Study in blue: from Conservative party centre to Chateau Despair – in pictures

A new book of photography explores the disused Conservative Party office – aptly nicknamed Chateau Despair
  
  


Chateau Despair: Maggie Thatcher
This image of Margaret Thatcher was found in a damp cupboard at the abandoned Westminster office
Photograph: Lisa Barnard, courtesy Gost Books Photograph: From Chateau Despair by Lisa Barnard © Lisa Barnard courtesy GOST Books
Chateau Despair: Ian Duncan from Chateau Despair
And here's Iain Duncan Smith, discarded on the floor. It was on the steps outside this office that he resigned in 2003
Photograph: Lisa Barnard, courtesy Gost Books Photograph: From Chateau Despair by Lisa Barnard © Lisa Barnard courtesy GOST Books
Chateau Despair: Large Blue space from Chateau Despair
The office stopped functioning as Tory headquarters in 2004. In its last days, it was referred to as Chateau Despair by the Party rank and file who walked these corridors
Photograph: Lisa Barnard, courtesy Gost Books Photograph: From Chateau Despair by Lisa Barnard © Lisa Barnard courtesy GOST Books
Chateau Despair: Green safe from Chateau Despair
From grim, greying net curtains to still-locked safes, each room exudes a feeling of eerie desolation
Photograph: Lisa Barnard, courtesy Gost Books Photograph: From Chateau Despair by Lisa Barnard © Lisa Barnard courtesy GOST Books
Chateau Despair: Blue Shell from Chateau Despair
Barnard photographed the empty office in 2009, before it was redeveloped to become 'Europe House'
Photograph: Lisa Barnard, courtesy Gost Books Photograph: From Chateau Despair by Lisa Barnard © Lisa Barnard courtesy GOST Books
Chateau Despair: Deflated balloon from Chateau Despair
Deflated balloon, one of a series of remnants Barnard collected to photograph for her book
Photograph: Lisa Barnard, courtesy Gost Books Photograph: From Chateau Despair by Lisa Barnard © Lisa Barnard courtesy GOST Books
Chateau Despair: Blue ribbon from Chateau Despair
Official ribbon left at Chateau Despair in distinctive Tory blue
Photograph: Lisa Barnard, courtesy Gost Books Photograph: From Chateau Despair by Lisa Barnard © Lisa Barnard courtesy GOST Books
Chateau Despair: Do you believe in Britain from Chateau Despair
Well, do you?
Photograph: Lisa Barnard, courtesy Gost Books Photograph: From Chateau Despair by Lisa Barnard © Lisa Barnard courtesy GOST Books
Chateau Despair: Rockat from Chateau Despair
A lone firework rocket rests against a wall
Photograph: Lisa Barnard, courtesy Gost Books Photograph: From Chateau Despair by Lisa Barnard © Lisa Barnard courtesy GOST Books
Chateau Despair: Maggie on board from Chateau Despair
A small photograph of Maggie can be seen, still pinned on a board
Photograph: Lisa Barnard, courtesy Gost Books Photograph: From Chateau Despair by Lisa Barnard © Lisa Barnard courtesy GOST Books
Chateau Despair: Photo room from Chateau Despair
The official photo room has seen better days, too
Photograph: Lisa Barnard, courtesy Gost Books Photograph: From Chateau Despair by Lisa Barnard © Lisa Barnard courtesy GOST Books
Chateau Despair: Lobby stairs from Chateau Despair
Time to bolt from the blues … here's the lobby entrance – and exit
Photograph: Lisa Barnard, courtesy Gost Books Photograph: From Chateau Despair by Lisa Barnard © Lisa Barnard courtesy GOST Books
 

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