2012 Looking Back3

London Open House 22 September

A bright but cold start in the City of London, I had planned to visit the Bank of England but the length of the queue put me off so went to the second on my list, The Guildhall. A lot more to it than I had expected with lots of interesting bits in addition to the main hall itself, interesting to see the amalgam of the old buildings with the more recent builds, including the Guildhall Art Gallery.

Then a rush to get to Trinity House  (1794) before it closed, again more to see than I had expected, including a couple of good models of Light Ships, one having a couple of canons (not sure what they were used for?). The building was damaged in WW2 but well restored.

Then onto The Custom House, (1817 & 1825) a large building on the Thames bank. A typical air of governmental neglect inside but with an impressive ‘large room’ in the centre of the building where the main customs business took place, now seemingly just used as an office space.

Onwards to Blackfriars and Unilever House, an imposing 1930’s building, the frontage recently restored with a modern office development behind.

   

Then a walk through the Inns of Court to the days highlight The Royal Courts of Justice (1874-1882) G E Street’s masterpiece. Very Victorian Gothic with little obvious internal changes and a magnificent main hall with corridors and court rooms leading off it. Certainly made an impression on me and the exterior features in my City2City ‘PhotoWalk’ – Blackfriars to Waterloo Bridge via Aldwich

Looking Back 2

Chiswick House

A visit some months ago to Chiswick House to see what changes have taken place since my last visit some years ago. I have known the villa since the early 1960’s having been there with my father soon after the restoration by the then Ministry of Public Buildings and Works (it’s now in the care of English Heritage).

Major improvements have taken place recently in the grounds and a new Café constructed – a modern design which I quite like, using stone from one of the Portland shelly beds giving an interesting textural look to the stone. A definite improvement on the original municipal café that used to be there.

Chiswick House was built in the 1720’s by Lord Burlington as a place to display his art collection and as a place for entertainment and was never used as a residence.  The design is based on the principals of Andrea Palladio and is a fine example of ‘neo-Palladian’ Architecture, one of the best in this country, with Architect William Kent collaborating with Burlington on the design.

The landscaped grounds are dotted with classical features, temples and obelisks dating from the period of Lord Burlington and William Kent plus an orangery of 1813 still with its original plantings of Camellias. The gardens are open throughout the year and the house reopens in April 2013.  

2012 - Looking Back

Nearly the end of 2012 already and after lots of blogging I’ve still a lot to blog about but not the time to do so!

Things have developed well with the ‘PhotoWalks’ program, doing the research and walking the route does take quite a bit of time but has proved to be very interesting. A good program of walks has now been established with additional locations and itineraries being added on a regular basis.

Additional walks have been to the London walks program, one starting at Blackfriars Bridge and ending on Waterloo Bridge via Fleet Street and Aldwich, with the second starting on London Bridge and ending at Bank, via Lombard Street.

Preparing for the walks has been very informative and many interesting buildings and otherwise unseen architectural details have been discovered. My aim is to open people’s eyes Britain’s building heritage and to help them capture the best possible images of what they see.  

Westminster 'PhotoWalk' 17th November

Westminster Itinerary - Charing Cross to Parliament Square

PhotoWalk starts at the base of the Charing Cross outside the station.

Eleanor  Memorial Cross, 1863 designed by E M Barry with sculpture by Thomas Earp, replaces the original cross pulled down in 1647.

Walk along the Strand towards Trafalgar Square, on the right is South Africa House. 1935 by Sir Herbert Baker and Alexander Thomson Scott, decorative carvings by Joseph Armitage to designs by Sir Charles Wheeler.

Cross Trafalgar square observing the Fountains by Edwin Lutyens 1937-9 with figures of Mermen 1948 by Wheeler and Mermaids by W McMillan. (photography is banned in Trafalgar Square!). Ahead is Canada House, 1824-7 with a portico of Ionic Columns by Sir Robert Smirke. Cross over to view Admiralty Arch  (now to be turned into a hotel) 1908-11 by Sir Aston Webb.

Passing  Drummonds Bank, 1885 by George Aitchison in a late Italianate new Palladian style. Now along Whitehall which has a stream of impressive buildings and probably the greatest concentration of Portland Stone faced buildings in any one location.

Due to the great number of interesting buildings along Whitehall and around Parliament Square not all of them are covered on this PhotoWalk, with a second walk looking at the remaining buildings.

First in line is the Old Admiralty Building 1723-6 by Thomas Ripley with a front screen of 1759-61 by Robert Adam. Opposite is 55 Whitehall, 1906-9 by J W Murrey in Edwardian classical style. Then comes the Old War Office Building, 1899-1906 by William & Clyde Young and Sir John Taylor in grand English Baroque.

Passing the Banqueting House and with Horse Guards on the other side of the road, we come to Dover House, 1754-8 by James Paine with a Greek Ionic portico flanked by columns and rusticated wall 1787 by Henry Holland.

Opposite is the’ great white whale’ of the MOD building, designed in 1913 by Vincent Harris but not completed until 1959. Edwardian Imperial with giant columns and Earth & Water sculptures at the entrance by Sir Charles Wheeler (not his best work).

Next along Whitehall are the  Treasury, Cabinet and Privy Council buildings, 1733-36 by William Kent, 1824-27 by Sir John Soane, remodelled and altered  1845-47 by Sir Charles Barry using Soane’s columns and frieze.

Passing Downing Street we come to the first of the two massive Victorian office blocks, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office building 1862-75 by George Gilbert Scott to a ‘florid Italian Cinquecento design’ (Scott’s initial design was in a Gothic style). Then comes the ‘New’ Government Office building (now the Treasury) 1899 by J M Brydon, completed 1912 by Sir Henry Tanner.

Finally a clutch of listed Telephone Kiosks designed by Giles Gilbert Scott, K2 in 1927 and K6 in 1935.

City of London ‘PhotoWalk’ 2

Outline itinerary for Saturday 15^th September 2012

Final details subject to weather and group size and may change en-route (max. 3 hours)

11am. PhotoWalk starts at the base of The Monument.

Walk onto London Bridge and look at Adelaide House 1924-5 with an Egyptian inclination by Sir John Burnet Tait & Partners and on one side of road with Fishmongers Hall on the other side, 1831-4 by Henry Roberts in Greek Revival style, best seen from the centre of the bridge.

Down to Lower Thames Street and St Magnus the Martyr church 1671-84 by Wren. Then along Monument Street and up Lovat Lane passing the rear of St Mary at Hill church 1670-74 by Wren and Robert Hooke.

Turn right into Eastcheap with 23/25 Eastcheap a corner building in polychrome brick, 1861-2 by John Young & Son and 33/35 Eastcheap, an outstanding Gothic building in red and black brick, 1868 byR L Roumieu.

Turn left into Rood Lane seeing the fine C19 timber shop front and St Margaret Pattens church 1684-89 by Wren, overshadowed by the new construction of the “Walkie-Talkie” office block. Ahead an interesting front at 151/52 Fenchurch Street.

Turn left and proceed to Gracechurch Street and on the corner a former bank building 1868 in opulent Italianate style by Francis, observe the carvings. Along to St Edmund church 1670-79 by Wren, oppositet 24-28 Lombard Street a former bank (?) 1910 by Gunton & Gunton (?) in modified classical style, Portland stone with life-sized group of figures in bronze over entrance.

More bank buildings including the extensive former headquarters building of Lloyds Bank, 1927-30 by Sir John Burnet, Tait & Lorne; Campbell-Jones, Sons & Smithers. Porland stone with many good details.

St Mary Woolnoth church 1716-27 and ‘exceptionally original design’ by Nicholas Hawksmoor, underneath the church is Bank Station.

Now a clutch of big bank buildings, starting with The Bank of England, largely rebuilt 1921-37 by Sir Herbert Baker within altered late C18 early C19 screen wall by Sir John Soane. Note the massive stone statues on the facade by Sir Charles Wheeler.

On the corner opposite the former National Westminster Bank building by Sir Edwin Cooper and next door the former Midland Bank building of 1924 by Sir Edwin Lutyens in simplified classical style with carved figures of boys at either end by Sir W Reid Dick.

2pm. Walk finishes outside The Mansion House, 1739 – 53 by Dance the Elder.

The Olympic Park

A windy day with heavy showers did not dampen my enjoyment of last weeks visit to the Olympic Park in Stratford. I was really impressed by the structures, bridges, landscaping and planting.

There’s an amazing amount of underlying infrastructure that has been put in – new roads and bridges especially as the site is intersected by a number of waterways. Having the water has made the site much more interesting, together with the extensive landscaping and tree planting.

The meadow and prairie planting schemes were looking good with plenty of flowers used in a natural display, I thought that the prairie beds worked particularly well. The general landscaping and site layout brought back memories of the two major garden festivals that I visited, Gateshead and Ebbw Vale.

Most of the major venue buildings on site are outstanding in themselves and all very different to each other, but apart from these other structures are interesting including the largest McDonalds in the world. A temporary structure constructed mainly in timber designed to be deconstructed and recycled after the event.

   

The Olympics has left a great legacy in its buildings and the park and that’s apart from what it’s done for sport. It’s disappointing that more people have not had the chance of visiting the Olympic Park before its closed.

    

K6 Telephone Kiosks in Guildford

Guildford continues to be a popular location for ‘PhotoWalks’ with three routes now established and a fourth in the planning stage. The town centre offers many opportunities to look at and photograph interesting buildings and features. Things that you might give a second look at such as phone boxes.

My attention has recently been brought to the 3 telephone kiosks in the centre of the town, 2 at the rear of Tunsgate Arch and 1 outside Holy Trinity Church in the High Street. These are all K6 versions of the GPO telephone kiosk and all 3 are listed by English Heritage Grade 11.

The K6 kiosk was designed for the GPO by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott in 1935 and became the standard for phone boxes until 1968, over 60,000 were produced with around 11,000 remaining after British Telephone had a cull, of these survivors 2,260 are currently listed.

BT admits that many phone boxes are now losing money and that cleaning/maintenance has been cut back accordingly. There was an interesting article in the Evening Standard of 27^th January 2012 which highlighted the plight of many London boxes and I have seen the poor condition many of them are in.

 The phone boxes in the centre of Guildford are in need of a clean and new coat of paint but look to be in working order. But how long will it be before BT decide to take them out of commission?

In other places many boxes have been removed and in the past gone for scrap, nowadays they are on sale for over £3,000. Some communities have adopted their local redundant kiosk and now look after it turning them into information points and even libraries or shops!

Perhaps if BT are considering making the Guildford boxes redundant a local organization such as the Guildford Society or Guildford Borough Council could adopt them and they could, once again, become a bright red feature in the town.    

Chichester 'PhotoWalk'

Excellent day in Chichester, lovely weather and lots to see and photograph. Some interesting buildings if you stop and look, in addition to the more obvious features such as the Market Cross and of course the Cathedral (which we did not cover on this photowalk).

I will be doing the walk again later this year, date to follow - please visit: www.polypodphoto.co.uk

Chichester 'PhotoWalk'

10.30am. Optional pre-walk meeting at Wetherspoon’s Dolphin & Anchor in West Street.

11.00am. PhotoWalk starts at the Market Cross. Built in 1501 by Bishop Story in Perpendicular style. Take a look at the ornamentation and details on the cross.

Proceed along East Street to view a succession of Bank buildings, starting with Nos. 5 & 6 East Street built in the C19 in a late Gothic style with Gargoyles above the windows and crenellated parapets. Listed Grade 11. In many towns the best architecture in the high street was by the banks.

The National Provincial Bank of 1929 by F.C.R. Palmer in neo-Georgian style and Barclay’s Bank of 1961-3 by Green Lloyd & Son and Stanley Roth.

The Corn Exchange is a building that you can’t miss with its six column Greek Doric portico and pediment. Built 1832 by John Elliott. (Once a McDonalds restaurant now Next).

St Pancras church in Gothick style of 1750 by William Ride, interior redone in 1868 by G.M. Hills.

Retrace steps to the cross then turn down South Street. No. 47 Richmond House c1770 and No. 44 of c1820 in galletted flint and brick, doorway up steps with railings, now RBS Bank. Listed Grade 11*.

Refreshment stop ?

Turn back up South Street and across to North Street.  Contains some interesting buildings including St Olave former church now bookshop. The Market House by Nash 1807 with a top story of 1900 and hexastyle Doric portico, recently restored as a stylish retail arcade.

The Council Chamber and Assembly Rooms. Prominent building in brick, arcade over pavement with four stone Ionic columns supporting entablature and parapet with figure of a lion above. Council Chamber 1731 by Roger Morris, Assembly Rooms at rear 1783 by James Wyatt.

Return to the cross and turn into West Street, view the Cathedral from a distance (the Cathedral is not included on this PhotoWalk).  Look at the Post Office of 1937 by D.N. Dyke in early C18 style.

2pm. Finish outside the Dolphin & Anchor C18 and C19 now a Wetherspoon public house.

There are many other buildings of interest in Chichester that have not been included on this PhotoWalk but can be explored independently.

Down West Street the neo-Georgian County Hall of 1936 by C.G. Stillman is worth a look with a good doorway, the Crown Court building in South Street also has good doorways.

The Library is an interesting building of the 1960s? and opposite the library the new Novium may be worth a visit, the exterior is certainly different from all the Georgian architecture in Chichester.

Further information please see:  www.polypodphoto.co.uk 

Winchester

A visit to Winchester in preparation for the PhotoWalk on Sunday 24^th June. Took the train from Guildford to Winchester Station which is at the top of the town, some way from the centre.

A dull and very windy day, not good for taking photos but at least it did not rain until the end of my visit. Started at the bottom of town my the statue of King Arthur where the PhotoWalk will start, then a visit to the Mill which was milling flour – interesting machinery in operation.

The Guildhall is an impressive Victorian Gothic building (1873 & 1893), front elevation was poorly lit but did take a few photos in the main entrance area. Then walked up the High Street trying to look up at the building fronts above the shops without getting in the way of the shoppers. There’s a lot to see if one looks up.

Then took a close look at W.H.SMITH  (both outside and upstairs), a remarkable Arts and Crafts/Domestic Revival style building of 1927, designed by J. W. Williamson of Blount and Williamson for their client W.H.Smith. The first floor has a timber hammer-beam roof and painted moulded plasterwork murals depicting historical scenes, this was originally used as a tea room and dance hall. A surprising find well worth a look upstairs.

The 15^th century Buttercross is a feature of the High Street although an extensive Victorian restoration by Scott, now looks like it needs some more work done on it. 

Banks are always some of the best buildings in towns and there are some good details on the Winchester branches. I quite like Barclays a red brick neo-Georgian pile of 1957.

The OLD GAOL, Jewry Street was built in 1805 by George Moneypenny and one part is now a Wetherspoon’s (always worth taking advantage of their food and drink when passing!). Between the two remaining parts of the goal is the Congregational Church of 1853.

Then up to Westgate and the Great Hall, passing the council offices on the way. Impressive Hall with some good Victorian stained glass.

Finally into the Library to do some research, built as the Corn Exchange 18368 by O. B. Carter,  with modern additions which work well with the old building. Back to the station and to Guildford, a good day out.

Worthing

A trip down to Worthing for a walk around, a bit windy and dull so not ideal for photography. Quite a busy shopping centre with a few buildings of interest, the one thing that really struck me was the number of charity shops ‘dozens’ of them, although it’s good to see that there are still a good number of small independent shops still surviving.

A stroll down the pier and a few photos then a visit to the Museum, typical local museum with the usual collection of miscellaneous things some lacking interpretation or even labels. Spotted a couple of model locos in glass cases, nice one of a Stirling Single and a Great Western – neither having any connection with Worthing as far as I could see? Probably donated to the museum at some time.

Next door to the Museum the Town Hall a reasonable example of Neo-Georgian 1930’s municipal architecture with a Ionic portico and bronze doors. Light was not good so will have to go back another time to photograph it to go with my collection of Town Hall photos.

One unlisted but interesting building in the centre of the town is W H Smith’s, unusual pictorial stained glass and upstairs stone fireplaces and a coloured relief panel of a Tudor/Elizabethan scene (still trying to find some information about the building) I suspect that it dates from the 1920’s. Worth a look upstairs.

Worthing has some dreadful and expensive car parks – try to avoid them, park for free at the West end of Worthing and walk into the centre observing the typical seaside architecture.

Portsmouth PhotoWalk

Sunday 29^th April, a very wet and windy Portsmouth City Centre – too wet for a PhotoWalk so postponed to a proposed date of Sunday 5^th August, with the same itinerary starting at the Guildhall.

Although the rain imparted a certain atmosphere to the townscape it was not good for photography with even the best Portland stone faced building looking decidedly grey. Even the Guildhall, viewed through the window of Wetherspoons I K Brunel, lacked any attraction to the eye of a photographer.

Interesting to recall that the Guildhall was completely gutted during WW11 and a lot of it was rebuilt in the 1955-59 but minus some of the original features, the interior a now very period 1950’s.

The more I look around Portsmouth the more I find of interest and knowing that a substantial part of the city was destroyed or damaged during the war makes looking round that much more enlightening.

After abandoning the PhotoWalk I had a look around old Portsmouth and the area near to the Cathedral to see if there is the potential for holding a PhotoWalk there in the future, but it was so wet that it proved difficult to make a judgement.

Finally, the highlight of the day, a visit to the church of St AGATHA  ‘a grand Italianate basilica of 1894 enriched with marble, granite and carved stone. The apse contains Britain's largest sgraffito mural, by Heywood Sumner c1901’. 

  

It is planned to end the next PhotoWalk at St Agatha’s and I am currently in conversation with them to arrange this. Well worth a visit and look around this hidden gem of Portsmouth. 

Portsmouth 'PhotoWalk' 29th April

Proposed Itinerary.

Subject to change before and during the walk and dependant on weather conditions.

10.30-11.00. Pre-walk gathering in Wetherspoons The I K Brunel Public House near Portsmouth Guildhall.

11.00. PhotoWalk starts on the steps of THE GUILDHALL. Built 1886-90 by William Hill, reconstructed after WW2 damage 1955-59, Interior and rear elevation completely rebuilt. Grade 11. [Take a look at the bronze entrance doors with its whimsical beasts].

Walk around the corner to look at the  PARK BUILDING, University of Portsmouth. 1903-8 by G E Smith. Portland stone and red brick with Flemish and Renaissance motifs and Art Nouveau influences. Grade 11.

Back to Guildhall Square and then down Guildhall Walk looking at the PRUDENTIAL ASSURANCE BUILDING. 1891 by Alfred Waterhouse. Red brick and terracotta. Grade 11. Followed by the THEATRE ROYAL. Built as Landport Hall 1854, converted to theatre 1856, substantially rebuilt 1884 by C J Phipps, reconstructed 1900 by Frank Matcham. Grade 11*. The next door to the theatre  THE WHITE SWAN Public House (now a Wetherspoons) C1900 by A H Bone. Neo Tudor Jacobean style. [Interesting carvings on the façade]

Retrace steps to Guildhall Square and to the WAR MEMORIAL. Guildhall Square Cenotaph. 1921 with additional plaques C1946, by J S Gibson and W S A Gordon, Samuel Salter and Charles Jagger. Grade 11. Through the arch under the railway into VICTORIA PARK. Laid out 1878. Contains monument to Admiral Napier 1868 listed Grade 11, and ‘mini Chinese Temple’ with bell commemorating HMS Orlando 1902. Centenary Fountain listed Grade 11.

Take a look at the exterior of the CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST (RC). 1877-81 by J Crawley, 1881-96 by J Hanson and 1906 by Canon Alexandra Scoles. Restored after bomb damage 1945-50. Reordered 1971. In Decorated style, red brick with stone dressings. Grade 11. [Interior is worth a look at a later date]

Depending upon time and after discussion finish the walk here or continue into City Centre looking at interesting buildings along the way and finishing by the QUEEN ELIZABETH JUBILEE FOUNTAIN. 1977 with Heraldic Beasts.

Possible option to visit a hidden gem in Portsmouth (but subject to it being open) a short walk to the very interesting  CHURCH OF ST AGATHA. 1893-1895 by J H Ball. Red brick in Flemish bond. Style of Romanesque Basilica, partly demolished for road construction in 1964, reopened in 1994 after restoration. Grade 11*.

14.00. Walk finishes. Possible coffee break if one has not been taken during the walk - a chance to review what has been seen and photographed during the day.

MARTYRS MEMORIAL, STRATFORD

Better known as the site for the upcoming Olympics Stratford has claim to the site of the burning of 18 Protestant Martyrs on June 27^th 1556 under the rule of Queen Mary Tudor.

Although the location of the burning is uncertain –it may have been Stratford-le-Bow (and even the actual number put to death there is unsure), to record the event in 1878 a memorial was erected in the churchyard of St John’s Church, Stratford, London, E15.

The hexagonal monument of buff terracotta in Gothic style by Architect J T Newman and produced by Johnson & Co of Sussex is still prominent, if overlooked, just outside the church – I wonder how many people have read the inscriptions which list those who died.

I’ve photographed the memorial and it’s proved difficult to get a good angle on the complete structure but I hope that it now receives more attention with the influx of visitors to the area.

City of London PhotoWalk on 25th March

A bright day for our walk from Tower Hill to London Bridge and a small group of keen photographers assembled outside Wetherspoons ready for an excursion into the unknown (or at least unseen by the casual passerby) parts of the city.

Starting with a look at the excellent sculptural reliefs of the Marine War Memorial and then moving onto the contrasting buildings of Trinity House and the Port of London Authority.

A short walk, passing the much rebuilt church of All Hallows by the Tower, brought us to the river frontage of the Custom House and the old Billingsgate Fish Market building. Viewing Tower Bridge and the Thames from a distance.

Crossing over the road to the surviving tower of St Dunstan in the East, some photos taken in the shell of the old church. Up to Eastcheap to see a group of Victorian Buildings with interesting detailing. Then a coffee break and a chance to review photos that had been taken so far.

The last leg covered a selection of various buildings before coming to The Monument and a look at the large allegorical relief on the base. Then onto London Bridge with Adelaide House and Fishmongers Hall opposite each other – very different buildings.

Finally, reflection on how the new Shard building looks in relationship to its surroundings in Southwark – I like it, a far better design than some of the other new office buildings in London.

An enjoyable PhotoWalk and one that will be repeated on Sunday 10^th June.  

City of London ‘PhotoWalk’

Outline itinerary for Sunday 25th March 2012

Final details subject to weather and group size and may change en-route (max. 3 hours)

10.30 onwards. Meet up in Wetherspoons The Liberty Bounds, Trinity Square, Tower Hill.

11.00 pre walk briefing outside Wetherspoons.

Then looking at and photographing in and around the Mercantile  Marine Memorial. 1922 by Edwin Lutyens and 1955 by Edward Maufe. Sculpture by Sir Charles Wheeler (rather interesting subjects)

Look at Trinity House, 1792-4 by Samuel Wyatt, Doric facade restored after WW2, then the ex PLA Building 1912-22 by Edwin Cooper with giant sized statues by A H Hodge.

Walk to the Custom House 1813-17, river front rebuilt 1825 by Robert Smirke, then along to the old Billingsgate Market building 1841-4 by Horace Jones, look up at roof details.

Onward to St Dunstan in the East, tower 1698 by Christopher Wren (one of his most attractive) – body of the church destroyed in WW2.

Walk to 33/35 Eastcheap, an outstanding Gothic building in red and black brick, 1868 by R L Roumieu and then to 23/25 Eastcheap a corner building in polychrome brick, 1861-2 by John Young & Son.

Coffee break?

Reverse route and look at 20 Eastcheap Peak House, 1883-5 by Peebles, Graeco-Eqyptian details with camel relief by Theed.

Turn down St Mary at Hill to look at 6/7 St Mary at Hill, an interesting building 1873 building by Earnest George and Vaughan, note entrance to the church.

Further down is Watermans Hall, 1778-80 by William Blackburn. Then a short walk to The Monument, 1671-7 by Christopher Wren and Robert Hooke – look at the large relief by Cibber.

Walk onto London Bridge and look at Adelaide House 1924-5 with an Egyptian inclination by Sir John Burnet Tait & Partners and on one side of road with Fishmongers Hall on the other side, 1831-4 by Henry Roberts in Greek Revival style, best seen from the centre of the bridge.

14.00 End of walk. Continue over bridge to London Bridge Station or back to Monument Station.

Images of the buildings named in Bold can be viewed on fotoLIBRA by following the link below:

http://www.fotolibra.com/gallery/user/26969/michael-sleigh/

Booking for Photography Courses and ‘PhotoWalks’ can be made via:

http://surrey-heritage-photography.com/wp/                                                                 

polypod@gmail.com  www.polypodphoto.co.uk           

©2012 Michael C Sleigh. Polypodphoto

London Bridge & Tower Hill

Having finished the PhotoWalk in Southwark I walked across London Bridge photographing the FISHMONGERS’ HALL on the West side and then on the opposite side ADALADE HOUSE (1925) by Sir John Burnet & Tait in Egyptian style. I then checked out the route and sights for the next ‘PhotoWalk’ on Sunday 25^th March, which starts at Tower Hill and ends on London Bridge.

The details and the itinerary will be posted on www.polypodphoto.co.uk  and bookings can be made via www.surrey-heritage-photography.com

Sunny Southwark

We were lucky in having a bright and sunny day for our PhotoWalk in Southwark and London Bridge. This meant that a decision was made not to photograph inside the cathedral but to get out straight away and make the most of the bright conditions.

Some time was taken trying out the focal lengths of the lenses on different cameras by focusing across the river on the facade of the FISHMONGERS’ HALL (1835) by Henry Roberts, some interesting comparisons were made between compact, bridge and SLR cameras.

Looked at the remaining granite arch of LONDON BRIDGE (1831) by John Rennie, then photographs of the outstanding St OLAF HOUSE (1932) by Architect H. S. Goodhart-Rendel.

Crowds of people visiting Borough Market made it difficult to get around with the camera but some exterior shots of the cathedral were taken before moving on to photograph THE HOP EXCHANGE with very interesting ironwork depicting hop leaves and flowers.

An appreciation of some of the other buildings and their relation to hops then back through the crowds of the market to look at the remains of Winchester Palace with its rose window. Very congested along Clink Street as the granite sets are being replaced with what looked like good quality new ones well laid.

Views across the Thames of the City of London and it’s varied skyscape of office blocks, looking particularly good in the bright weather. Finally onto SOUTHWARK BRIDGE (1921) by Mott & Hay engineers with Sir Ernest George architect, to look up and down the river for interesting views and angles of the riverside.

A good PhotoWalk.

PhotoWalk - Southwark & London Bridge

In preparation for the ‘PhotoWalk’ on 25^th February I have prepared the following notes for those attending:

SOUTHWARK CATHEDRAL The Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Saviour and St Mary Overie. Created a Cathedral in 1905.

A church first erected in 1106. Much altered and restored over the years. The oldest part of the present building is the Retro-choir and Choir built in 1207. The Transepts remodelled 15C, the Tower dates from the late 14C - 15C.

Restoration began 1818 – 23 with the Choir and the Tower by George Gwilt the younger . The Transepts much altered in 1830 by Robert Wallace. Retro-choir restored in 1833 by Gwilt. Tower pinnacles by Gwilt.

The Nave was pulled down in 1838 and replaced in 1839-40 by Henry Rose then swept away in 1890 – 97 and completely rebuilt by Sir Arthur W Blomfield.

The Havard Chapel 12C but largely by Blomfield. Contains a Tabernacle by A W N Pugin, shown at the 1851 exhibition, it went to St Augustine Ramsgate and then given to the Cathedral in 1971.

South Transept vaults and South window by Blomfield. 20C Retro-choir Altars and Screens by Ninian Comper. The 1520 stone Altar Screen much restored with 1833 canopies, friezes and demi-angels restored by Wallace, the statues by Nicholls date from 1905, guilded and repainted by Comper in 1950. 


Behind the screen East window The Glory of God also by Comper.

Organ case by Bloomfield. Creation window by Henry Holiday 1893, N. Aisle windows by Kempe. Martyrs window by Ward & Hughes, 1890.  Shakespeare window by C Webb, 1954. Shakespeare Memorial by Henry W McCarthy, 1911. (Edmond Shakespeare buried in church 1607).

Austin Memorial in N. Transept by Nicholas Stone, features the Angel of the Restoration pointing to the Sun of Righteousness, supported by Rock of Christ from which issues a stream and a serpent.

St. Olaf House. 1928-32 Architect H. S. Goodhart-Rendel.

The Hop Exchange.  Now called Central Buildings. 1866 by R H Moore.

Canon Street Railway Bridge. By Hawkshaw. Built 1863-6 (widened 1886-93, strengthened 1979-81).

Southwark Bridge. 1912-21, Mott & Hay engineers with Sir Ernest George architect.

The True Principles of Pointed or Christian Architecture

A W N Pugin’s major guide book on Neo-Gothic architecture and design ‘ True Principals’ starts off by stating -  The two great rules for design 1^st, that there should be no features about a building which are not necessary for convenience, construction or propriety; 2^nd, that all ornament should consist of enrichment of the essential construction of the building. The neglect of these two rules is the cause of all the bad architecture of the present time.

I think that these rules still apply even today, you only have to look at what has been produced in the last 60 years to agree. 

A W N Pugin cont.

A W N Pugin

I’m fortunate to have three of Pugin’s original publications, although in poor condition (the books are over 160 years old) they are still very interesting to look at, even if his words are dated! But his writings were to change the state and look of British Architecture.

In ‘An Apology for The Revival of Christian Architecture in England’ Pugin starts off by saying ‘The age in which we liveis a most eventful period for English art. We are just emerging from a state which may be termed the dark ages of architecture.’

He condemns classical "pagan" architecture, commenting on the (1840) 'moderns' Pugin says that 'we are called upon to admire their thrice-cooked hashes of pagan fragments (in which the ingredients are amalgamated in utter confusion) as fine national monuments of the present age.' He then goes on to promote Gothic as the only true Christian style.

Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin

Very pleased to see that one of my favourite architects is getting an airing on BBC4 ‘Pugin: God’s own Architect’.

I’ve been interested in Pugin from the early 1970’s when he was little known and overshadowed by other more well known Victorian architects, happily he is now recognized as a major influence on British Architecture.

Architect and designer he lead a frantic life, producing plans for hundreds of churches and buildings including the Houses of Parliament (with Barry) and drawing thousands of designs for interior decoration, married 3 times and having 8 children - he was dead by the age of 40 !

CITY OF LONDON

A dull overcast Saturday in the City of London, almost deserted streets except the occasional tourist straying away from the usual traps of St Pauls and the Tower of London. The city is a great place to walk around with a camera when people are not at work.

Apart from the disappointing lack of light there was lots to see and (try) to photograph. I found some parts of the city that I had not seen before and managed to find some listed buildings that I had read about in the architectural guide books and revisited buildings already seen and photographed on previous excursions around the city.

The second ‘PhotoWalk’ planned for Sunday 25^th March will cover the area from Tower Hill to Monument looking up and down the roads and odd narrow alley for interesting angles to photograph. Some of the buildings and sculpture can be seen in the ‘London’ set of images on FotoLIBRA  http://www.fotolibra.com/?u=26969