It must be expensive to maintain manor houses and I’m sure we’ve all got better things to spend our money on, but my heart still cries out for these abandoned beauties. Like gracious old ladies, forgotten by family and friends.
Before and after picture of mansion from Niajeros del Misterioes.Abandoned plantation home Bellegrove, from Historic Structures.Chateau in France, from Pinterest.Staircase in a mansion in Oppburg, former DDR. From Maestro Photography.Another stunning staircase from Beautiful Portals on Tumblr.This is what I imagined Tara to look like (in Gone with the Wind). From Pinterest.Taunton State Hospital in Massachusetts from asylum.comAnother American house boarded up, from weheartit.com
Oh what a lovely post. Each wall of each building has thousands of stories to tell. How delicious and those stairs… I do love the analogy of the forgotten ladies. Thank you.
I’m with Jacqui. Those staircases, particularly the second. Mind you…..I’d be very scared when darkness fell. I’m sure there would be rustlings, creakings, and probably….the sound of breathing WHICH ISN’T MINE. It would be fine if it just turned out to be Jacqui, but I’d probably be too frozen with terror to say ‘Jacqui is that you?’ And what if it wasn’t…….
In the UK, grand houses & castles have come & gone through out history – the scant remains of very many still linger in fields among the sheep & cows, as well as in surprising locations in towns & cities (eg in modern housing estates!). Although within living memory (of some) is the early 20th Century abandonment of many fine dwellings following the financial crash, the post-wars shortage of labour , and the imposition of Death Duties tax. Luckily for those interested in such buildings, organisations such as the National Trust & English Heritage (& some families etc) have preserved & opened to visitors many that would have otherwise perished.
I share your sentiment for the loss of these sometimes magnificent pieces of architecture. Now too expensive to maintain for there is not much ‘old money’ left. Yet, the ‘new money’, the new corporate wealth, maybe have to hide their opulence in more subtle ways; less visible places.
findingtimetowrite 
There’s something so beautiful about these decaying houses succumbing to the surrounding environment. The staircases are just stunning.
Wonderful photographs, all perfect for a Gothic setting.
Oh what a lovely post. Each wall of each building has thousands of stories to tell. How delicious and those stairs… I do love the analogy of the forgotten ladies. Thank you.
So beautiful in their forgotten states but so sad as well xx
They all have such a crumbling, faded grandeur – I rather like the last, Psycho-like one!
Oh, those have such potential to be gorgeous, Marina Sofia! If I had the means, I’d love to fix up that chateau in France – what a beauty!
I love pictures of decaying houses. But it is sad.
Oh, the staircases, the staircases. There is something so beautiful about the one in Oppburg – it’s the combination of colours, I think.
You see the remains of those old plantation houses in the deep south. When I saw the first one, I was shocked to see it falling into ruin.
That state hospital is wonderful. So sad that these places have fallen into disrepair and abandoned when people are living homeless on the streets
I’m with Jacqui. Those staircases, particularly the second. Mind you…..I’d be very scared when darkness fell. I’m sure there would be rustlings, creakings, and probably….the sound of breathing WHICH ISN’T MINE. It would be fine if it just turned out to be Jacqui, but I’d probably be too frozen with terror to say ‘Jacqui is that you?’ And what if it wasn’t…….
Oooh, how beautiful. I bet these buildings have some really interesting stories hidden behind their walls!
They would all be fascinating places to sketch…
The last one belongs to a painting by Edward Hopper.
In the UK, grand houses & castles have come & gone through out history – the scant remains of very many still linger in fields among the sheep & cows, as well as in surprising locations in towns & cities (eg in modern housing estates!). Although within living memory (of some) is the early 20th Century abandonment of many fine dwellings following the financial crash, the post-wars shortage of labour , and the imposition of Death Duties tax. Luckily for those interested in such buildings, organisations such as the National Trust & English Heritage (& some families etc) have preserved & opened to visitors many that would have otherwise perished.
How quickly that top one has fallen into ruin – it made me think that I might not want to compare photos of me from 1965 and today… 😉
Beautiful and sad at the same time. How quickly things start to decay. I’d love to know the tales these buildings could tell.
I share your sentiment for the loss of these sometimes magnificent pieces of architecture. Now too expensive to maintain for there is not much ‘old money’ left. Yet, the ‘new money’, the new corporate wealth, maybe have to hide their opulence in more subtle ways; less visible places.