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.