By Chloe Dobinson,Liam Ryder,Michael Moran
Copyright manchestereveningnews
“This place is so big it is pretty much its own city,” says Colin Hudson, the man behind the Beaded Explorer YouTube channel. “I cannot believe this whole estate is completely abandoned.” The location that Colin refers to is an entire settlement filled with enormous houses where 12,000 Brits once resided. However, it’s remarkable for several reasons – particularly because it’s not situated within the British Isles – but on mainland Europe. Wildlife has genuinely reclaimed JHQ Rheindahlen, which is located in Germany. Having remained untouched for more than ten years, the site features an apartment complex resembling military quarters, recreational facilities, and even a filling station. All of these structures are being overwhelmed by vegetation since it was abandoned by the British Army in 2013, reports the Daily Record . Built by the British government during the height of the Cold War, JHQ Rheindahlen housed more than 12,000 British personnel and their families from 1952 until 2013. “This is actually incredible,” declared Colin. “This is probably the closest I’ve ever felt to being in The Walking Dead. This is exactly what it would look like if the world ended, everyone disappeared, and nature just literally took over everything.” Colin uses his YouTube platform to explore and record deserted or crumbling sites around the globe. His visit to JHQ Rheindahlen has left him amazed, as he described how wandering through the enormous, now vacant settlement felt similar to being in an apocalyptic world without people. Now home to wildlife such as deer and red squirrels, the eerie 376-hectare site is becoming increasingly obscured by saplings. By summer, it’s likely that most of its residences will be completely hidden. When Colin visited, the trees were still bare, offering a glimpse into what life might have been like at the bustling garrison. Despite some signs of damage and graffiti, the area largely remains untouched. Many of these properties could command a high price in today’s market. The total value of the entire district is almost impossible to estimate. Despite the agreeable weather , Colin noted an unusual chill inside many of the homes. According to him, the weather contributes to the site’s uncanny atmosphere. Since the British Army officially handed back the town to the German government in December 2013, there have been plans to redevelop it as accommodation for asylum seekers. However, more than a decade later, no significant progress has been made. In 2015, a group of Arab investors proposed transforming the area into a leisure park, but it appears those plans have not come to fruition. There are plans to repurpose another part of the complex into a state-of-the-art training centre for the North Rhein Westfalia police, where they can simulate hostage rescues and other confrontations in realistic conditions. The abandoned urban scene closely mirrors a typical modern British or German neighbourhood, with several homes featuring their own garages, some still securely locked. Colin highlighted that trees have sprouted directly in front of some garage doors, making them impossible to open. “Some of these haven’t been opened in a very long time,” he observed. At its peak, the facility was a bustling hub for UK, NATO and German forces. The Joint Headquarters boasted a NAAFI superstore, a BP petrol station, two post office branches, a dress shop, and five British primary schools. Colin intends to revisit the vast site for further exploration. The future of this eerie town, however, is yet to be determined.
