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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Kirsty Bosley

Amazing photos of dereliction from inside one of Britain's first holiday camps

The laughter of children playing and the buzz of excited holidaymakers hasn't filled the halls of Hemsby Holiday Park for more than a decade.

Now, instead of toys, games and Bluecoats - the park became a Pontins back in 1971 - the once famous site near Great Yarmouth, lies derelict.

And one photographer has taken a look inside, capturing these incredible snaps that show just a hint of what was once a bustling destination.

The holiday park has been closed for more than a decade (LP Photography)

Lawrence Potter from Clacton took up photography a few years ago. He says: "I've been interested in abandoned and derelict places for as long as I can remember."

Armed with his camera, he journeyed into the abandoned holiday park to see what lay inside.

"I enjoy the nostalgic feeling going to these places that were once full of people and now are just left to decay," he says. "A lot of them still have remnants of past days."

The buildings are now derelict (LP Photography)

Arguably the oldest of its kind in Britain, the former Hemsby Holiday Park was opened to the public in 1920 by Harry Maddieson.

It was sold to Pontins in 1971, and it expanded to more than 20 acres, welcoming up to 2,440 holidaymakers in 50 buildings.

It housed an amusement arcade, fast food outlet, play area and entertainment halls as well as a pub, swimming pool, snooker rooms, tennis courts and a go-karting track.

Holidaymakers once raced on the go kart track (LP Photography)

It closed in January 2009, and has lain empty ever since.

While exploring the holiday park, Lawrence saw the pool tables, pub, chip shop and halls where Brits once spent their breaks.

Last year, a decade after the park shut its doors for the last time, arsonists set fire to the grounds. Around 90 firefighters tackled the blaze.

The snooker tables lie forgotten (LP Photography)

"This holiday park could probably be bought back to life if enough money was invested into it, but I think it’s going to be demolished soon," Lawrence adds.

The full collection of Lawrence Potter's photographs, including snaps from other derelict sites, can be viewed here on his website .

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