When all the world dissolves,
And every creature shall be purified,
All places shall be Hell that is not Heaven.
- Christopher Marlowe, The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus
Description
Once an inner city catholic Church, the site of the Lachrymatory closed when the faithful paid for a larger building across town. The Lachrymatory is baroque and brooding on the outside and opulent within. This nightclub appears at first glance to use Christian symbology in its design while remaining devoid of crosses and crucifix and anything that might actually be recognisable as a Holy Symbol. From outside the converted church appeals little different from it did during its days as the local chapel, only the neon sign that burns through the night announces its change of service.
The interior of the club has undergone a drastic overhaul but the shape of the church is still evident. The entire main area lays in a long east to west room with a high ceiling. Stained glass windows depicting raves, dancers and iconic characters interrupt the darkly mirrored walls but they no longer look out onto the city, having been bricked up and lit from behind. The DJ plies his trade from the pulpit; with a chaotic bank of Video screens behind him and the cloakrooms are in the Vestry. The Alter, which doubles as a stage, is dominated by one of the largest baptismal fonts in the world. A huge stone dish shaped chalice with a 6 foot circumference. Much of the back room space has been gutted and now the Stage is accessible from three sides and is dominated by the huge statue of a demoness and an angel copulating on an upside down cross that hangs above and behind it. The area that once housed the Choir is now a well stocked bar, allowing those seeking an escape from the frenzied dancing a slight nook in which to catch their breath.
The crypt is host to activities best left to dim lighting. By taking the stairs beside the bar into the inky depths, club goers can reach the subterranean chill out zone. Seating and quieter tunes fill this basement level and through a set of private doors the rooms reserved for bands and the staff areas are secreted. A second and less busy bar fills one wall and psychedelic lighting caresses everything in shades of pink and purple.
Deep beneath the Crypt is where the Ba'ali gather to practice their foul rites. To reach the Temple itself requires knowledge of the unlit passageways and the location of no less than three false walls. The deceptively large catacombs in which the Ba'ali gather lack any creature comforts and the Mortal cultists who serve the vampires avoid spending any more time there than necessary. Central to the Ba'ali temple is a font that puts the upper level novelty to shame. Supported by two cowering victims, the basalt trough contains the tears of a million victims, a focus for the Ba'ali's rituals. The counter point to the font is a vast block of Obsidian, a means by which the Lachrymatorys owner communicates with his sire. Between these two repositories of Dark faith hang chains, weapon racks and braziers full of torture implements. Worship among the damned resembles nothing more than a medieval dungeon.
Atmosphere
'Anything goes' could be said to be the motto of the lachrymatory. The atmosphere is Loud, frenzied and furious, with the accent on the more extreme emotions. Always a thorn in the side of the far right and the prudish, the club has a reputation for vice and violence, and it is this very edginess that has made it so popular. Counter culture is strong here and some of the biggest alternative bands and artists have played within the acoustically perfect building. Conversation is usually impossible on or near the dance floor as the music is ear damagingly loud, just how the clientele like it. In the darker areas, customers feel secure enough to indulge their appetites and despite the Clubs strong anti drug policy, dealers and dope fiends alike are common.
Notaries
