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.

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.

Portsmouth PhotoWalk

Sunday 29^th April, a very wet and windy Portsmouth City Centre – too wet for a PhotoWalk so postponed to a proposed date of Sunday 5^th August, with the same itinerary starting at the Guildhall.

Although the rain imparted a certain atmosphere to the townscape it was not good for photography with even the best Portland stone faced building looking decidedly grey. Even the Guildhall, viewed through the window of Wetherspoons I K Brunel, lacked any attraction to the eye of a photographer.

Interesting to recall that the Guildhall was completely gutted during WW11 and a lot of it was rebuilt in the 1955-59 but minus some of the original features, the interior a now very period 1950’s.

The more I look around Portsmouth the more I find of interest and knowing that a substantial part of the city was destroyed or damaged during the war makes looking round that much more enlightening.

After abandoning the PhotoWalk I had a look around old Portsmouth and the area near to the Cathedral to see if there is the potential for holding a PhotoWalk there in the future, but it was so wet that it proved difficult to make a judgement.

Finally, the highlight of the day, a visit to the church of St AGATHA  ‘a grand Italianate basilica of 1894 enriched with marble, granite and carved stone. The apse contains Britain's largest sgraffito mural, by Heywood Sumner c1901’. 

  

It is planned to end the next PhotoWalk at St Agatha’s and I am currently in conversation with them to arrange this. Well worth a visit and look around this hidden gem of Portsmouth. 

Portsmouth 'PhotoWalk' 29th April

Proposed Itinerary.

Subject to change before and during the walk and dependant on weather conditions.

10.30-11.00. Pre-walk gathering in Wetherspoons The I K Brunel Public House near Portsmouth Guildhall.

11.00. PhotoWalk starts on the steps of THE GUILDHALL. Built 1886-90 by William Hill, reconstructed after WW2 damage 1955-59, Interior and rear elevation completely rebuilt. Grade 11. [Take a look at the bronze entrance doors with its whimsical beasts].

Walk around the corner to look at the  PARK BUILDING, University of Portsmouth. 1903-8 by G E Smith. Portland stone and red brick with Flemish and Renaissance motifs and Art Nouveau influences. Grade 11.

Back to Guildhall Square and then down Guildhall Walk looking at the PRUDENTIAL ASSURANCE BUILDING. 1891 by Alfred Waterhouse. Red brick and terracotta. Grade 11. Followed by the THEATRE ROYAL. Built as Landport Hall 1854, converted to theatre 1856, substantially rebuilt 1884 by C J Phipps, reconstructed 1900 by Frank Matcham. Grade 11*. The next door to the theatre  THE WHITE SWAN Public House (now a Wetherspoons) C1900 by A H Bone. Neo Tudor Jacobean style. [Interesting carvings on the façade]

Retrace steps to Guildhall Square and to the WAR MEMORIAL. Guildhall Square Cenotaph. 1921 with additional plaques C1946, by J S Gibson and W S A Gordon, Samuel Salter and Charles Jagger. Grade 11. Through the arch under the railway into VICTORIA PARK. Laid out 1878. Contains monument to Admiral Napier 1868 listed Grade 11, and ‘mini Chinese Temple’ with bell commemorating HMS Orlando 1902. Centenary Fountain listed Grade 11.

Take a look at the exterior of the CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST (RC). 1877-81 by J Crawley, 1881-96 by J Hanson and 1906 by Canon Alexandra Scoles. Restored after bomb damage 1945-50. Reordered 1971. In Decorated style, red brick with stone dressings. Grade 11. [Interior is worth a look at a later date]

Depending upon time and after discussion finish the walk here or continue into City Centre looking at interesting buildings along the way and finishing by the QUEEN ELIZABETH JUBILEE FOUNTAIN. 1977 with Heraldic Beasts.

Possible option to visit a hidden gem in Portsmouth (but subject to it being open) a short walk to the very interesting  CHURCH OF ST AGATHA. 1893-1895 by J H Ball. Red brick in Flemish bond. Style of Romanesque Basilica, partly demolished for road construction in 1964, reopened in 1994 after restoration. Grade 11*.

14.00. Walk finishes. Possible coffee break if one has not been taken during the walk - a chance to review what has been seen and photographed during the day.

MARTYRS MEMORIAL, STRATFORD

Better known as the site for the upcoming Olympics Stratford has claim to the site of the burning of 18 Protestant Martyrs on June 27^th 1556 under the rule of Queen Mary Tudor.

Although the location of the burning is uncertain –it may have been Stratford-le-Bow (and even the actual number put to death there is unsure), to record the event in 1878 a memorial was erected in the churchyard of St John’s Church, Stratford, London, E15.

The hexagonal monument of buff terracotta in Gothic style by Architect J T Newman and produced by Johnson & Co of Sussex is still prominent, if overlooked, just outside the church – I wonder how many people have read the inscriptions which list those who died.

I’ve photographed the memorial and it’s proved difficult to get a good angle on the complete structure but I hope that it now receives more attention with the influx of visitors to the area.