Saxon Hawke House, known locally as the Lyon Works building, on Templar Street has been left derelict since 2006 but is steeped in history.
It originally opened in 1925 and was used by Mr Samuel Henry Lyons for a tailoring company to produce quality garments such as suits, ties, shirts and trousers.
In the 1960s, as the Chinese community in the city was growing, the building transformed into a huge Chinatown Shopping Mall and the building now accommodated oriental shops, restaurants, massage parlours and other businesses.
However over time the businesses started to dissolve and by 2006 the Lyons Works building was left empty and disused.
Since it's closure it has remained empty and derelict, with the most recent attention the building gaining coming in 2016 when the façade was transformed by art students to feature a huge mural inspired by Albert Einstein that read: "Learn from yesterday, Live for today, design for tomorrow".
A local urban explorer, who posts under the moniker Lost Places and Forbidden Faces, recently set foot inside the building and shared the below photos from his visit.
In the 1960s, as the Chinese community in the city was growing, the building transformed into a huge Chinatown Shopping Mall and the building now accommodated oriental shops, restaurants, massage parlours and other businesses.
![An old sign found inside the derelict building](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/05/01/15/41/Lyons%20Works.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
7. Lyons Works
An old sign found inside the derelict building | Lost Places and Forgotten Faces Photo: Lost Places and Forgotten Faces
![Designs on the walls of the abandoned building can still be made out](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/05/01/16/53/Lyons%20Works.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
8. Lyons Works
Designs on the walls of the abandoned building can still be made out | Lost Places and Forgotten Faces Photo: Lost Places and Forgotten Faces
![Old cans of pop provide a window into the past](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/05/01/16/17/Lyons%20Works.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
9. Lyons Works
Old cans of pop provide a window into the past | Lost Places and Forgotten Faces Photo: Lost Places and Forgotten Faces
![There was also a an old carton of Ribena`](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/05/01/16/48/Lyons%20Works.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
10. Lyons Works
There was also a an old carton of Ribena` | Lost Places and Forgotten Faces Photo: Lost Places and Forgotten Faces
![The building has been left derelict since 2006](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/05/01/16/02/Lyons%20Works.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
11. Lyons Works
The building has been left derelict since 2006 | Lost Places and Forgotten Faces Photo: Lost Places and Forgotten Faces
![Abandoned newspapers found inside Lyons Works](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/05/01/16/34/Lyons%20Works.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
12. Lyons Works
Abandoned newspapers found inside Lyons Works | Lost Places and Forgotten Faces Photo: Lost Places and Forgotten Faces