An urban explorer discovered an abandoned and derelict housing estate in South London with over 170 empty flats, many containing the remnants of the people who used to live in them.
An urban explorer has uncovered a chillingly deserted housing estate in the heart of South London, where more than 170 homes have been abandoned and left to decay.
Ashley Urbex, 26, from Milton-Keynes, came across the sprawling yet eerily quiet estate which contains 16 four-storey tower blocks and a total of 172 homes - each one deserted, empty and left vulnerable to the elements. Sharing her discovery on TikTok, she told viewers how residents who once lived there had been evicted over 10 years ago to make way for redevelopment plans that clearly have not yet happened.
Talking to NeedtoKnow about her find, she said: "Walking around this housing estate was very eerie creepy atmosphere. It was a complete ghost town, some of the flats suffered bad fire damage and were unfortunately trashed due to being easy access and open to anyone to visit."
Resembling something of a post-apocalyptic landscape, many of the properties still contained evidence of the people who once lived in them, including personal belongings, as if their residents had simply got up and walked out one day. Ashley said: "Most of the flats still possessed the past owner's possessions, I found rooms filled with furniture, DVDs, books, personal items including photographs, drawings diaries."
The creator, who frequently explores abandoned buildings and makes social media content about them, gained over 475,000 views on the video sharing the London Estate where she walks through the flats, showing houseplants, family photos and kids toys behind.
The Maryon Grove estate sits in Woolwich in Greenwich and forms part of Greenwich Council’s plan to regenerate three estates in Woolwich to deliver over 1,500 new homes. Ashley believes that the 172 abandoned flats were meant to be turned into 165 new affordable homes in the agreement approved in 2015 - but it never progressed.
The video, which gained 18,200 likes, also received hundreds of comments, including from people who used to live on the now abandoned estate. Malissa said: "Omg this is my old estate, I used to live at 75 this is heart breaking," while another said "My old estate I used to live at 51 I’m actually sad ngl…".
Mostly, people couldn't believe that the flats has been left unused and abandoned for so long. Emiex said: "The amount of families that could be rehomed there instead of being sat on a waiting list is ridiculous," while Diane commented: "They say there is a housing shortage and yet they leave all these homes just sat there!". Another pointed out: "Yet there's a housing crisis and more housing in being built?"
Many viewers were confused why so many people left their belongings behind when leaving the homes. Sammy T said: "How have families left their belongings behind and all those memories that go with them?" while another user asked: "The residents moved out but why wouldn't they take their belongings with them?". Faye wrote: "Sad that they left photos."
Ashley claims the estate has since been demolished.