Norwich

A recent trip to Norwich allowed me to revisit and re-photograph a number of interesting buildings. Probably my favourite city with a great Cathedral, the Castle Museum and dozens of churches. It being Heritage weekend meant a rush around some of the buildings that were open.

Two 20th Century buildings stand out architecturally in the city, one in a classical form and the other in the 'Swedish Romantic Movement' style.

The Norwich Union building of 1904 by G J Skipper with giant Ionic columns and rustication, an imposing facade to give the right impression for an insurance company.

City Hall was designed by C H James & S R Pierce in 1931 and completed in 1938. An impressive building having a balcony 365' long, a portico of attenuated polygonal pillars and a tower 185' high, all in the "Swedish Neoclassical spirit".

3 bronze doors decorated with eighteen plaques by James Woodford depicting scenes of the city's history caught my eye and are well worth a closer look.

Sheerness. Local Board of Health Building.

Sheerness has always been a ‘Back of Beyond’ sort of place and despite the new Sheppey Crossing bridge linking the Isle of Sheppey with the mainland the town still has that feeling – you don’t pass through Sheerness you have to have a reason to go there.

In the centre of the town is situated a building of interest which is in a poor state and has remained derelict for years. The Local Board of Health building has two parts to it, one the base of a large water tank (now removed) and the other part quite different in style. The water tower dates from 1863 and front building may date from the 1880’s.

Listed by EH in 1987 it was delisted in 1988, Swale Borough Council are treating it as a ‘non-designated heritage asset’ with Conservation Area protection. Demolition was refused in 2011. Local heritage groups are keen to see it preserved but the current owner seems to be letting it deteriorate. Someone needs to take some action before it’s too late.

The Railway Hotel, Edgware

Listed Grade 11 and described by Historic England as '... among the best examples of a picturesque historicist road-house in the country'. Dating from 1931 and designed by A E Sewell for Truman Hanbury Buxton, brewers.

Closed for a number of years, now in a sad state and in desperate need to attention. The sign outside says 'SOLD' but nothing has happened and a search has not come up with any news of what is going to be done with it. 

Lets hope it will be saved soon - would make a great Wetherspoons 

Reading (Berkshire)

A recent visit to Reading with lots to look at in and around the town centre. Despite a rash of 1960’s and 70’s buildings of poor design and construction there are still a number of interesting Victorian and Edwardian buildings left.

The best building in Reading being Simmonds Bank of 1839 in an ornate Italian Palazzo style by Henry & Nathaniel Briant for clients Joseph & Charles Simmonds & Co. Now empty and awaiting its fate after having been vacated by Barclays bank – the modern extension showing just how bad bank building had become.

A walk down to the High Bridge of 1788 with it’s ‘vermiculated rustication on the voussoirs’, then a perambulation along the main shopping streets but looking above the shop windows to see the decorative details on the Victorian properties. There are some good details if one looks up – many people don’t and just pass by without noticing.

There are a lot more older properties than people may think in Reading and in Castle Street St Mary’s Church of 1840 by Nathaniel Briant is noticeable with its Greek style Corinthian columns and three stepped doorways.

The Grand Doorway to Simmonds Bank

Bargeboards in Guildford

I have recently been searching out interesting examples of bargeboards on buildings around Guildford. This follows a discussion with the editor of the Guildford Society’s Newsletter who suggested that I took a few photos of the bargeboards on some Victorian villas to the East of the town centre.

Having looked around I discovered that there are many good examples of decorative bargeboards in the area, some with just a wavy edge and some being particularly outstanding. I’ve now photographed around 40 different designs and may still come across more as I look around.

This may lead be an article in the G S Newsletter sometime and I’m proposing a short course at the Guildford Institute in the summer term to take attendees out to the Waterden Road / Charlotteville Conservation areas to look and photograph the Victorian buildings with interesting decorative details.

The Imperial War Museum

A look at the redesigned and recently reopened Imperial War Museum. Major changes in the central area and improvements/changes around the galleries. The new WW1 Gallery was too busy, in fact the whole museum was too crowded so a quick exit was made with the decision made to return at a later date, probably in January or February when hopefully it won’t be so popular.

The most interesting part was the Art Galley with a display of paintings and sculpture relating to the First World War. Some excellent works by John and Paul Nash, Stanley Spencer and a large relief sculpture by Charles Sargeant Jagger – in plaster but not executed.

Jagger also designed the Royal Artillery Memorial at Hyde Park Corner (considered to be one of the best war memorials) and the Great Western War Memorial at Paddington Station, as shown below.

Hornsey Town Hall

I volunteered as a guide to Hornsey Town Hall for the Saturday of Open House London weekend having known the building from when I lived nearby and been to a number of events there.

Up to Crouch End for a 9.30am start, already a number of people waiting outside expecting to be able to get in without prior booking (not the case) but a breakdown in communication with Haringey Council caused the problem – and Haringey had not got my name on their list even though I had confirmation from Open House that I was booked in as a volunteer.

The guides were given a tour around the bits of the building that visitors were able to see. Most of the main areas of interested were accessible, although we were restricted to the rear part of the Assembly Room. Visitor groups were kept to around 15 people with two of us taking them around for half an hour or so, although due to the number of visitors we ended up with 35 on one tour.

Most visitors were locals but a few had come some distance for the chance to see inside. The people who came from the area were aware of the current situation regarding the building and proposed future plans for its use. Some expressed concern over its fate and the fact that it had been left to deteriorate since 1965 when it passed from Hornsey Borough Council to Haringey Council.

There’s great potential but funding is the problem and finding a suitable viable use is the challenge. Hopefully public access will be improved but it may well not be open again until Open House London 2015.