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 Credit: 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 Credit: 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 Credit: mediadrumworld.com The site has lain derelict for more than 30 years after closing because of modernisation in the industry Credit: mediadrumworld.com An old invoice reveals details of a sale dating back to the steelworks' heyday of the 1950s Credit: mediadrumworld.com The large building has fallen into ruin since becoming derelict, with smashed windows and rusted roof panels Credit: mediadrumworld.com Graffiti artists may have been the only people to set foot in the building in the past three decades Credit: mediadrumworld.com Colourful paintwork and an old telephone exchange give a glimpse into the site's former glory Credit: mediadrumworld.com The imposing building is surrounded by overgrown plants and vegetation, adding to its unwelcoming vibe Credit: mediadrumworld.com Light breaks through the broken windows to reveal some more graffiti Credit: mediadrumworld.com Parts of the building's walls have crumbled away exposing the brickwork beneath Credit: mediadrumworld.com Moss takes over the floor of one of the factory's larger rooms Credit: mediadrumworld.com 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 Credit: mediadrumworld.com Equipment once used to provide tonnes and tonnes of steel has been left to rust away Credit: mediadrumworld.com Plans to turn the decaying site into an industrial park for nearby university students never materialised Credit: mediadrumworld.com At its height, the works had six blast furnaces and produced hundreds of thousands of tonnes of steel a year Credit: mediadrumworld.com The works saw a big expansion after World War Two but sadly its demise came with the advent of technology Credit: mediadrumworld.com Rusting staircases inside the shell of the building make it a dangerous but fascinating place Credit: mediadrumworld.com The pictures show how isolated the steelworks is, perhaps the reason it has lain derelict for so long Credit: mediadrumworld.com We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368