03 January 2024 , 07:55
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An urban explorer has given a glimpse inside an abandoned mansion with unusual shrines to famous British figures left in the dust.
Images of the abandoned Highland hunting mansion feature photos of Sir Winston Churchill and the British royal family. The forgotten, but untouched memorabilia, includes old military jackets, battle armour and a sword. Pictures of the royal family when they were young, signed photos of Winston Churchill during his years of service, the Queen Mother from 10 Downing Street, and portraits of Napoleon Bonaparte have highlighted the rich history of the building.
The huge mansion also housed taxidermied animals, including an eagle and a stag, an old Victorian doll house, and an ancient piano. This isolated structure is situated deep in the Highlands of Scotland surrounded by lush green and mashy land, sitting peacefully in Thurso countryside. The urban explorer, named Escapade, trekked to this house to uncover its hidden gems. He found forgotten pictures and an abandoned drawing room with many of its original features and furniture.
The rotting floors of the once grand living room (Mediadrumimages/Escapade)Fortunately, it had not been found by vandals and provides a snapshot of a time when the wealthy and well-connected visited the property and enjoyed its surroundings while relaxing and perhaps going hunting or fly-fishing in the surrounding land. Guests who came on such retreats were handpicked and were usually well-connected to government figures or members of the Royal Family.
He said: “I do not know a lot about all the portraits and pictures we found at the mansion, but I could tell I was surrounded by history. It’s a huge place and absolutely full. I am just grateful that no vandals have disturbed it. The floors had started to decay, the wallpapers were peeling off, and we found old copies of the newspaper The Scotsman, one of them was dated June 18, 1951. Although we were aware that this was Sir Archibald (Archie) Sinclair, Lord of Thurso's hunting mansion, coming across the taxidermied animals was still very creepy and exciting.”
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A Victorian dolls' house suggested children would sometimes be present (Mediadrumimages/Escapade)
The forgotten house had a rich history (Mediadrumimages/Escapade)He said the building was a rundown lodge before the Sinclairs took over and transformed it into their home. They would come to this place for a brief period of time every year and leave behind the politics of the world. The private escape meant those who were invited were likely to have been vetted in advance and discretion about the mansion's location was a requirement before they were invited behind its walls.
The explorer added: "Not everyone was allowed in the mansion. Guests were chosen with great care, Archie also followed his own time; he refused to change from British Summer Time before his sabbatical was over. This habit saw him arriving one hour early for meetings and lunches. When Winston Churchill’s government fell in 1922, it was rumoured that Archie was shooting grouse with Robert Boothby, former Parliamentary Secretary, here. This house was almost frozen in time, waiting for the Sinclairs to make their annual summer trip back home.”
Portraits of Archibald Sinclair through various stages of his life were left on the floor (Mediadrumimages/Escapade)In another abandoned premises, The Mirror told how the 15th-century manor house was once the home of now deceased conservative MP Horace Trevor Cox who was the last of Chamberlain’s appeasing WW2 government.
Images show the massive mansion with historical photographs left behind, clothes still hanging in the wardrobe, an old school workbook and even a large vintage pram. The property is surrounded by outbuildings, and inside it is still decorated in quite a decadent manner with thick red carpet, a piano and chandeliers in most rooms.
An eagle was one of the examples of taxidermy on the mansion's walls (Mediadrumimages/Escapade)
Framed portraits of the great and the good remained in the forgotten retreat (Mediadrumimages/Escapade)Called Roches Old Court Manor, the building is Grade II listed and dates back to the fifteenth century. It is likely that the manor house was built to replace a mediaeval hall situated on the same site. The name Roche is from the surname of the 14th Century tenants on the land.
An old piano suggesting sing-songs were enjoyed at the grand hunting retreat (Mediadrumimages/Escapade)