A crackdown on urban exploration has seen two social media stars who snooped around an abandoned 17th century mansion fined in court.
Glamorous social media stars Portia Cook and Megan Robson, both 24, were stopped by plain clothes officers as they left Calveley Hall in Cheshire after visiting the site with two male companions.
Inquiries revealed college student Cook and her older brother James, 26, had travelled 25 miles to the derelict property in the village of Milton Green near Chester from their £870,000 six-bedroom family home in Daresbury, near Warrington.
Tattoo artist Robson had travelled 82 miles from her home in Bradford, West Yorkshire whilst Muad Suleman, 24, had come 50 miles from Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester.
The site had previously been closed by police due to a proliferation of self-styled ‘explorers’ and treasure hunters gaining access.
The illicit trip was made months after another urban explorer posted interior shots he took inside and outside of the grand estate which showed various old cars, taxidermy heads, dolls, antiques and what he described as ‘unexplained’ police crime scene tape.
When quizzed Cook, who studies Policing and Forensic Studies at Liverpool John Moores University, Robson and the two men claimed they had failed to see 24 laminated warnings signs erected by police telling them to keep out.
James Cook later insisted they had gone to Calveley to see ‘vintage cars’ which had been abandoned on the driveway. There was no suggestion any of the group took photographs of their expedition or uploaded them to social media.
Glamorous social media star Portia Cook (pictured), 24, and her older brother James, 26, had travelled 25 miles to the derelict property in the village of Milton Green near Chester from their £870,000 six bedroom family home in Daresbury, near Warrington
Tattoo artist Megan Robson (pictured), 24, had travelled 82 miles from her home in Bradford, West Yorkshire
(Left to right) Muad Suleman, Portia Cook, James Cook and Megan Robson leaving court
At Chester Magistrates’ court, all four were each fined £50 after they were convicted of an offence of illegally remaining on a premises under Section 80 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
Calveley Hall had originally been built for local aristocrat Lady Mary Calverley in 1684 but after she died in 1705, the house and its 4,000-acre estate passed by marriage to the Leghs family of Lyme.
In 1818, the house was ‘remodelled’ before being put on sale in 1827 following a legal dispute. The hall and some of the lands were later bought by a farmer who then attempted to sell some of the estate off before trying to lease out the building itself.
In the 20th century the hall was acquired by Old Etonian and Oxford Varsity eight rower John Julius Jersey de Knoop.
He was killed in action in the First World War by a Turkish sniper in August 1916 whilst serving as a Captain with the Household Cavalry at Hod el Bahein Egypt.
During the Great War, Calveley which is Grade II listed was used as a hospital and during the Second World War it housed evacuees. But it subsequently fell into severe disrepair and in 2022 it was placed on the Buildings at Risk Register. It is believed to be currently owned by a family trust.
The court heard the property was made subject by a closure order by JPs in July 2024 after police received complaints about antisocial behaviour, treasure hunters, and visitors. Metal fencing had been erected to try and keep out intruders but they had been cut open by other explorers during previous expeditions.
Two plain clothes constables were patrolling the perimeter the following September when the caught the four intruders leaving the property.
Calveley Hall (pictured) had originally been built for local aristocrat Lady Mary Calverley in 1684 but after she died in 1705, the house and its 4,000 acre estate passed by marriage to the Leghs family of Lyme
James Cook (pictured) later insisted they had gone to Calveley to see ‘vintage cars’ which had been abandoned on the driveway
When quizzed Cook (pictured), who studies Policing and Forensic Studies at Liverpool John Moores University, Robson and the two men claimed they had failed to see 24 laminated warnings signs erected by police telling them to keep out
Prosecutor Miss Selda Krasniqi, said: ‘Ultimately this is an abandoned building. This is not a museum and the defendants have not been invited here.
‘Officers said they had been having issues with antisocial behaviour and people on treasure hunts and people visiting out of curiosity since December 2022. There were 24 laminated signs about the closure order – and t’s not plausible none of these four people would have seen any one of the 24 signs.
‘It was raining, it was a bit slippery and it an unfamiliar place to them so the prosecution would say ultimately you would have been looking around to see where you are going, ‘Left or right, where am I?’ to know that you have reached your destination.
‘It is simply not plausible that no one would have seen these signs. Those signs prohibited anyone from entering or visiting the premises.
‘The defendants would have known that.’
But defence solicitor Catherine Higham said: ‘The four defendants did not know a closure order was in place and did not know they were not to be there. They had seen a Facebook post, essentially by a person who has seen some vintage cars.
‘All have an interest and have gone there to have a nosey. They had never been to the property before and a number of the signs were above their field of vision.
‘When they passed through that gate, the fence did not need to be forced – the fence was open. As soon as they pass through the fence there is nothing to indicate that they should not be there.
At Chester Magistrates’ court, all four were each fined £50 after they were convicted of an offence of illegally remaining on a premises under Section 80 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014
There was no suggestion any of the group took any photographs of their expedition or uploaded them to social media (Pictured: Megan Robson)
‘They went around to have a look at cars and describe being 20 to 25 metres in before seeing the cars. They have been able to look at them, and see other items then walk back.
‘They have gone to look at cars and they have a look around. The weather has not been particularly good. It is only when they walk back that they are informed they are in breach of the order.’
Earlier in answering questions from the magistrates, James Cook said: ‘It was a spontaneous day and there was nothing to do as it was raining. These cars were just interesting to see.’
The four were also each ordered to pay a £20 surcharge and costs of £160.
JP Wendy Steel said: ‘We have kept the fine as low as we can in view of the circumstances of this. I would like to say that and I hope that you will appreciate that.’
