'I explored the abandoned Alton Towers mansion and found something truly eerie inside'

'I explored the abandoned Alton Towers mansion and found something truly eerie inside' The stately home at the centre of the Alton Towers estate has stood empty for a century, but one urban explorer found their way inside only to find something rather spooky Alton Towers has a surprisingly long history. Originally a stately home of the Earls of Shrewsbury, the grounds of the main house were first opened to the public in the late 19th Century. Attractions such as a scenic railway and cable car were added from the 1950s onwards and the theme park we know today first came into existence in 1980. But while the rides are constantly being renewed and modernised, one part of the park has in recent years fallen into a sad state of disrepair. The main house is not currently accessible to the public and is now just a dusty storehouse of spare props from older attractions. Urban explorer Colin, from the Bearded Explorer YouTube channel, found his way into the derelict property and made a rather spooky discovery. He explained that he only had a limited time to enter the building and record some video: “The theme park is closing in about 10 minutes – there’s nobody here, it is pretty much deserted but the actual doors don't shut until seven o'clock so we've got roughly 45 minutes…” Luckily, Colin found and secured entrance via the building’s conservatory. It is is a strict rule for urban explorers that they don’t force any locks or do any damage as they find their way into derelict properties. The first discovery that Colin made was an innocuous child’s toy, but in the context of a gloomy, derelict mansion it felt like something out of a horror film: "We've just got into the first room and the first thing we're greeted with is a little rocking horse in the middle of a pitch black room.” He explains that the house had at one point been open to visitors: “I really hope that they're getting ready to do some sort of development work in here to maybe to open it up again,” he said. The building, created by Gothic Revival architect Augustus Pugin, was opened for guided walking tours in 2024. The £10-per-person tour was only available on Wednesdays and Saturdays between June and mid-September. Wandering from room to room a stunned Colin added:“This place is incredible. Look at the old grandfather clock, look at the suit of armour this is absolutely amazing!” One room was filled with a selection of portrait paintings that had been used as part of an older “haunted house” attraction at Alton Towers and it wasn’t long before Colin came across something even more creepy: “Sadly I haven't got my torch with me,” he explained, “because I didn't expect to be doing this today I must admit”Marvelling at the many relics of the park’s past, he added: “I cannot believe it. This stuff must be worth an absolute fortune.” The clock was ticking, though, as Alton Towers staff were getting ready to close the park for the night. Things got a little tense for a while as Colin struggled to find his baby back out but eventually, in the very nick of time, he managed to make it back out into the open air. Then suddenly, he explained: “Why is there a coffin in here?”