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.