Exploring Belfast's Abandoned Crumlin Road Courthouse

[@ncjester3027]

I live in Belfast, was raised, and lived here all 27 years of my lifetime. Always wanted to see inside the courtside in the detail you've shown here. Fantastic! Thank you for doing this video and showing us.

[@STANielle]

Same but 42yrs here ✌🏻

[@kelo0ne]

Same here I’m 28 and drive past it everyday coming home from mallusk and it’s still a grand building to look at, glad this video came Up in the recommended

[@Urbandoned]

No problem - glad that you enjoyed our coverage :)

[@TheSevenEquines]

Same but 10 yrs

[@SakuraPlaysThis]

As some who was in the court when it was opened it’s just surprising to see how derelict it is

[@anthonyellis987]

It's criminal (no pun intended) to let a building with history and beauty left to rot. I expect that there's a few people who were sent down to see the courtrooms burnt. Great video.

[@webweb9673]

Literally on the other side of the metal door you were at is the tunnel over to the the jail, having taken the tour of the jail many times and knowing how eerie it is standing at that metal door way at the end of the tunnel it would have been great to hear the reaction of that particular tour group if you had of banged the door lol

[@user-br3bw7wr2l]

I realised when he said he heard the voice. That your group would certainly have got their moneys worth had he banged on the door !

[@irishmanlost]

@9.47 the door leads to the underground passageway to the gaol across the road. Also, the cells were used only as holding cells for court. But wow didn't realize that so much has gone since my visit.

[@Urbandoned]

It's changed drastically over the years. Thanks again for letting us use your images - they really help show the effects neglect has had on the courthouse.

[@Alasdair-uo8zg]

Thanks for this information.

[@herschell64]

Some of your videos like this one makes cry because of the sad state the building has been left in

[@CannabrannaLammer]

I get like that too. I love buildings

[@fatimaali8645]

Same here it’s so sad 😢 those walls could tell some stories if they could talk 😢

[@carolinehoward180]

Wowzer! Underneath was amazing. Thank you for braving it down there! Arson is a disgusting and terrifying crime and I’d bet money that the scallys that lit those fires have been up in front of more recent judges. What a shame it’s passed repair or restoration 🙁

[@eyeballairvent1248]

Do your videos during the day. I do not like the night explorations. The artificial light makes them artificial.

[@seanroche2358]

This explore could only be done during daytime due to the dangerous conditions and hopefully the facade can be saved

[@Urbandoned]

Definitely! Doing this one in the dark would be quite stupid :)

[@kpurban1310]

Lovely stuff my man. Absolutely gutting to see what it once was and how it is now...

[@andrewnelsondrumcovers1787]

Thanks for showing this. I was doing the Crumlin Road Gaol Tour last Monday and went down to the tunnel thinking we could go right across to the courthouse but we could only a certain distance before coming to a locked gate. I was wondering what it looked like inside as it certainly looks dilapidated from the outside. The short film available in the gaol doesn't show much.

[@ForgottenBuildings]

Some pretty nice decay in there. The overgrowth and details reminded me of some Italian abandoned places. Nice report!

[@Urbandoned]

The decay is pretty incredible, but it's a shame about the ruined design. Thank you

[@ixponanimates2793]

How did you enter into the site

[@dennisonthachil]

How did you get inside?

[@longlegs7881]

I used to think vandalism was just a problem in the US. After watching different videos on KZbin I see it's an issue everywhere as is graffiti. Why do people do it? Destroy n make ugly marks on an otherwise beautiful view or area. It makes me sad to see this problem everywhere, and it's getting worse and worse.

[@gezzy8095]

Outstanding video! I’ve just been working my way through your extensive back catalogue over the last couple of weeks which I enjoyed. I think there is nothing to improve in your videos but you may want to show the people behind the camera to make it more personal, but that’s your choice. Thanks lads keep up the great videos! 👍😁peace ✌️

[@Urbandoned]

Thank you! Maybe, in some mission styled videos we plan on filming, there will be more of the behind the scenes and personal opinions about the stuff we are doing. We tend to consider the buildings way more important than our thoughts about them at the time, though, which is why we don't usually show ourselves.

[@stein737]

i like this Boys

[@Urbandoned]

Glad to hear it

[@drscopeify]

Fascinating explore, the underground tunnel network and cells seems like a large investment for a simple prison and courthouse. Perhaps someone who was previously through there as an inmate torched it but who knows I guess.

[@jesswright8279]

How incredibly sad and eerie. Reminds me of “The day of the Triffids” by John Wyndham. I don’t wander if he got his inspiration from something like this. It’s particularly sad, since as each year goes past there are fewer and fewer of thes places left. Thoughtful and thorough filming though and thank you for showing this to us. Your work is appreciated

[@CannabrannaLammer]

I remember it closing and it doesn't seem that long ago given how gutted it is. Makes me so sad because I've always loved it and was so upset when it was set on fire. People just don't know how to leave things alone. This could have been made into a tourist attraction like the gaol opposite and would have been amazing.

[@CannabrannaLammer]

The cells and hallways around them look so tiny and cramped. Like can you even fit two people side by side?

[@brianohagan2157]

Brilliant video, I would like to see more drone footage in your future videos 👍

[@Urbandoned]

Much appreciated. We always seem to have drone problems whenever we are out, but we have many videos, especially from our recent Ireland trip, with accompanying drone footage. Just depends on when we share them :)

[@addictedtocraic]

Great report. I went to school beside here and Crumlin Rd Gaol and remember it in its heyday. So sad to see. It was sold to a developer for £1 and is a total shameful disgrace. Can you do one on North St Arcade that was burned. An Art Nouveau beauty that is greatly missed..

[@Urbandoned]

Thank you. We tried North St Arcade on our trip. Wasn't doable on the day :(

[@camerondodge98]

@@Urbandoned we used to have to climb up through a carpark up a building and down through a window to get in but they bricked over it so now you would need a large ladder to climb

[@Matt-Durham]

Hiya mate, I'm Matt Durham I've investigated the Troubles for years, I still am to see this day! I often work with media outlets who want to unlock some secrets for whatever story they're running. I can offer you one thing that no one else can unless you were there, and that's what was said in the court rooms, and some of the UKs most sickening acts of mass murder and terrorism. I'm going to lie I was deeply saddened when dickheads set it alright numerous times after its closure but everyone knew it was a high value target and symbol. I remember when a high profile case was going on and the victim was giving his evidence and a massive bomb went off outside, the chandelier was swinging, the judge visibly jumped and the victim still carried on giving his evidence without a flinch. You're more than welcome to get in touch and no I don't charge lol

[@VinDrizzle]

I'm from North Belfast got into crum a lot of years back shame the building is in such sate, in North Belfast there's a mill that was built in 1847.and its been abandoned since the 60s It's tough to get into. well, u can't get in it. I tried, lol

[@N1gel]

Ive never seen Crumlin road so empty. This was a lovely video. Shows that the government has more money than either sense or they know what to do with it or both. ANY responsible government or local authority would have restored and redeveloped the building to live hundreds more years at least. If this was privately owned by an innocent English taxpayer in England (Specifically in Sevenoaks Kent) run by masons, the corrupt council would have sold the land to developers and then Compulsary requisitioned the deeds for free from the legitimate owner, in that order! Then when the compulsary requisition was overturned by a higher authority the councellor with a personal pocket full of extorted money would have to find a way to reimburse the developer!! CORRUPTION in britistan government!!! Liz Truss is now the MP supporting loads of incidents of illegal corruptions!!!! The resulting victimisation is excessive and relentless but of course supported by the brit PMs and the yes brigade. Traitor blair pumped so much of our taxes into that place and they leave it to decay. The CRIMINALS are the ones in the offices.

[@bpfromowc]

This was a beautiful building (both inside & outside) . It's a disgrace what has happened to it.

[@davie8906]

"literally" under? Not physically under? Or just simply UNDER . SMFH

[@vlogger88]

It would of made more sense to restore this along with the crum (jail) itself the tours could of started upton entering the court as if you were being sentenced and then down through the tunnel into the jail they definitely missed a trick here as ive done the tour of the jail and only being able to walk half through the underground tunnel toward the courthouse to me anyway it felt like a part of the tour was missing still a good tour would highly recommend it for anyone watching this plenty of history and not only from the troubles but Victorian times etc aswel

[@owengarrett8240]

Would love for you to explore the floral hall in Belfast

[@rosscopeeco69]

Floral hall would be an excellent one. Don't think anyone has done it yet

[@N1gel]

People are doing photogrametry to 3D printers OK and to Mig welders OK and to CNC routers ok, I just thought - nobody has a CNC printing cement mixer!

[@Eviction76]

Need to hold a vigil underground..bet there will be some activity there..

[@Wherecharliegoes]

Sad to see a building with such a long and detailed history in such a bad state! It’s a shame that none of the plans came to anything as a building like that would make an amazing hotel or even an event space, especially with all the cells underneath. I’d love to imagine the external walls being stabilised and a development of the interior taking place but I don’t imagine that’s financially viable due to the state of the building. Would be amazing if someone saved it though!

[@Urbandoned]

The stabilisation is the first step for it's protection. If that isn't done, their supports will crumble, much like all the interior rooms that we saw. The architecture would work well as a hotel, but as you say, the money to convert something in this bad a state would be a huge sum, so it's less likely.

[@stephensmith4480]

The cells under the courthouse were holding cells for when remand prisoners from The Crum were appearing in Court. My ex partners Brother was in there in the 80s.

[@ShineALight47]

Interesting how it was left wide open to vandals … even the cell doors left unlocked 👀

[@xmcca7l366]

Mate you should wear some breathing protection due to asbestos etc

[@clscar3606]

Sad that beautiful building like this one goes to shit 😢

[@lynetteireland]

How did you get into it or get permission off? Would love to go

[@patsymillar9447]

I had a catering assignment in the old courthouse many years ago. Just before it closed for the last time. It was sad to be inside the building and see the roof of the main hall shorn up with scaffolding. While waiting for the event to begin, one of the security men showed us round the courtrooms. The number one court where the murder trials took place was pretty creepy. It's sad to see this lovely building in this state.

[@Urbandoned]

You definitely saw the site in a much better condition than us - very jealous! However, either way, it's incredibly saddening to see how poorly damaged it has become.

[@colleb95]

It looks me it used to be a high school.

[@pudgypattontv2439]

Nice video! a historical building everyone remembers from their Childhood if they grew up in West Belfast, and its still standing 🙏🙌💯

[@Urbandoned]

Thank you :)

[@matthewcochrane3750]

I would like to see some interviews with the people who know more about the history of building, story's of when it was in there prime

[@Urbandoned]

We'd love to do that! It's relatively difficult to contact previous owners or people with memories of the building. However, we managed to speak to someone about Clune Park estate and we would think that sort of style is what we would go for in future videos utilising this idea.

[@lizstevenson7801]

Sad to say the facade is the only part of this building that can be saved. Great video, thank you.

[@Urbandoned]

Thanks a lot - we agree, the interior is too badly damaged to be preserved. There is hardly anything worth saving there now, anyway.

[@NotOZ11]

BRO MY NAME IS LIAM S

[@fingerprint5511]

If it was restored you'd make FAR more from the 1 million tourist visits a year from the goal across the road! What were they thinking to sell this building and allow it to decay? I'm stunned.

[@grantm9372]

I was intrigued at the price you mentioned at the start- £16500 of course seems low and then a i checked an inflation calculator and in today’s money would seemingly cost around £2.2-2.3M… which is a lot of money but looking at the building it still seems like a low cost? Can anyone explain this? Did people value buildings differently back then or? Thanks

[@seanroche2358]

Watching you walk on those floors is so frightening

[@Urbandoned]

Sorry !!

[@ossy113]

Great video. But just to let you know..£16,000 in 1850 is around £2,209,000 today with inflation.

[@shazzzabanazz4789]

Be careful calling it ireland wen u so close to shankill n oldpark lol

[@iainmacrae6982]

You are the problem with that mentality still

[@TopAbandonedPlacesURBEX]

We were gonna go here but when we were over there, fire had only just happened a couple weeks before so we imagined it would’ve been secured tightly and didn’t bother

[@SnowyAspenHills]

For your own safety I would suggest daytime visits. Being in construction I’m very aware of the dangers that buildings under construction hold and that’s even after many H&S measures have been implemented. A daytime survey first would be essential but personally I think the risks are too high.

[@johorrocks8927]

Only watched a few minutes so far, what an absolute travesty to see such an iconic building in this state... commenting as I go along, love the sound effects regarding the effects of arson and the fire brigade attending, it adds to the sheer sadness this building has become. I wonder if the cells led up to the court rooms, I am completely fascinated by the court room & buildings scene, I have done jury service twice and it was a brilliant experience, one was a coroner's court and more recently Crown court...why couldn't it have secured the conversion to apartments or a hotel? buildings like this are meant to be preserved and steeped in history passed down. So sad to see it in this state. I absolutely loved this explore... right up my street.finally I liked the Grecian look of the frontage of the building...such a shame it's in the state it is in today. 40,000 subscribers is not enough for what you do. Keep doing what you are doing... much appreciated.I can't see how you can improve on the consistency of what you produce, so more of the same, but I do like before and after shots integrated in images of what is being presented, just want to say what on earth is achieved by the pure acts of vandalism and arson, hope they are proud of themselves...

[@Urbandoned]

Really glad that you enjoyed this one. The place was very special, an iconic structure that deserves to be saved as you say. That's much appreciated and very kind of you to say. We will try to include more before and after shots, but sometimes they are hard to find!

[@kenmannagh7788]

In Northern Ireland vandalism sometimes can take on a different meaning if you research the history of this iconic building . It was politically motivated vandalism because the courthouse was used to sentence many terrorists and it is located beside a very loyalist area and therefore is one of the many casualties of the Northern Ireland troubles. Many many buildings and lives were vandalised particularly by bombs...this is just one , it's only a building of bricks and mortar ! Pull it down , it has a dark past and a reminder of those dark days .

[@ianmcdonald3053]

It’s crazy how quick it’s decayed, I’d friends who got sent down at the crum, think it’s a disgrace that this iconic building has been allowed to happen. Nearly every family in Belfast had someone get a sentence passed. Huge part of our history, had no idea it was this bad. Sad 😞

[@L_U-K_E]

you guys shouldve checked out the Hilden Mill in Lisburn. Ive gone past it before and it looks quite interesting

[@youngpirlo7742]

I think it went on fire in last couple of months dunno how much damage was done

[@Urbandoned]

We had it down, but didn't get to go. Such a beautiful and dated property.

[@Declutterwithmelanie]

As a kid we loved exploring Barnsley hall mental hospital in bromsgrove worcestershire uk. It was mostly demolished now but the entrance and graves are still there right next to the new house built on the land.

[@howardsmiller]

I'm not sure if anybody mentioned it but there's a tunnel over to the gaol over the road. The visitor tours go down there. I expect that's what you could hear.

[@TheStarsInHisHead]

Getting Last of us vibes. I was born and raised just up the road from this, and would pass it all the time, going into town. Not seen this building since about 1988 and it's a shame to see it in such a sorry state.

[@GlasgowCeltic88]

In Crumlin Road jail all the prisoners one day, Took out a football and started to play. And while all the Warders were watching the ball, Nine of the prisoners jumped over the wall...

[@johnshooter4763]

Loyalist or Republican prisoners?

[@JessicaM20694]

I see this every time I go up to my dads from Bangor! It’s nice sometimes but I don’t think a hospital should be near it and I was raised there it a nice place to look at

[@Irishandream1]

The tunnel between the court and the prison across the street is haunted which I believe, the tunnel can only be accessed from the prison. The history of the jail is fascinating though. The courthouse was supposed to be made into a hotel but a homeless centre would have been better than another hotel

[@psinfotainment4925]

Thanks for upload this type of video 👍👌

[@billiardball9650]

yep when you where sentenced to prison they made sure you never seen day light again for a while from the cells a tunnel was used under the road for the condemned straight into the prison

[@ethanredmond7464]

I was exploring the Courthouse yesterday, it’s so sad the deteriorating state that it’s in!

[@tomcollins4617]

wrongly incarcerated here in 1965

[@lucaslocust9567]

My dad had to do jury service there back in the 80s

[@brannonshields5821]

If u go to the basement there is a tunnel that goes to the prison across the street

[@nickhanna9562]

As a young lawyer I regularly worked in this building during the 70s and 80s. Even when intact it was always a terrible building with few redeeming features. Awful layout and an absolute warren of dreary corridors and dismal rooms. Merely because it has a classical portico is not a good reason to think it’s worth saving or restoring. Put it out of its misery.

[@johnshooter4763]

Did you work with barrister Appleton who sent many badly behaved boys and girls to jail?

[@seanroche2358]

Watching you walking on those floors is so frightening

[@raventaylor2070]

just down the road from me! I moved here about 8 years

[@PyrateAsylumParanormalAgency]

👆❤🏴‍☠️

[@davidbutterworth9609]

A building with the history of this one makes what has happened a scandal. Absolutely appalling. To care so little for your cultural heritage and historic environment is unforgivable.

[@Urbandoned]

Agreed!

[@sheepsaga7235]

As someone who lives in ni, this really is a piece of our history

[@Andy-From-England]

Guys relating to your question I don't really think you can improve on your videos they good enough I suppose make them longer somehow

[@Urbandoned]

Your request will be answered in our next video :)

[@jean-lucpicard5510]

Sure I heard Martin Mcguiness was sentenced here during the bad old days.

[@joekidd9456]

He appeared at Belfast Magistrates court but not at Crumlin Rd.

[@nataliesmith303]

This also reminded me of Italy as another follower mentioned. Such a shame it couldn’t have been repurposed before it got trashed 🥺

[@Urbandoned]

It's quite sad that buildings like this one are unable to be saved. People only seem to start caring after vandalism has struck.

[@robnewman6101]

In a sad state. It could be restored up.

[@danstill6772]

Love the vids the last one I seen was the flagship which I had been one of the last to work in before it closed and now a place just round the corner from my house atm

[@Urbandoned]

More coming from the area!

[@pixusphotographic]

And yet another great video helping to save something of the past.

[@Urbandoned]

Glad you liked it :)

[@CJAuditsAuditingNI]

Love it ❤

[@michailokeefeMooMoo]

Maybe a live night show or a daylight one or even offer someone to go with you on a explore

[@Urbandoned]

We have been considering a live explore in the building. I don't think we would do it in a place that could be filmed normally, as a live video wouldn't show it to the ability we want to treat every place with.

[@ALWResearchTeam]

Nicely done.

[@Urbandoned]

Thanks

[@Dougsterxplor]

Nope, 3 seconds in and I can't listen to that voice.

[@Urbandoned]

[@howardsmiller]

He could lighten up a bit but that's harsh. It's still interesting stuff.