Aldershot

A cold, wet, grey day in Aldershot – miserable, no good for taking photographs but OK for shopping? The place is unappreciated but the town does has a few good buildings and some interesting architectural details if you stop to look around.

The town centre has no historic buildings having only developed when the army set up camp there in the 1850’s (the older part of Aldershot lies to the East), said to be one of only a few towns to just have shops along one side of its High Street.

One of the best buildings in my view is the ex Ritz/ABC cinema (now Bingo) it’s very much in the 1930’s style, Historic England don’t think it is worth listing (I have asked them) and it's not even locally listed so could well be lost to redevelopment.

  

Chichester & Bognor Regis

It was a nice sunny day for a ‘PhotoWalk’ in Chichester last year, with lots of interesting buildings and details to see and photograph. I think that Chichester, Winchester and Guildford are as good as each other but I, of course, prefer Guildford.

The centre was quite busy with shoppers but peaceful in the Cathedral (pleased that they do not charge for entry as a lot of other cathedrals do). Some good stained glass especially an excellent set of windows in the Lady Chapel by Clayton & Bell, there is a large window (1877) in the South Transept by Marechal of Metz with stunning coloured glass and flying serpents !

Then onward to Bognor Regis through a sea of neat bungalows, all spick & span, then some attractive Tudorbethan houses nearer Bognor. The “Regis” was bestowed on Bognor in 1929. A bustling shopping street, unpretentious and quite unlike Chichester. A few buildings of interest including the RC church (1881) by J S Hansom an impressive West front with a plate tracery rose window. 

   

Kingston upon Thames

A visit to Kingston to keep up with changes and to check on things that can be included on the next PhotoWalk around the town centre. Not too many changes but a few things seen that had gone unnoticed before.

As is the case with many  towns one has to look above the shops to see things of interest and to appreciated the buildings. Kingston has a good town centre with some interesting buildings among the best being the church of All Saints, which has relatively recently been given an excellent internal makeover.

The local Museum and Art Gallery building (1904) is worth a visit. It has a pleasing exterior but getting people to visit local museums is always a challenge and not helped here by being a bit cut off from the town centre by a busy road.

The Guildhall (1935) by Maurice E Webb has an impressive front and Bentall’s (1931-5) by Webb in ‘Wrenaissance’ style has some good sculpture on its frontage. The Market Place had a makeover a couple of years ago and is now a lively area with the Market House (1838-40) at its centre, a 1706 statue of Queen Anne shines brightly over the market.