A grand 56-bedroom hotel, once heaving with injured soldiers during the First World War, now lies completely abandoned. Named The Rest, the Grade II listed building in Porthcawl, Wales was built as a convalescent hotel in the early 1860s. It was subsequently used as an auxiliary military hospital from 1915. Between World War I and II, the hospital provided care for more than 2,500 wounded soldiers from Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. The Rest, which sits on a clifftop overlooking Rest Bay, returned to civilian use as a convalescent hotel in 1946, before it closed in 2013. Photographer Shaun Ashford, 25, of Cardiff, Wales, visited the historic site and captured the Victorian building’s empty interiors.
A brave praying mantis makes an unusual friend in an Oriental garden lizard .
WEARING tiny Christmas accessories, these adorable babies get into the spirit of the season .
LYING flat out on his back, this little meerkat makes the most of the English sunshine .
PICKING up a tiny tea-pot with its paws, a little red squirrel struggles to prepare its morning tea .
WITH LUSH GREEN LANDSCAPES stretching out as far as the eye can see, you're in for a treat at these one of a kind treehouses .
LIKE SUPERMAN carrying a slimy Lois Lane through the air this frog is treating its mate to a flying lesson .
A cricket perches on an unusual seat after crawling up the snout of a crocodile .
MEET the underwater British seal who is so friendly he loves to grapple divers like a friendly puppy dog .
A curious red squirrel takes a break from collecting nuts and tries her hand at photography .
SAT with his arms folded and a cross look on his face, this Gorilla looks like he's had enough of the Christmas holidays already .
BLOWING bubbles underwater, this adorable polar bear slides into his tank for a playful dip .
