrewPrince-oh6cy]

I went to school there from 1983 to 1987…mixed feelings as I have not been back there, until I saw your film…… So many memories, difficult and hard, voices and smells, running down all those stairs…. and I am sad that it will be demolished. If it wasn’t for all those quiet corners, the pet shed, understanding teachers, the art department and a kind tolerant Headmaster, I wouldn’t be doing what I do today. When I left, I scratched my initials and date on a brick..

[@TheUrbexTheory]

Update: it's not being demolished :) it's being made into living accommodation

[@jackfarrier3972]

Where is this?

[@stephencleaves]

An amazing place, if only walls could talk, imagine all the history since its opening in the 1880's, I bet that would make an interesting night time visit, probably get quite a few "paranormal" experiences ! Well done Will, another cracking video and explore, keep 'em coming. 😉

[@TheUrbexTheory]

Sadly, this place is getting renovated pretty quickly

[@mary.francesw]

So sad to see, so many memories. I could watch for hours. Would love to see anymore footage you have. Thank you 🙏🏻

[@TheUrbexTheory]

I unfortunately don't have any more footage 😕

[@AidanReid]

many fond memories of this place. So many amazing and wonderful people i met there.

[@TheUrbexTheory]

Share them if you want too

[@julianrob77]

mad seeing all that like it is.. our old bedroom is a bloody state haha

[@TheUrbexTheory]

At least it won't go to waste once it's been converted in to flats and the swimming pool is back up and running

[@woodsyshroomer]

You were puzzling over why there was a bedroom attached to the bathroom. The bathroom used to be a boys dorm, and the door was a fire exit which went through the then deputy heads flat.

[@TheUrbexTheory]

It was a very confusing layout haha

[@alwamaze2726]

I was here in 2017 when school shut. I recognise half those names including my best friends.

[@sharonmeyland6198]

Where are the tiles on the pool ! I paid for some of those, as did most parents. They sold tiles to raise money for the refurbishment.

[@TheUrbexTheory]

Not a clue unfortunately

[@hainesworld1]

I went to school here!

[@gracex592]

Sadly judi dench didn’t go here (though I wish she did! The red room just before 25:00 was a common room for year 9 and 10 - the room at the other end of the corridor was 10 and 11s. There were lockers and benches all round the room before. The room at 32:00 was the dining hall - very hogwarts with long wooden tables and benches.

[@judeastall-fuller6230]

This makes me sad, was there from 87-92

[@TheUrbexTheory]

Thank you for sharing

[@Liv002-ks5td]

My name is on the wall in the art room!

[@TheUrbexTheory]

Ah that's awesome 👌

[@manutdfanpage8241]

Interesting fact but Joseph Stalin grandchildren attended this school in the 90s. Paparazzi used to come even.

[@TheUrbexTheory]

Wow that's an Interesting fact

[@duncanevans6226]

just one grandchild, Chrissie. Nice girl. I remember the paps and the diplomatic incident it caused too

[@tanyahallums3652]

It was only one grandchild Olga Peters.

[@tanyahallums3652]

Known as Chrissie Peters, escaping Russia with her mother. Must have been a very difficult time in her life. She was not there for long.

[@AngusWillson]

Odd that an urbex spots a plan of the building and just leaves it! As I understand it, the main building is not being demolished but will, in due course, be converted to flats. It will need significant re-wiring and re-plumbing. (1966-1973)

[@TheUrbexTheory]

And the swimming pool will be up and running again...

[@ACSferrari]

This safe to visit mate 👀

[@simonbrown4643]

I used that darkroom!

[@TheUrbexTheory]

Love a darkroom

[@judeastall-fuller6230]

The room at 20 mins was a girls dorm. I spent a year in there

[@TheUrbexTheory]

Thank you for sharing 😁

[@simoneclark2585]

Hey guys, does anyone know if this is still there? Thanks 😊

[@simoneclark2585]

If so, what's the best route to get in please

[@judeastall-fuller6230]

It’s currently being turned into flats. No chance of getting in there now

[@babytarragon]

active building site now

[@TheUrbexTheory]

​@@simoneclark2585This was August last year so not a clue

[@woodsyshroomer]

I was a boarder 80-85

[@elizabethsmith3250]

In answer to your question.... no your Grandad didn't have an electric cooker like that.... he had gas cooker.....but we had an electric cooker like that on holiday one year......😊

[@TheUrbexTheory]

Haha thanks 😊

[@hansimanning9258]

😢

[@TheUrbexTheory]

😥

[@goodtimesentertainment]

Dame judy dench went to that school

[@TheUrbexTheory]

Wow I had no idea about that information

[@AngusWillson]

No, she didn't. Judi Dench went to The Mount School in York.

[@mary.francesw]

I think she was a patron of the school but didn’t actually go here

[@sharonmeyland6198]

Yes she was. My sons both attended Friends 1997/2005