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.