Ellie Whitby, the content material creator behind the EllieMarieTV channel on YouTube, got down to discover a former mining village that’s now affected by deserted houses
Ellie Whitby explored a former mining village that has suffered a tragic decline (Picture: Craig Connor/ChronicleLive)
A UK ghost city the place houses promote for simply £1 is affected by deserted houses, pretend doorways and home windows. In considered one of her UK investigations, Ellie Whitby, the content material creator behind the EllieMarieTV channel on YouTube, got down to discover the previous mining village of Horden in County Durham.
As soon as residence to Horden Colliery – one of many largest mines within the UK earlier than its closure in 1987 – Horden has suffered a tragic decline over time and is now dotted with deserted homes. In her 2024 video, Ellie and her buddy had been seen driving into Horden, the digicam showcasing a avenue seemingly lined with boarded-up doorways and home windows; she determined to discover a native resident to speak to. An unnamed native who’d lived within the city his complete life advised Ellie “it isn’t good”.
Horden is now dotted with deserted homes, pretend doorways and home windows (Picture: Craig Connor/ChronicleLive)
Because the digicam panned to a pretend window, he added: “It is pathetic, man; have a look at them home windows up there. They’re false doorways; they’re simply plastic issues caught excessive.”
He knowledgeable Ellie that any person was certainly dwelling within the property with “no electrical, no water and nothing on”.
As she additional explored the road, she claimed, “for each actual home”, there have been two deserted houses with false home windows and doorways – as soon as described by Durham County Council as “ornamental skins”.
Ellie additionally highlighted one property the place a complete window was lacking and approached what she described because the “worst pretend door” of all because the digicam was pointed by means of a gap.
Ellie additionally highlighted one property the place a complete window was lacking (Picture: EllieMarieTV/YouTube)
An audible cough may very well be heard within the darkness of the constructing, suggesting the seemingly deserted residence was really occupied, and the explorers swiftly retreated to their automobile.
In 2015, Channel 4 reported that nearly 160 houses in east Durham had been left empty, highlighting that the housing affiliation Accent oversaw 361 properties in Horden and Blackhall.
Accent provided to promote 130 properties to Durham Council for the extremely low value of £1, however it reportedly declined the provide. It claimed that even at this value, the repairs could be too pricey.
Ellie tracked down the cellphone variety of any person who purchased a property in Horden. They stated: “So we purchased the home as a improvement challenge. We purchased it blind; I’ve by no means been anyplace close to Horden in my life.
“The native yobs realised that there (was) work being executed on it, broke in, stole the staircase; they took the floorboards”. They went on to allege that police “principally joked” that they should not purchase “anything within the space”.
In a remaining startling remark, the native resident from earlier, when requested what could be executed to assist the city, stated: “Get all the great folks out and nuke it.”
Ellie stands subsequent to one of many pretend doorways (Picture: EllieMarieTV/YouTube)
In reference to a separate video about Horden in 2024, Michael Kelleher, head of planning and housing at Durham County Council, advised The Solar: “We’re happy that the friendliness and heat of the folks of Horden was picked up on by the guests on this video.
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“We do after all recognise that the village, as is the case with many communities up and down the nation, isn’t with out its challenges.
“That’s the reason we’re dedicated to doing every little thing we are able to, with the sources obtainable to us, to allow regeneration and assist group tasks for the advantage of native folks.”
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