If you're interested to look elsewhere in my India galleries you might find photos of junkies shooting up, abattoirs, people who threatened me. But - with what I guess is a fear of heights - I've never been frightened before as when I was creeping around the upper levels of this building, what used to be Watson's Hotel and now is called Esplanade Mansion. Apparently it's the oldest - and maybe largest - cast iron building in India; and it's in a terrible state.

Some time ago part of the building collapsed, killing someone and destroying several vehicles. It remains full of tenants, in those areas which aren't in an advanced state of ruin. (People live and work in areas which are merely in a state of semi-advanced ruin). The wiring is insane, floors are missing and broken, doors lead onto drops through storeys, wooden and bamboo scaffolding poles which take no weight at all appear to be employed to support sagging walls and ceilings.

This photograph was taken on the top floor. There were gaps in the floorboards which had been covered over by a door with glass panels in it; those glass panels in turn covered over with a bit of board; over all of which I inched my way across, into a room with only half a floor and a little more than half a ceiling; and poking my camera through an area of ruined wall I took this. Getting out was harder than getting in and I had a vision of needing to be rescued, like a cat in a tree.

Architecturally the building is very important. It's also a significant health hazard. The person who bought it can't or won't fix it. Because that person owns the building the government can't rescue it. So Watson's Hotel - which was condemned before one monsoon or other, but which continues to house many many people and businesses - will continue to degrade and presumably at some point more of it will collapse and more people will be hurt or will be killed.