An urban explorer has said he enters abandoned buildings due to his interest in their history after posting footage from inside an empty Grade II-listed mansion.
The man, who uses the name Bearded Reality, filmed himself at Bretton Hall near Wakefield, which is part of a plan by the members-only Groucho Club to open an outpost in the north.
The site, which was previously used as a college and is owned by Wakefield Council, has been vacant for 19 years, and was due to open as a hotel and venue this year.
Bearded Reality said he was exploring the building for around an hour and 20 minutes before security realised he was inside. He entered the fenced-off grounds before climbing through a window.
The council has now said that round-the-clock security is in place following the Bretton Hall incident and intruders entering the city’s County Hall, which is still in use despite claims by the group of urban explorers that it is abandoned.
Bearded Reality, who is based in West Yorkshire, said: “I have been doing this now for nearly 11 years.
“I am a trespasser but when you’ve been doing this for a while, you know the ins and outs of the law.”
He said he enters premises based on “security mistakes” such as an open door or window, but would not physically break in.
His primary motive is to explore buildings that had been left to decay due to his interest in history.
“Also, because we knew there was security on site, we wanted to see how well they are actually protecting it,” he added.
“At Bretton Hall, it was absolutely ridiculous because we were there for about an hour and 20 minutes, if they’ve got sensors and other things, they should be able to pick us up.”
According to the Crown Prosecution Service, external, trespass is “not of itself a criminal offence”.
However there are some offences in which trespass is an essential element, such as failing to comply with police to leave land or aggravated trespass, which involves intentionally intimidating, obstructing or disrupting the lawful activity of others.
Bearded Reality said: “Until we’re told to leave, we just remain on site, take photos, document it. If we are told to leave and we refuse, this is where it becomes criminal.”
