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FROZEN IN TIME

Incredible images from inside deserted 130-year-old Alabama steel mill capture a glimpse of America before WW1

Haunting images show the deserted remains of the factory where rubble and plant life have replaced workers and machinery

STRIKING pictures have revealed the abandoned shell of once prominent steel mill left to decay.

These haunting images show the deserted remains of the factory, where rubble and plant life have replaced workers and machinery.

The anonymous photographer says he has always wanted to explore the building after growing up just a few miles away
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The anonymous photographer says he has always wanted to explore the building after growing up just a few miles awayCredit: mediadrumworld.com

Other snaps show 30-foot high chimneys which are still standing, a forgotten invoice and graffiti-clad walls.

The pictures were taken by an urban explorer calling himself Abandoned Southeast at Ensley Steel Works in Birmingham, Alabama.

“I grew up just a few miles away and the steel works has been abandoned my whole life,” he said.

Paint can be seen peeling from the bannisters of an old staircase
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Paint can be seen peeling from the bannisters of an old staircaseCredit: mediadrumworld.com

“I've noticed it ever since I was a kid and always wanted to explore it."

The works was built in 1888 by Tennessee Coal, Iron, and Railroad Company (TCI) and mostly staffed by convicts.

In 1907 60 prisoners died from workplace-related incidents after it was taken over by U.S. Steel.

All activity ceased on the property by 1984 due to modernisation.

The foundry was mostly staffed by convicts and many were killed in industrial accidents
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The foundry was mostly staffed by convicts and many were killed in industrial accidentsCredit: mediadrumworld.com
The site has lain derelict for more than 30 years after closing because of modernisation in the industry
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The site has lain derelict for more than 30 years after closing because of modernisation in the industryCredit: mediadrumworld.com
An old invoice reveals details of a sale dating back to the steelworks' heyday of the 1950s
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An old invoice reveals details of a sale dating back to the steelworks' heyday of the 1950sCredit: mediadrumworld.com
The large building has fallen into ruin since becoming derelict, with smashed windows and rusted roof panels
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The large building has fallen into ruin since becoming derelict, with smashed windows and rusted roof panelsCredit: mediadrumworld.com
Graffiti artists may have been the only people to set foot in the building in the past three decades
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Graffiti artists may have been the only people to set foot in the building in the past three decadesCredit: mediadrumworld.com
Colourful paintwork and an old telephone exchange give a glimpse into the site's former glory
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Colourful paintwork and an old telephone exchange give a glimpse into the site's former gloryCredit: mediadrumworld.com
The imposing building is surrounded by overgrown plants and vegetation, adding to its unwelcoming vibe
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The imposing building is surrounded by overgrown plants and vegetation, adding to its unwelcoming vibeCredit: mediadrumworld.com
Light breaks through the broken windows to reveal some more graffiti
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Light breaks through the broken windows to reveal some more graffitiCredit: mediadrumworld.com
Parts of the building's walls have crumbled away exposing the brickwork beneath
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Parts of the building's walls have crumbled away exposing the brickwork beneathCredit: mediadrumworld.com
Moss takes over the floor of one of the factory's larger rooms
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Moss takes over the floor of one of the factory's larger roomsCredit: mediadrumworld.com
Despite its dilapidated state, the photographer says these pictures show it has 'stood the test of time'
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Despite its dilapidated state, the photographer says these pictures show it has 'stood the test of time'Credit: mediadrumworld.com
The future of the site is unclear and it seems destined to lay rotting forever
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The future of the site is unclear and it seems destined to lay rotting foreverCredit: mediadrumworld.com
Equipment once used to provide tonnes and tonnes of steel has been left to rust away
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Equipment once used to provide tonnes and tonnes of steel has been left to rust awayCredit: mediadrumworld.com
Plans to turn the decaying site into an industrial park for nearby university students never materialised
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Plans to turn the decaying site into an industrial park for nearby university students never materialisedCredit: mediadrumworld.com
At its height, the works had six blast furnaces and produced hundreds of thousands of tonnes of steel a year
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At its height, the works had six blast furnaces and produced hundreds of thousands of tonnes of steel a yearCredit: mediadrumworld.com
The works saw a big expansion after World War Two but sadly its demise came with the advent of technology
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The works saw a big expansion after World War Two but sadly its demise came with the advent of technologyCredit: mediadrumworld.com
Rusting staircases inside the shell of the building make it a dangerous but fascinating place
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Rusting staircases inside the shell of the building make it a dangerous but fascinating placeCredit: mediadrumworld.com
The pictures show how isolated the steelworks is, perhaps the reason it has lain derelict for so long
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The pictures show how isolated the steelworks is, perhaps the reason it has lain derelict for so longCredit: mediadrumworld.com

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