Today I had an opportunity to visit York Shore Battery (below York Redoubt) in Ferguson's Cove just outside Halifax. It was my first trip to York Redoubt and York Shore Battery since April 20, 2009.
The last time I was at York Shore Battery there wasn't a chain-link fence surrounding it. A fence was built to restrict access due to potential roof collapse of the abandoned battery's buildings. Normally, I'd be skeptical of the signage and climb around on the roofs anyway, and I did, but in doing so I've determined that those signs are definitely there for a reason. The roofs, or at least sections of them, appear ready to fall.
If you decide to circumvent the fence, watch your step in there. Between the failing roofs, loose gravel and broken glass there are plenty of hazards to potentially encounter.
1. Approaching York Shore Battery, you'll encounter this fence and its signage.
2.
3. A former entrance to the battery's largest building. Doorway has been bricked to prevent entry.
4. The majority of the buildings remain open and accessible.
5. Watch Tower
6. Directly beneath the watch tower.
7. A small sample of the graffiti found at York Shore Battery.
8. A rare self photo from inside the sealed building from photo #3.
9. The battery's searchlight emplacements... and a landslide.
10. Across the landslide, closer to the light emplacements (Searchlights #690, #691 and #692) looking back toward my location in photo #9.
11. Returning from the light emplacements, on top of the wall, level with the watch tower.
12. Climbing down the wall returning from the light emplacements through a wooded path, still on top of the wall.
13. On the rocky shoreline below York Shore Battery looking up at the new fence.
Following a walk around the Chronicle Herald Building at Argyle and Prince, I walked over to Duke and down to the Historic Properties where buildings are being demolished or re-purposed, making way for the Waterside Centre development.
1. Imperial Oil Building on Upper Water Street
2. Almost totally gutted inside leaving only the facade at street level.
3. Harrington MacDonald-Briggs Building on Hollis
4. Also on Hollis Street, the Harrington MacDonald-Briggs Building from the side.
5. And again, the Harrington MacDonald-Briggs Building on Upper Water Street.
6. Fishwick & Company Building. It looks empty on the inside but mostly intact with the exception of it's roof... which is gone.
7. Shaw Building at Duke and Hollis. Like the Fishwick Building above, the Shaw Building appears empty but intact with street level windows covered.
8. And, not in danger of a wrecking ball, the Morse's Tea Building.
