Croydon Continued

I made a special effort to see the Riesco Collection of Chinese Ceramics at Croydon Museum before the council decides to sell off yet more of this important collection which was donated to the museum. How the council can get away with selling off at least 17 items from the collection is difficult to understand, but benefactors are going to think twice before donating anything to council run museums in the future.  http://www.museumsassociation.org/museums-journal/news/16102013-89-objects-missing-riesco-croydon-council

The trams are an added attraction to the town and a good way of moving people around. They have surprisingly good acceleration and ability to handle steep grades. I would love to see trams come to Guildford connecting the Research Park, Hospital and Uni with the town centre and then out to the East with a possible route down to Cranleigh along the old line. I can’t see it happening as the cost would be too great both in the infrastructure and in the running. But they have been very successful in Croydon and I have experienced trams in a number of other towns where they work very well.

Croydon

A look around Croydon before it gets the Westfield ‘makeover’  http://thecroydonpartnership.com/. At the moment it makes Reading, by comparison, look good! Croydon certainly needs an uplift although it does have plenty of busy shops it’s under pressure from other shopping centres and the demise of Alders has not helped.

There are some quite interesting building facades above the shop fronts, such as above W H Smith a good frontage probably dating from the 1920/30’s period when WHS architects were producing stylish buildings such as in Winchester (see my previous blog). WHS shops are now sadly lacking.

The Whitgift Hospital (Built 1596-9, restored by Butterfield in 1860)looks very out of place, other buildings of note being the church of St John the Baptist (mainly 1870 by G G Scott) and the splendid Victorian church of St Michael and all Angels (1885 by J L Pearson). I could not get into either of these on my visit which was disappointing.

Probably the only other outstanding architecture in the town centre are the Municipal Buildings (1892-96 by Charles Henman) with a prominent clock tower and grade 11 listed War Memorial (James Burford Architect with Paul Montford Sculptor, unveiled 22 Oct 1922).

Reading (Berkshire)

A trip to Reading to update the PhotoWalk details in anticipation of next years walks. A few changes in the town since my last visit but nothing effecting the route itinerary.

Additional information was gathered in Reading Library on a couple of buildings and a few things found that can be added to further PhotoWalks. The highlight was getting inside the RC church of St Jame’s, said to be the first church designed by Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin in 1837.

Surprisingly it’s not in a Gothic style but Romanesque, thought to be because the church is next to the Abbey ruins. The church is in good condition and has had additions made over time, the interior is simple but has three interesting original windows in the apse end probably dating from the 1840’s.

The window design may be by AWNP and were made by Thomas Warrington, closely reproducing the geometric and foliate designs of the medieval period.  Although I’m not too keen on stained glass from the 1930’s there are a group of small windows in the Lady Chapel which are quite good depicting the grotto at Lourdes and made by Clarks of Dublin in 1934.

Walking around Reading town centre and looking at the buildings above the shop fronts always reveals more of interest which usually is passed by unnoticed by shoppers. One building well know to locals is Jacksons Corner, home of Jacksons for 137 years and now about to close. An important Victorian corner building but not listed and probably will be lost to redevelopment.    

Kings Cross

Went to take a look at the new Kings Cross Square in front of the restored station, the recently revealed station frontage looks great, an elegant design of 1852 by Lewis Cubitt . 

Disappointingly the new steel and glass canopy along the front of the building cuts through the clean lines of the frontage and I question why the canopy could not have been positioned higher up so as not to cut through the top of the arches. 

The square itself is a big improvement on the building that was there before, but it's not finished and was already beginning to look 'used' with litter (no bins) and drink stains across the square. Good to see some trees but not sure about the raised planters and using gravel around the base of the trees was not a good idea as it gets easily displaced.

Generally the whole area is looking much better and the new Kings Cross concourse is eye opening covered with the largest single span structure in Europe.

The City of London

A recent PhotoWalk in the city showed that there are two major office buildings nearing completion, both dominant but quite different from each other. One I like and one I hate.

The one that I hate is the so called ‘Talkie Talkie’ 20 Fenchurch Street by Rafael Vinoly. An ugly, overbearing building and recently the cause of problems with reflection from its concave face producing a heat ray causing damage to shops and vehicles nearby.

The other building is ‘The cheesegrater’ The Leadenhall Building by Richard Rogers. I really like the look of this wedge shape skyscraper, which will be the tallest building within The City of London. I look forward to its completion but already it’s looking good and complements the Lloyds Building also by Rogers on the other side of the road.

Another skyscraper that I like is The Heron Tower in Bishopsgate, completed in 2011 by Kohn Pedersen Fox. Clean lines and looks good with the sky and clouds reflected in the glazing, a successful design for a tall building.

The Leadenhall Building

Chichester & Winchester

Recent PhotoWalks in two historic cities, both sharing similar qualities with old buildings, a Cathedral, grand council offices, some 1960’s and 70’s intrusions and both having crosses as meeting places. I think that Winchester has a slight edge over Chichester but both are good places to visit.

In most towns it’s the Bank buildings that stand out in the High Streets and this is true in both these cities, right up to 1960 banks were proud to present an imposing frontage usually using columns to convey a classical face, or as in one Chichester bank a Gothic one. A previous Blog of mine covers the theme of Banks and columns.

Neither PhotoWalk ventured into the Cathedrals due to photography permit limitations but both are well worth a visit without a camera.

This is the entrance doorway to the Council Offices in Chichester. Doorway and bronze doors to County Hall, 1936 by C.G. Stillman, in neo-Georgian style.

Coventry

A return visit to Coventry to see what has happened in the last five years or so since I was there last. 

Firstly the Cathedral for an organ recital, a great organ in an inspiring setting. Then to The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum which has opened an interesting new extension which was being built when I looked in last time.

A few photos of an unusual 1976 Ferroconcrete cross, a replacement for a Tudor cross which once stood nearby. A walk around the town centre showed some improvements especially the removal of traffic around the square that has the statue of Lady Godiva. The square has two imposing bank buildings facing it, both are not listed (they should be) and probably post war, but still using Portland stone and columns to impose an image of security and permanence.

I quite like Coventry, both the reconstructions after the war and its surviving old bits, also the faux medieval buildings such as Wetherspoons The Flying Standard. Don’t pass Coventry by if you have the chance to visit.

M. Sleigh. Polypodphoto 

Alton (Hampshire)

Not having visited Alton for a number of years I was pleased to see when I visited on Market day that the town was busy and looked to be fairing well, with only a few empty shops. Thirty years ago a work colleague who lived in Alton called it a “One horse town where the horse had died” he also said it was the only place he knew where the cafes shut for lunch!

There was the aroma of brewing wafting over the town from the Coors Brewery (once owned by Courage) with the brewery chimney viewed from a number of town centre locations, pity that the original buildings have gone. Since my last visit a number of good local shops in the High Street have been lost, especially missed is the large ironmongers and hardware shop (Kingdoms I think) but generally the High Street is good for shopping.

There are some interesting buildings in Alton, mainly redbrick, some Georgian and one or two good Victorian buildings, especially the Assembly Rooms and Museum group. The Curtis Museum has exhibits on local matters and across the road is the Allen Gallery with an outstanding collection of ceramics and pottery, much more than one would expect to find in a local gallery – too much to take in on one visit.

Alton is at one end of The Watercress Line and nearby the station is a new Waitrose supermarket showing that the town has now ‘made the grade’.  A return visit with the camera I think will be worthwhile to get some considered shots when the town is not so busy.

© Michael Sleigh 2013

Charing Cross to Parliament Square

A bright morning and a walk starting from The Eleanor Memorial Cross (1863) by E M Barry with sculpture by Thomas Earp, interesting sculpture on the memorial if one stops and looks at it in detail.

Down Whitehall passing the Old Admiralty Building with a front screen and ‘Seahorses’ (1761) by Robert Adam to Horse Guards (1750’s) and fighting off the tourists crossed over the road to take a longer view of the building, a good example of stylized Palladian architecture.

At least there is not a lot of traffic around on a Sunday morning which makes walking around and taking photos easier!

Behind 55 Whitehall is an extension of 1952 by the Ministry of Works which has a series of good allegorical sculptures along its facade by James Woodford (missed these last time I was in the area)

.

Wandered along taking in the sights to Parliament Square, then a change in direction to catch a new ‘Boris Bus’. I was keen to see what they were like but I’m not sure about them and don’t expect that they are going to last over 50 years or have the same respect as the original Routemasters.


M.C.Sleigh. 2013

Charing Cross to Hyde Park Corner

In London to check out a new PhotoWalk route from Charing Cross to Hyde Park Corner via Horse Guards and Buckingham Palace. Starting at the Eleanor Memorial cross (1863), then down Whitehall passing the Old Admiralty Building (1726) to Horse Guards (1748) by William Kent.

Through into Horse Guards Parade and on the left a statue to Field Marshal Earl Roberts – Frederick Sleigh Roberts, then the very strange Cadiz Memorial (1814) with a mortar mounted on a dramatic Chinese dragon with a two headed dog.

Walking across towards The Mall the Citadel comes into view (can’t miss it) built as a bunker - fortress and air raid shelter in 1939, with pebble and flit aggregate block facing, the English Heritage listing calls it a “Massive Cubist fortress”.

Then up The Mall, looking at The Duke of York's column and round the outside of St James’s Palace coming out at the front of Buckingham Palace and having to fight the crowds of tourists watching the changing of the guard. Could not get near to the Victoria Memorial (1911) by Sir Aston Webb but instead looked at the impressive ‘Canadian’ gates with gilded crests.

Nothing much to see along Constitution Hill until the Wellington Arch comes into view. 1829 by Decimus Burton topped with the Quadriga sculpture of 1912 by Adrian Jones. The orientation of the arch was altered in 1883 with the original massive statue of the Duke of Wellington on horseback being moved to Aldershot. It’s worth going into the arch for the views that can be had from the top and English Heritage exhibitions held in the Quadriga Gallery.

Delving into one of the subways put in by the London County Council I came out by the Hyde Park Screen (1829) by Burton, originally the entrance to Hyde Park. Finally Apsley House (1778) by Robert Adam, remodelled and enlarged by Wyatt in 1830. Known as ‘No1 London’ the house of The Duke of Wellington, is worth a look inside – good interiors and fantastic silverware and ceramics.

Altogether an interesting day even if it was dull, windy and a bit wet, with no good photos taken but the basis for another PhotoWalk in The City of Westminster.

City to City

The City of London to The City of Westminster ‘PhotoWalk’

A depressingly dull and windy day last Sunday for the walk starting at Blackfriars Station, not good for taking photos so concentrated on looking at details and aspects of buildings on the itinerary. It’s surprising what can be missed or passed by if you don’t stop and look properly!

Found new things to include on future walks and discovered enough animal carvings and mythical beasts plus heads and figures on buildings to make an interesting future photo project.

I see that Bush House in Aldwich, built 1935 (ex BBC) is currently undergoing refurbishment, it has some good stonework and unusual column capitals and carvings. Looked into St Mary Le Strand, 1717 by James Gibbs and arrived just after their service had finished so ended up talking to their clergy, it sounded as if they had not had many people turning up.

Then across to Somerset House and a visit to the exhibition on Nicholas Hawksmoor http://www.somersethouse.org.uk/visual-arts/nicholas-hawksmoor-methodical-imaginings                    

Hawksmoor is one of my favourite architects and this exhibition has some good photos of his churches but I was particularly impressed by the ‘Digitally conceived and fabricated resin models’ of his towers.

Hawksmoor’s St Mary Woolnoth, 1727 is one of the most interesting churches in the city, in the way it fits its site and is an ‘exceptionally original design’.

Finally a quick look at the old Whitehall Police Station a 1930’s stone faced building on Victoria Embankment which is to become the new home of Scotland Yard. 

Michael Sleigh 2013 www.polypodphoto.co.uk

Queenborough

Round the corner from Sheerness is situated the much older town of Queenborough. Named after Queen Philippa wife of Edward 111 who built a castle there (demolished in 1650), with a ‘decayed’ harbour, the town never flourished and was at its height of prosperity in the reign of Elizabeth 1. Pevsner in 1969 says ‘even today ... looks a little forlorn’ I knew Queenborough in the 1960’s and its got no better - probably worse!

There are a number of old buildings, including Holy Trinity church, not outstanding but with a large churchyard monument in Baroque form to the Greet family, 1829 by A T Hadlow. 

Like Blue Town the town needs funding to improve the streetscape. There is still the remains of industry around the area but the pervading smell of the glueworks has now thankfully blown over.

© M.C.Sleigh 2013

Sheerness

The Isle of Sheppey can be a strange place and Sheerness is a bit of a backwater – you don’t pass through Sheerness as it’s in a corner so you have to have a good reason to go there. I know it from childhood visits to the seaside and have occasionally returned to see what’s happened (not much).

There are a few architecturally interesting buildings in the town which date from when it had a Royal Naval Dockyard (closed in 1960). The best building probably being the Dockyard Church, 1828 rebuilt 1884 and listed Grade 11*, now in a very poor state after being gutted by fire and left for years but hopefully restoration is in sight.

By the dockyard walls lies Bluetown, once a lively place ‘servicing’ the dockyard workers needs but now run down with a few listed buildings, certainly not improved much on when I was last there, but has some potential if funding was available.

In Sheerness there is an intriguing structure, the massive base of Sheerness Water Tower, built 1840/50, the waterworks is long gone but this brick structure remains and various suggestions have been made for its reuse but nothing has happened – strangely it was delisted as Grade 11 by the DoE in 1988 (don’t know why?).

© M.C.Sleigh 2013

Church Stained Glass Course

The date has now been set for the course Church Stained Glass 1820 - 1920 to be held at the Guildford Institute - Tuesday 17th September, 10am - 2pm.

Full details to follow, the course will include a visit to a church in Guildford to look at examples of stained glass windows.

Booking will be with the Guildford Institute once their Autumn program is published.

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

Not 'Heritage' as yet but could be in the future? 

A Park in Progress 'backstage' tour to see what had happened since my visit to the Olympic Park last year. Lots of work being undertaken and many of the buildings removed or in the process of being altered.

Initially I had not been keen on UK’s largest piece of public art, the 114-metre ArcelorMittal Orbit, but having looked at it again and been up to the viewing platform I've changed my mind. Great views of London, The City, Canary Wharf and as far as the Northern Heights and the Surrey Hills.  Must go back again once the park opens to the public.

Preston Bus Station

There is currently a lot of talk about the future of Preston Bus Station as the city council have proposed its demolition on the grounds that it costs too much in upkeep.

The Architects Journal have an article in their news section on the subject with the suggestion that English Heritage are contacted supporting the appilcation to have the building listed as previous attempts have been unsuccessful.  http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/8645130.article

I've only experienced the bus station on two occasions, the first in the late 1960's when it was new and gleaming and more rercently when it was showing its age. It made a lasting impression on me, it's loss would be a loss for Preston and also a great loss for Britains building heritage.

The demolition of Portsmouth Tricon Centre, a Brutalist concrete structure of 1966 by Owen Luder, was welcomed by most poeple, but Preston's Bus Station is a much better example of the period and it would be missed.

Stained Glass Course

The proposal for a course to be held in the Autumn Term at the Guildford Institute has now been made and it has a wider remit than the original now covering Church Stained Glass 1820-1920, mainly looking at examples from this period in the Surrey and North Hampshire area.

Details will be posted on www.polypodphoto.co.uk as and when known. In the meantime please let us know of your interest by email to: polypod@gmail.com

Victorian Stained Glass 2

A second day course on Victorian Stained Glass is planned to held at the Guildford Institute later this year in the Autumn Term. Details to follow. If you are interested please let me know by email: polypod@gmail.com

In preparation for the course a selection of stained glass window photos are being put on the fotoLIBRA website: http://www.fotolibra.com/gallery/search/pro.php?all_words=polypodphoto 

Victorian Stained Glass

An enjoyable course was held at the Guildford Institute last Thursday when we looked at Victorian Church Architecture & Stained Glass, using local churches in Surrey and N E Hampshire as examples of the Victorian Neo-Gothic style.

The group paid a visit to St Mary's to look at the examples of stained glass in the church, we then finished off the day with a look inside St Nicolas at the wall paintings and especially the excellent Clayton & Bell stained glass.

There was enough interest in the stained glass to propose a day course later in the year to cover the subject in more depth.

Victorian Architecture

Victorian Architecture, a short course at the Guildford Institute, this Thursday 7th February, 10am-2pm. Looking at the buildings and styles of the Victorian Period from Classical to Gothic. Includes a walk around Guildford to look at local examples.

Victorian Church Architecture & Stained Glass, a follow on short course on Thursday 7th March, 10am -2pm, includes a visit to St. Mary's church in Guildford to look at the stained glass.

Details on the Guildford Institute website: http://guildford-institute.org.uk/courses/victorian-church-architecture-stained-glass/

2012 Looking Back4

Heritage Weekend in Guildford

A good weekend visiting heritage properties in Guildford. I managed to ‘do’ 14 properties on the Saturday, most of them I’ve seen before but well worth revisiting to see things that I had missed before.

The best was a tour around the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, although I’ve been to plays there this was the first time that I had an opportunity to see behind the scenes  and it turned out to be a very interesting and good tour.  http://www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk/ 

Another first time look was into the Baptist Church in Millmead, typical 1970’s architecture not attractive on the outside but better inside with a large and spacious auditorium with plenty of exposed concrete  and timber finishes. The surprise was the full immersion pool set into the floor (of course they are Baptists so I should have known) with interesting reflections of the interior on the water’s surface. http://www.guildfordbaptist.org/ 

Encouraging that ‘Heritage’ now encompasses the 1960s and 70’s. It’s also good to see just how much heritage there actually is in Guildford.