Exploring Chester's Abandoned Debenhams: Found Lost 1780s Details
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- Опубліковано 4 жов 2024
- In today's video, we explore the abandoned Debenhams department store in Chester that was closed when the company was liquidated in 2021. As the building was formerly Browns constructed in the 1780s, it contains some incredible, rare architecture as well as untouched modern areas.
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I’ve lived in Chester all my life and walked up those stairs so many times and just took it for granted. Never appreciated just how beautiful the building was.
Same
It's unfortunate that high streets aren't what they used to be, but at least they've captured this beautiful building. I frequently travel to Chester quite often once every 2 weeks, shame this is gone!
Part of my childhood
I loved walking round Browns of Chester. ❤❤
Worked there as maintenace for a couple of years. Really was / is a building with character. Used to challenge ourselves to walk through the mannikin corridors alone on night shifts :)
The long corridor stock room Kev, when the old bride dresses were hanging in there….walking through there on nights was a challenge too!
I think that you're right in thinking that this place is just too nice to leave abandoned. Nice job guys!
I worked in this beautiful store in the 70s it was and is very special
Those days they sold the best money could buy
It’s a place that is in the hearts of the people of Cheshire and a real blow to the city when it closed
It’s tragic to see it empty if I had the money I would buy it and make it the destination it was for the city and tourism it should be 🥹
Truly incredible. I used to work there when there was a photography studio in the basement. That studio shut a fair bit before the rest of the store and was used as extra floor space and storage, pretty sure that's where you saw all those mannequins! It's so sad to see it closed down, but also fun to see it totally void of people and products. Thank you for the memories.
I pass this every day, and went inside when it was open, so eery to see it empty and forgotten!
I had a meal in the restaurant just before it closed down.
I remember only too well, when in the 70s it was Browns of Chester, and being dragged around the women's departments as a small child by my mother on her fortnightly shopping sprees. The thing i remember the most was that the women's departments all seemed to have the creakiest floors of any shop I'd been on or have been on since!!!! I wonder if anyone else remembers the creaking floor???!!!
I also remember being dragged around Browns of Chester when I was a nipper in the late 70’s & 80’s with its creaking floorboards and its plush carpets.
Thankfully, it wasn't too creaky when we visited!
yes!!
Posh sounding floors lol
I live in Chester and visited this store countless times. My grandparents bought a funky green lounge suite from here in 1984 when it was Browns Of Chester. Amazing video guys - very sad and also fascinating. Thank you
No problem
Shopped in Chester all my life, Browns of Chester was such a special place, so many memories. So sad to see it like this.
I worked in the Debenhams in Guildford during my late teens. There was almost as much shop that the customers didn't see as actual shop. Loads of rat-runs and service lifts, shortcut corridors etc. There was a counting office that was as locked down as any bank. Huge receipt/dispatch area downstairs. They were a great employer and gave staff mad benefits (like a lot of the old school department stores). I haven't worked in retail since then but it was sad to see Debenhams hit the wall. It was kind of a great British establishment.
Wow. I shopped there last few days of shutting down in the sales. Got some bargains. Its such a shame its a beautiful building
Spent a lot of time there with my late wife. Lots of good memories. Great camera work. The building extends from Eastgate Street through to the precinct. Also another entrance opposite Boodles (ladies shoes). (They opened another store in Ellesmere Port which used to be a travel agent. The site is known as The Coliseum. All bright and shiny) Backto Chester. The cafe was on the top floor, with the hairdressing salon and conveniences. The perfume counters were on the ground floor. As stated there was The Crypt below ground level accessed from Eastgate Street. Mens clothing and luggage as I recall. Could go on for a while but won't bore your viewers, except to say that I read fairly recently that it had been purchased for redevelopment can't remember who by. Thanks guys for the memories. Regards from Chester.
Brilliant explore guys! Thanks for sharing it.
RIP Debenhams. I used to work for their customer service HO but I quickly jumped ship as soon as I noticed sales dropping during Christmas in 2017. Such a shame.
Excellent. Amazing architect. Love the montage at the end. 👍👍💯💯👍👍
Hi, great video guys. I videoed the building before it closed. They are all on UA-cam. I talk about the history too. I can't believe you missed the attic rooms and the crypt! Love to know how you got back in :)
I will take a look, would be interesting to compare. We felt quite pressured with the amount of sensors we had gone infront of, which is why we missed some bits!
She was a Debenham's employee no problem with access or time.
My guess Maria, would be the roof access door by the goods lift on 3rd in the old canteen (right next to the bins for the restaurant). All you’d have to do is sneeze and that door would have blown in, it was that weak!
I was hoping to have seen the bay, and what state we left that in 😂
@@adamthompson6849 Good guess. The bay was pretty tidy. For once 😁It was sad to see the water damage already. Wouldn't have happened if you and Kev were looking after the place!
Brings back a lot of memories seeing inside there again. The very start, up in the cafe, I used to regularly visit Chester with my mum, and we’d have a coffee and cake there sat in those windows. Lovely vid, thank you for sharing.
Long time lurker here, not something I expected to see today, I walk past this every day! Amazing to see the inside!
No problem, glad the channel finally paid off for you :)
What a wonderful explore lads, and as for the floor with the glass lantern ceiling and the dome, it was just amazing. Loved the two little skits you done especially the one for the next addition of the magazine, which had me laughing my side off as I knew you three were up to something, but I didn't see that one coming! (By the way, everyone should order a copy, as the last two editions were great). Thanks as always.
Thank you for all your support Fraser! ❤️
@@Urbandoned Your more than welcome 🙂
I used to work in Debenhams in a different part of the UK. It's still so sad seeing the empty buildings with the Debenhams fixtures and fittings left behind!
22:02 "This one wants a hug!" to me perfectly sums up the joy and wit you lot bring to all your fascinating videos.
What a place. Calling it the Harrods of the north is an insult to it, it's got much more going for it, even when empty. Class always shines through.
Loved the intro 😂 Fantastic explore as always! Wow what stunning architecture! 😳
it is so sad to see Debenhams that empty. Those shops were so beautiful and such a bliss to be - even when just looking around. So sad. Thank you for your videos. They are always so respectfull and aprreciating the beautyful architecture. Also very well done with the videos and the music - just love your vids. Thank you!
Great find guys. Such a pity that it will never be occupied by a department store again. Best case scenario would be lots of little shops. I hope it's kept safe from vandals & fire raisers!
Some fantastic features there and lovely chandeliers etc
I spent many happy Saturdays browsing Browns long ago in the 1970s with my schoolmates. So sad ! Thanks for this.
Incredible video guys the building is amazing I really hope someone invests and it opens again soon
A quality explore lads. One of your best for sure.
What an Epic Architecture Let's Hope Someone Fills It's Empty Space. Absolutely Gorgeous With So Much History,Great Video Guys Loved it😊
Oh guys what a building can't believe all the tills and units are still there great video, 👌
So cool seeing the inside of there again. I worked there in 2012 such a beautiful store to explore. Shame you never went into the underground passage part with the original street level and on the middle floor with the bridge that leads across over to the original staff locker room or the tea press. I remember when we had a huge storm and all the power started cutting out so we had to close. I used to love standing in the front steaming clothes looking out of those old windows people watching.
Would love to go exploring there again this time without being railed by the supervisor for wandering off. 😂
WOW . stunning building
I used to walk past this every day for work! Always wanted to go in! Such a stunning place ❤ I still often go past
It is a big shame that this place has an empty department store. There are many like that in the UK awaiting a new purpose and a new life. It is a big shame they shut. Could have been avoided but Debenhams declined was caused by bad management, finance firms and not remaining relevant and expanding when online was becoming a threat.
Oh man I'd be flicking some breakers, getting some of those neon signs on if I were there with you 🤣
Thank you for the tour of this beautiful place!!😊
I used to love going into Browns (Never called it Debenhams) always Browns, I can honestly say that I've never seen that huge sky-light window before amazing. The restaurant used to do a awesome Macaroni Cheese, that would always be my meal of choice with a serving of chips on the side. Where you could look up and see the shoppers along there used to be another cafe called "The Crypt" and you could see the medieval stone work, originally this would be were merchants would store there goods that had been brought up from the city port. But it's so sad to see it doing nothing now, when I can remember how busy it used to get especially at Christmas time, Like you said it really was like going into the Harrods of the North.
Superb frontage of that building. Great vid guys!!!!
Hi a great video and I really enjoyed it so much. The shop looked stunning both the exterior and the interior architecture. Thankyou for making this awesome video.
Very sad,what a beautiful building
Only been to,Chester once don't think I went there. Our Swindon store was an eyesore but I still miss going to the resturaunt. All our department stores gone now..BHS..house of Fraser..now m&s going.
Wow what an amazing building and amazing explore as usual top work guys.
Great content , as usual guys! Keep up the good work. It's such a shame this building is no longer used it has great potential and in fantastic condition. 👍👍
Sad to see the fragrance/cosmetic areas so empty - I have walked through that area so many times through to the precinct over the years living in Chester it was always busy with people. I could weep 😢
what a place, didn’t even look dusty! quite amusing that there was a brand there called urban decay! ❤
Is it not a listed building? Such a shame to see it decay like that
The scene with the showroom dummies feels like a dr. Who episode. Are you sure they didn’t move when you weren’t looking?😳
The Autons are back! And no shitty RDT anti-plastic deus ex...sorry got carried away....
I swear I heard something when I turned my back
what a stunning building especially that main staircase.
I have worked in a number of department stores, and the workers only areas can sometimes take up more of the store than the actual retail space.
the room with the tills on the desks was probable a training room for new staff.
I really hope the original features of this building is preserved, and cherished, it would be a waste for it to be left to ruin.
Worked there when it was Browns of Chester on a visit in the early 1980’s met the manager in a really nice wooden paneled office towards the top of the building. Sad to see how retail has died in the UK.
So sad seeing this. Its similar also here in London with a few empty stores of Debenhams. In Croydon Allders flagship store has been left to decay
Another excellent video guys !!! All the best to you for christmas and new year 🏴🇬🇧
You too! Best wishes
The lights on the row level part of the store were on at midday. Totally untouched inside.
Another wonderful video and presented so well I'm definitely ordering the new magazine as 1&2 were so awesome I really look forward to your new releases Have a great Christmas see you in the New Year
Thank you! Hope you enjoy the magazine :)
I've been coming to this department store as browns of Chester was my local Debenhams such a shame to see this building sitting empty it was always packed full capacity with tourists looking for expensive presents
It’s a shame you didn’t explore the cafe in the crypt which was part of Debenhams.
love the video! keep up the good work :)
That would make for an awesome Wetherspoons.
Sorry guys posted my comment on the redevelopment of the site before I got to the end. Regards from Chester.
What beautiful building would make lovley hotel with a pub inside❤
Browns was such a big part of Chester.
Also would like to see Debenhams Edinburgh? 🙏 Love your videos
great video and exploration, nice old building, the guy in hi viz could have been selling the big issue
wow! this is shocking, see from 18:00 and 19:15 that buildings left like this unchecked will rapidly fall into decay!
very cool.....
This would make a fantastic site for an upscale restaurant/dining hall or private member's club. I hope it gets repurposed for something like that and doesn't meet a tragic fate instead.
Nice ladder @ 22:57!!!!!
Huh
I came here from the Duke of Lancaster video! Another suggestion: Wear hi-viz and hard hats as you explore, no-one will bother you, it's by far the best way to become anonymous. Hiding in plain sight.
Cant see it ever being used as one building it will probably be split up.for all the years it's been closed it feels like it will never be open again.what a sad loss for Chester.i remember going to the department shops just on the other side of the street.owen or selfridges I cant remember ,but it was a beautiful department store just on a smaller scale.odd counters scattered over the shop floor.
The other department store was called owen owen. It was a lovely store. Used to get my make up from there. Very sad both of these department stores have closed. I love Chester, a lovely CITY.
I live in Chester and it is such a shame for the place.
Id like to see it split up into small units to allow traders a chance to have place in the city centre..a bit like Afflecks Palace.
Great video btw and amazed it isn't sensors all over the place.
I've often thought an Afflecks Palace style use would fit the building so well and really add to Chester.
Did you see the ghost in the basement? There is a crypt where a Roman legion walk through
Nice shop but this looks like a dormant building rather than an abandoned one, a lot of stuff in good nick no damage just in storage.. could be re purposed as it is, a bit similar to what Willkos did recently, therefore this entry can be classed as trespassing. Would not encourage more ppl entering this building as some unsavoury people could do some real damage. So surprised you got in at all.
Trespassing 😳 I hope Debenhams didn’t mind
The content starts at 3:20 btw
Thanks, how did you get in ?
nice+
Funny you should mention Harrods, I believe they’ve just bought it.
Love
Seems like much longer than 3 years since it closed
Browns of Chester - prestige store in its day. Sad.
Nice
How did you get in there love to do a video in there 😮
one in leicester not that beauiful wish it was mum missing it a lot
Amazing plush staff-only areas ... not like the a**e end of a Tesco or Morrie's
18.13 thay will be leakage from the air-conditioning as it’s not been used in a long time unit will start to leck out in the end if just left for years
I’d really love for you to explore Debenhams in Glasgow,( absolutely massive store)though it’s attached to a shopping centre which my make it harder to get into.
we're working on it
How is it not alarmed?
how did you manage to get into this place , love to visit myself.
Did you find out mate ?
Reminds me of titanic
How did they get in !
@@Liam-xi3ssI want to know too
did you get in from the roof from the car park? i really wanna go and live just outside chester
@@Liam-xi3ss havent tried mate i bet its through the carpark though
@@Liam-xi3ss the big multistory round the back by off the wall
@@Liam-xi3ss good luck brotha
@@joshfensomedid you find out how to get in ?
@@Hehehehehe23553 i didn't mate no
done this when it closed have done 70% of closed debenhams now
The world’s most prolific capper is back
How did you get in
1:04 being towed by the hell on earth team. Norton on the right, Alex on his left, and Lloydy steering the boat.
Up the hoe!
Would make a good Spoons.
4.13...."We scoured the structure for an entrance"...You forgot to show us exactly where you got in.....
Locals know you would never break in here during daylight while the shops are open.
Just tell your viewers who exactly who LET you in?
Also if it was that easy to get in the place would have been trashed by now.
"You can fool some of the people some of the time,
You cannot fool all of the people all of the time."
No one said it was easy
@@Urbandoneddid you climb through the roofs of the Grosvenor from the car park ?
Knob Heads will be arriving soon now they Know About it!!
Sign our culture is dying when architecture like this is abandoned for plastic.
Soon The Government will take the building over and have it up to 5 star accommodation for the illegal invaders 🤬🤦🏼♂️🤯( sorry can’t comment anymore because it’s its before 9:00 pm )
Too much self advertisement
Boring long patches …I’ve already unsubscribed
GUYZ... technically u R commiting burglary and if caught u WILL go to court...not to mention showing all this ur just inviting people to actually go and rob the place !!!
Didn’t realise this, thanks for letting us know
Would love them to shut up or at least not use big words incorrectly
We struggle with big words
@@Urbandoned im saying you're really good but don't need to use complicated language