A quick walk around Reading town centre today - looking above the shop windows revealed a host of interesting building fronts, mainly dating from the late Victorian period. Many architectural details passed by and unseen by the shoppers in the street below. A longer visit with the camera is merited.
Reading also has some earlier buildings with the Abbey ruins and also two churches, mainly rebuilt by the Victorians, in St Mary's some good stained glass by Clayton & Bell.
The Simeon Monument in Market Place was designed by Sir John Soane in 1804, a detail can be viewed on photoLIBRA http://www.fotolibra.com/?u=26969
Saturday, 28 May 2011
Friday, 13 May 2011
Brompton Cemetery (London)
After spending time at The Museums & Heritage Show yesterday I crossed over the road from Earls Court into another world, a world of the dead - Brompton Cemetery.
The cemetery was one of seven large cemeteries in London founded by private companies in the mid-nineteenth century. Designed by Benjamin Baud in 1839-40 it is one of the best; with entrance gates and long stone arcading leading to a domed chapel, all in classical style and listed Grade 11*.
The cemetery also contains a number of fine, listed memorials and thousands of grave stones packed very close together and in some places forming a sea of crosses. Perhaps not as 'atmospheric' as Highgate Cemetery (where the Sleigh have a family grave) Brompton certainly is still outstanding.
The cemetery was one of seven large cemeteries in London founded by private companies in the mid-nineteenth century. Designed by Benjamin Baud in 1839-40 it is one of the best; with entrance gates and long stone arcading leading to a domed chapel, all in classical style and listed Grade 11*.
The cemetery also contains a number of fine, listed memorials and thousands of grave stones packed very close together and in some places forming a sea of crosses. Perhaps not as 'atmospheric' as Highgate Cemetery (where the Sleigh have a family grave) Brompton certainly is still outstanding.
Monday, 9 May 2011
Southampton Art Gallery
The Art Gallery is part of the Civic Centre, it's a gallery that I had not been to before but proved to be well worth a visit.
A good collection of paintings from various periods but the most interesting (for me anyway) is a set of large gouache works by Burne-Jones as featured in a recent ITV Perspectives programme '|A Passion for the Pre-Raphaelites'.
The gallery, I understand, is a rebuild after WW2 bombing and in a simpler style to the Guildhall's hexastyle Ionic colonnade. http://www.southampton.gov.uk/s-leisure/artsheritage/sotonartgallery/
A good collection of paintings from various periods but the most interesting (for me anyway) is a set of large gouache works by Burne-Jones as featured in a recent ITV Perspectives programme '|A Passion for the Pre-Raphaelites'.
The gallery, I understand, is a rebuild after WW2 bombing and in a simpler style to the Guildhall's hexastyle Ionic colonnade. http://www.southampton.gov.uk/s-leisure/artsheritage/sotonartgallery/
Thursday, 5 May 2011
Southampton Civic Centre
Visited Southampton and spent an interesting day exploring the townscape. Despite the efforts of German WW2 bombing there is still some heritage left to see.
Southampton Civic Centre is a grand group of buildings, currently undergoing building works on one side for a new museum. Constructed 1928 - 39 by Architect E Berry Webber.
The Guildhall frontage is imposing in classical style, faced with Portland stone see: http://www.fotolibra.com/?u=26969
Southampton Civic Centre is a grand group of buildings, currently undergoing building works on one side for a new museum. Constructed 1928 - 39 by Architect E Berry Webber.
The Guildhall frontage is imposing in classical style, faced with Portland stone see: http://www.fotolibra.com/?u=26969
Thursday, 28 April 2011
Westminster Abbey
I've uploaded 4 more pics of the West Front which can be viewed on fotoLIBRA
http://www.fotolibra.com/?u=26969
http://www.fotolibra.com/?u=26969
Wednesday, 27 April 2011
Westminster Abbey
With the Royal Wedding very much in the news I have looked again at two photos I took in 2006 of the West Front of the Abbey. Most visitors will not realize that the 'look' of the West Front is mainly due to the work of Nicholas Hawksmoor who remodelled the lower part and designed the two towers in 1739.
The images can be viewed on fotoLIBRA by using this link http://www.fotolibra.com/?u=26969
The images can be viewed on fotoLIBRA by using this link http://www.fotolibra.com/?u=26969
Tuesday, 5 April 2011
Barking (Essex)
A chance visit to Barking in Essex lead to the discovery of an unexpected example of 'grand' civic architecture in the Town Hall with imposing tower and classical detailing. Designed in 1936 by Jackson & Edmonds but not built until 1954-8. Intend to return with the camera to take some photos ASAP.
Another surprise was that Barking had an Abbey founded c666 by St. Erkenwald, not much left to see now but the parish church in the Abbey grounds appears to use some recycled stone and the Gatehouse has survived.
Another surprise was that Barking had an Abbey founded c666 by St. Erkenwald, not much left to see now but the parish church in the Abbey grounds appears to use some recycled stone and the Gatehouse has survived.
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