Micheldever Fuel Depot, Hampshire

On a day that didn’t bear much exploring-fruit for us, we stopped off at the Micheldever Fuel Depot on our way back to Dorset in hope of something exciting.

Micheldever Fuel Depot, Hampshire

I first saw the Micheldever Fuel Depot a few years ago on my way home from London on the train, trying to focus on the impressive concrete structure with several tunnel portals leading inside as my train whizzed past. I managed to quickly get a pinpoint location on my phone.

It wasn’t until fellow explorer, Tommo, posted a report on 28dayslater that I put two and two together and realised that was what I saw on the train! Since then it had been on the bottom of my to do list, but having had a couple of failed explores in London we decided to check it out on our way home.

Micheldever Fuel Depot was built in 1939 as a fuel & oil terminal during the war. It was last used in the mid-nineties and remains on the ‘reserve’ list, so in theory could be used again should it be needed.

CONFIRMED 29.04.2017: All portals to the fuel depot have been bricked up and inaccessible.

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Comments

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  1. Lewis says:

    Went there on Sunday 05.03.17 and everything has gone, all entrances have been bricked up. Not much to see there anymore.

    1. The Urban Explorer says:

      That’s a shame. Do you have any photos to share to back this up?

      1. jade Mckenner says:

        I do, went today 3/8/20 only pics from top of hills though.

    2. Owen surrage says:

      How do you get inside there and also is it still worth exploring

  2. Tazer says:

    Ok just been here today but think this is gone. We made our way through lots of bushes and found the site but just a big empty space. Matched it up some pictures on here and pretty sure we were in the right place. Took a picture too but don’t know where to put it on here.

    1. The Urban Explorer says:

      You can use HTML to link to a photo hosted elsewhere. Although, I reckon you were in the wrong place – demolishing the fuel depot would be a huge task that wouldn’t have gone unnoticed.

  3. Abigail says:

    Seeing this has made my day. I am in dire need of somewhere to explore and this is about 10 mins away from me. Thank you Urban Explorer!

  4. Carl says:

    Hi, looking to do some photography for uni, is this place easy to get in to/and doesn’t have security or anything like that?

    1. Alex says:

      Just went in here today for roughly an hour. It’s not too difficult to figure out a way in, but it’s fun to explore. Only problem is we got to one of the inside bits and heard loud footsteps! Mad scary

      1. Johnboy2020 says:

        Went to this site recently, lots of activity contractors etc. demolishing buildings and filling tunnels with rubble and sealing off.

        Looks like the development is going ahead. :-(

  5. myron says:

    What road is this on please? I’m guessing it’s behind Overton Rd.

    1. The Urban Explorer says:

      That’s right.

  6. Saroarrr says:

    We visited here recently, it was late at night and we parked our cars down a side road around the corner from the site. We then proceeded to the side gate and gained entry. It is fairly difficult to get in this way, but it avoids the barbed wire. It didn’t look like anyone was looking after the place as all of the sheets or metal that were on the doors had been ripped off, and were strung across the ground or still attached to the frame. Very interesting place to visit, we all had a wonderful time, we saw a news paper there from 1987, as well as many other things that had been left behind. Well worth a visit, just be careful getting to it and then climbing back out.

    1. JamieA says:

      Please could I have the address for this please, as I’d to visit. Thank you

  7. Joshie says:

    This is quite local to me and so I was excited to go and have a look this morning. What I found out is that there is definitely work being done on the site with building vans going in and out of one of the entrances. The whole area is very secure with high fences with barbed wire surrounding on the top. Various signs around on the fence with “don’t trespass on the railway, £1000 fine” which made me kinda sketchy on whether to venture on and soon realised there wasn’t an easy way into the site.

    But had some fun scrambleling around the area looking!

    1. Andy Pandy says:

      I found a reference that the planning app was refused by Hampshire CC:-

      http://www3.hants.gov.uk/getdecisiondatedocumentfile?date_doc_ID=2263&file=2014-07-16%20Reg%20Minutes.pdf&type=pdf

      Interestingly if a previously developed area (as the storage tanks were in the 1940’s) then regenerates to countryside it is not considered brown field site for planning purposes.

  8. Nick Ritchie says:

    The locals getting a bit jumpy about people trampling around there. I think it’s because Network Rail have done a deal with a developer to build a waste incinerator on the field above the railway yard – and there have been various dubious surveyors taking photos, etc. it’s a pretty dastardly deed by NWR as the field is a greenfield site so the locals are quite rightly up in arms and are careful about unusual visits.

  9. Andy Pandy says:

    Network Rail (2014) are in the process of disposing of this site. To be used as a rail served non-incineration 7.5 MW renewable energy from waste power station. Pyrolysis and Anaerobic Digestion. So probably wont be around in its current state for much longer.

    1. The Urban Explorer says:

      Thanks for the update Andy. What’s your source?

  10. jack martin says:

    Ventured out there today. No security only had to worry about being spotted by passing trains. Fun first outing of the year. Not a great deal to see but worth it if ur local.

  11. Bobbert says:

    Do you have any more info on this place? Like security, exact location and how to get in? Thanks.

    1. The Urban Explorer says:

      Bobbert, there’s some really simple things you can do to find this. It’s on a railway line and it’s in Micheldever. If you Google it, there’s all you need right there on the first page, including a map location! It’s really is as easy as that mate.

      As for security, I couldn’t say. I visited a while ago, things change.

      1. NeonFire says:

        There is very little security if you could even call it that. Even so you recommend going on a Sunday being less trains and a guarantee no works on the line.

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