A local photographer has carried out a project focussing on the "Holy Grail" of Bradford's abandoned buildings.
John Cade, 35, originally from Holme Wood, gained unprecedented access to the High Point building last November, taking photos from inside the building and noting his impressions, which he has now released on his blog.
In the first line of his blog post, Mr Cade admits to having developed a “little obsession” with the High Point building.
He said: “It’s really difficult to put into words - I was doing the project to get it out of my system. My photograph of the exterior of the building was the first picture I took and it piqued my interest in photography - so it’s personal for me.”
He added: “It appears quite dystopian and holds an appeal - I have an interest in that.”
The imposing skyline structure was originally erected in the 1970s as the headquarters of the Yorkshire Building Society and represents a bygone era of “brutalism” architecture.
But, a poll run by the T&A at the start of February this year showed 78 per cent of 1,260 people who voted said the building should be demolished.
In a debate about the building in that same month, Catherine Croft, Director of the 20th Century Society said High Point should not be erased and that it had just as much right to be preserved as the city’s fabled Victorian architecture. She said: “They show how cities have evolved. By trying to erase the legacy of brutalism you are simplifying the history of a city.”
This is a sentiment Mr Cade agrees with,pointing to other built-up cities and old buildings that are an important part of the makeup for telling the story of a developing city.
He said: “The High Point was quite an affluent thing at the time - it’s nice to remember that we once had that, it’s all part of the story.”
Adding a unique edge to the well-read narrative of the much maligned building, was Mr Cade’s trip into the innards of High Point.
He said: “I’ve been dying to get inside, ever since it’s been boarded up. When I got hold of the owners, I was over the moon. I do a lot of abandoned places, but this on is the Holy Grail.”
Mr Cade describes the first two floors as being in relatively good condition and suspects the owner has cleared them.
But, he said the remaining six floors would costs millions to do anything with, thanks to a mixture of pigeon faeces, and used needles.
To see more of Mr Cade’s photography, go to johncadefilmandphotography.co.uk/
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