29 November, 2009
Compton surrey
A drive around the Surrey Hampshire border country and tea in the tea rooms at the Watts Gallery.
28 November, 2009
Derby
A day out in Derby- home to Crown Derby (natch, although Cornish ware comes from Staffs)and the former Midland Railway and current railway research.
It's also a cathedral city
and home to the first ever factory
Who says railway couplings can't be fun?
It's also a cathedral city
and home to the first ever factory
Who says railway couplings can't be fun?
21 November, 2009
East Grinstead and Oxted
I was told I'd be bored by East Grinstead but really it wasn't that bad. The town is noted for having the longest run of 16th Century buildings in the country and I've no reason to doubt that. It is in the North East corner of West Sussex and the old buildings are well used.
One is the Sackville College an almshouse. We met the Sackvilles at Knole, if you remember, but it was here that they founded their old people's home.
Back in the 1960s the inmates had to wear a uniform - in the museum there was one of the old uniforms - a black dress and a black cloak. In the 1960s the inmates finally rebelled and made a bonfire of the uniforms! I hope they can now wear their own clothes.
The church of St Swithun was rebuilt in the 18th century, unudually in the gothic style. Even inside the church is hard to date. Probably it was rebuilt to be much the same as before.
So I wasn't bored with East Grinstead and might even go back there at some point.
The train back from East Grinstead calles at Oxted also. Now Oxted looked meadieval but I suspected it was all 1930s fakery or maybe 1890s fakery. Certianly most of the housing was of the mid 20th century. Oxted was quite nice with a tudor cinema and the church of St Mary - you can't fake that!
Oxted is also on the meridian.
One is the Sackville College an almshouse. We met the Sackvilles at Knole, if you remember, but it was here that they founded their old people's home.
Back in the 1960s the inmates had to wear a uniform - in the museum there was one of the old uniforms - a black dress and a black cloak. In the 1960s the inmates finally rebelled and made a bonfire of the uniforms! I hope they can now wear their own clothes.
The church of St Swithun was rebuilt in the 18th century, unudually in the gothic style. Even inside the church is hard to date. Probably it was rebuilt to be much the same as before.
So I wasn't bored with East Grinstead and might even go back there at some point.
The train back from East Grinstead calles at Oxted also. Now Oxted looked meadieval but I suspected it was all 1930s fakery or maybe 1890s fakery. Certianly most of the housing was of the mid 20th century. Oxted was quite nice with a tudor cinema and the church of St Mary - you can't fake that!
Oxted is also on the meridian.
15 November, 2009
Herefordshire and Gloucestershire
Brockhampton church
 |
| From Travels around London |
Tibberton church.
 |
| From Travels around London |
Kempley Church
07 November, 2009
Baldock, Letchworth and a brief look at Hitchin.
Hitchin was only a flying visit with a view to going back there one day.
Baldock was quite nice but not much there - rather overshadowed by Letchworth too.
Ah, now- Letchworth Garden City - First Garden City Limited and that's what it was - the first city (well town really) founded on town planning lines which endeavoured to put the maximum number of people into a high quality environment. The final goal is Freedom and Co-operation (in the sense promoted by the International Coöperative alliance). See Howards Magnets for the full story.
Temperance until the 1960s there was a pub the skittles inn now the settlement.
This led to the comment that life in Letchworth was all skittles and no beer!
Houses were built in all kinds of styles from garden city modern
Modified council house
And edwardian rustic
.
Letchworth has apparently a good sense of community, the developer always acting for the public good. It's a nice open community in a pleasant environment. I think the aim has succeeded.
Baldock was quite nice but not much there - rather overshadowed by Letchworth too.
 |
| From Travels around London |
Ah, now- Letchworth Garden City - First Garden City Limited and that's what it was - the first city (well town really) founded on town planning lines which endeavoured to put the maximum number of people into a high quality environment. The final goal is Freedom and Co-operation (in the sense promoted by the International Coöperative alliance). See Howards Magnets for the full story.
Temperance until the 1960s there was a pub the skittles inn now the settlement.
 |
| From Travels around London |
This led to the comment that life in Letchworth was all skittles and no beer!
Houses were built in all kinds of styles from garden city modern
 |
| From Travels around London |
Modified council house
 |
| From Travels around London |
And edwardian rustic
 |
| From Travels around London |
Letchworth has apparently a good sense of community, the developer always acting for the public good. It's a nice open community in a pleasant environment. I think the aim has succeeded.
02 November, 2009
A sunny Monday Portslade to Saltdean
A beautiful monday after a wet weekend. A trip to Portslade and Hove. Old Portslade has an ancient church.
although plain within. Portslade isn't so good but the old village is pleasant.
Above the village is the foredown tower (shut)
Then it was time to go into Hove and western Brighton which was gorgeous. Another bus ride led me to Rottingdean home of Burne Jones, Rudyard Kipling, Angela Thirkell (mother of Colin McInnes) and Enid Bagnold. Not sure who remembers these authours now although Kipling will be recognised.
There were Burne Jones Windows in the church and a special Kipling Garden on the green.
The final bus ride led me to Saltdean to photograph the lido there
A good day.
 |
| From Travels around London |
Above the village is the foredown tower (shut)
 |
| From Travels around London |
Then it was time to go into Hove and western Brighton which was gorgeous. Another bus ride led me to Rottingdean home of Burne Jones, Rudyard Kipling, Angela Thirkell (mother of Colin McInnes) and Enid Bagnold. Not sure who remembers these authours now although Kipling will be recognised.
There were Burne Jones Windows in the church and a special Kipling Garden on the green.
The final bus ride led me to Saltdean to photograph the lido there
 |
| From Travels around London |
A good day.
01 November, 2009
Veteran Brighton
A visit in the rain to see the end of the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run.
This commemorates the ending of the Red Flag Act, which was falling into disuse anyway, which meant that any vehicle had to have a man with a red flag walking in front of the vehicle. Members of the Royal Automobile Club tore up a red flag and hared off to Brighton in 1896 creating both the first car park
and the first traffic jam.
This commemorates the ending of the Red Flag Act, which was falling into disuse anyway, which meant that any vehicle had to have a man with a red flag walking in front of the vehicle. Members of the Royal Automobile Club tore up a red flag and hared off to Brighton in 1896 creating both the first car park
 |
| From Travels around London |
and the first traffic jam.
 |
| From Travels around London |
 |
| From Travels around London |
31 October, 2009
Bexhill and Eastbourne
A wet saturday in Bexhill and Eastbourne. Bexhill on Sea is the UK's charity shop capital and doesn't have much else going for it. There is, however the De La Warr Pavilion, a socialist pleasure palace by the sea. This is a splendid example of modernist architecture which seems to have been quite well restored.
Nothing much happening in it and the roof deck was closed at the top but was open at the first floor. There were two architecture exhibitions.
After that I went on to the Bexhill museum a small museum with big ideas. I got in for nothing but the admission was not cheap. There were racing cars as Bexhill was where British motorsport began, as the Earl De La Warr had a private road along the seafront.
Afterwards I had a walk up to Old Bexhill and a look round the church, as well as the demolished old manor house with a fireplace in the park.
Having failed to obtain lunch in the pub in old Bexhill (the landlord gave the excuse that he was making food for tomorrow - why couldn't he make the food for today yesterday? - that's what I wonder) I left Bexhill and went to Eastbourne to hava a walk down to the front and on to the pier. Eastbourne Pier was described as the Palace Pier and had signs saying 'welcome to Brighton' but I suspect that was for filming purposes.
I went into the restaurant (food served all day) and ordered a steak pie and chips. Unfortunately this was off and there was nothing else I fancied. A sign said no jumping off the pier but I suppose the last person who did had failed to have lunch.
After another look round the shops I eventuaally had a late lunch complete with knickerbocker glory.
Then it was time to go home after a good if wet day out.
Nothing much happening in it and the roof deck was closed at the top but was open at the first floor. There were two architecture exhibitions.
After that I went on to the Bexhill museum a small museum with big ideas. I got in for nothing but the admission was not cheap. There were racing cars as Bexhill was where British motorsport began, as the Earl De La Warr had a private road along the seafront.
Afterwards I had a walk up to Old Bexhill and a look round the church, as well as the demolished old manor house with a fireplace in the park.
 |
| From Travels around London |
Having failed to obtain lunch in the pub in old Bexhill (the landlord gave the excuse that he was making food for tomorrow - why couldn't he make the food for today yesterday? - that's what I wonder) I left Bexhill and went to Eastbourne to hava a walk down to the front and on to the pier. Eastbourne Pier was described as the Palace Pier and had signs saying 'welcome to Brighton' but I suspect that was for filming purposes.
 |
| From Travels around London |
I went into the restaurant (food served all day) and ordered a steak pie and chips. Unfortunately this was off and there was nothing else I fancied. A sign said no jumping off the pier but I suppose the last person who did had failed to have lunch.
 |
| From Travels around London |
After another look round the shops I eventuaally had a late lunch complete with knickerbocker glory.
 |
| From Travels around London |
Then it was time to go home after a good if wet day out.
15 October, 2009
06 October, 2009
Golders Green and Hampstead
05 October, 2009
Wigan and Warrington
Warrington (Cheshire) is nicer than Wigan but quite frankly there's not much in it. Wigan was more red brick and Warringtom more stucco but that was about it. Both had fine town halls but Warrington's had nice gates and looked like an old mansion. Wigan's was red brick and looked like a town hall.
As far as I could see Wigan had no museum although there was a 'school of mines' sign above one of the doors of the town hall. Warrington had a museum, a real victorian gem with mummies shrunken heads and all sorts of things relating to Warrington and the wider world. Stuffed animals abounded in a recreated curator's office. It was worth going to see.
 |
| From Travels around London |
As far as I could see Wigan had no museum although there was a 'school of mines' sign above one of the doors of the town hall. Warrington had a museum, a real victorian gem with mummies shrunken heads and all sorts of things relating to Warrington and the wider world. Stuffed animals abounded in a recreated curator's office. It was worth going to see.
01 October, 2009
Eastbourne and Berwick, Sussex
A visit to Eastbourne with an old friend from a long time ago!
Firstly to Seaford head for the finest view in Sussex - the seven sisters.
Eastbourne is a pleasant seaside town where I havent spent much time, being more aware of brasher Brighton. But Eastbourne is rather pleasant and I think I might try spending a bit more time there.
Finally a visit to Berwick church - decorated by the Bloomsbury set who had a farm - Charltons - nearby. I wonder what the farming community thought when they came to church one Sunday and found their church redecorated?
Firstly to Seaford head for the finest view in Sussex - the seven sisters.
Eastbourne is a pleasant seaside town where I havent spent much time, being more aware of brasher Brighton. But Eastbourne is rather pleasant and I think I might try spending a bit more time there.
Finally a visit to Berwick church - decorated by the Bloomsbury set who had a farm - Charltons - nearby. I wonder what the farming community thought when they came to church one Sunday and found their church redecorated?
Luton Beds
Luton is not a place to inspire one. The home of CWS Lutona cocoa and chocolate, the straw hat industry and lately the the Luton Bedford Van. Even though the inhabitants burnt down the Town Hall in 1919 - yes 1919 - it's not marvelous.
So Town Hall Riots: a penny pinching council had a peace celebration. Unfortunately the banquet was for councillors only with no ex servicemens organisations or others involved in the war effort. No wonder they rioted. The town clerk - in a despearte attempt to avoid blame, blamed drunkennes. I suppose he might have been drunk.
The church is interesting - charismatic and lively in a meadieval building with this curious baptistry standing 20 ft high!
The beautiful magnificat window is a fine example of stained glass art.
At Stockwood park with a very fine carriage collection there is a sculpture garden. All the sculptures are unlabelled and allowed to be come upon by chance in the garden. The picture shows one of the finest of these.
So Town Hall Riots: a penny pinching council had a peace celebration. Unfortunately the banquet was for councillors only with no ex servicemens organisations or others involved in the war effort. No wonder they rioted. The town clerk - in a despearte attempt to avoid blame, blamed drunkennes. I suppose he might have been drunk.
The church is interesting - charismatic and lively in a meadieval building with this curious baptistry standing 20 ft high!
The beautiful magnificat window is a fine example of stained glass art.
At Stockwood park with a very fine carriage collection there is a sculpture garden. All the sculptures are unlabelled and allowed to be come upon by chance in the garden. The picture shows one of the finest of these.
 |
| From Travels around London |
29 September, 2009
Epping Upland Church
A short walk from Epping station to Epping upland to see the picturesque church, unfortunately it was not open. This is the ancient church of Epping.
On the way there I disturbed a small flock of goldfinshes- I don't think I've ever seen so many.
. 
It was well worth the trip and maybe I'll go back on Sunday for tea there.
On the way there I disturbed a small flock of goldfinshes- I don't think I've ever seen so many.
. It was well worth the trip and maybe I'll go back on Sunday for tea there.
20 September, 2009
London Open House
This weekend is always a rush around to see some great places and, of course a weekend’s never long enough to see what you really want to see. I spent my weekend in the North East corner of London, Barking, Havering and Redbridge boroughs.
First port of call was Barking Town Hall where there was access to the council chamber Mayor’s parlour and committee rooms. Designed in the 1930s and built in the 1950s it was opened by Dame Evelyn Sharpe. After this I went to see the Barking Parish Church dedicated to St Margaret of Antioch, which incorporates the ruins of Barking Abbey in its churchyard. There was a lot going on here and I was taken into the only building left standing of the old Barking abbey – the curfew tower. This tower incorporated a little chapel and on old stone reredos. I went back to have a look at the church with its new extension as cafe and bookshop. This new extension looked exactly as the church must have looked when it was new and was a marvellous addition to the church. The friendly members of the congregation took me round to see the high points, including a window dedicated to fishermen and some carvings of figures from Barking’s history. I followed that up with watching a demonstration of bellringing.
I eventually left the church just after 11 and walked to the East side of barking to see St Patrick’s church. I was expecting a Roman Catholic one but it was Church of England, with a very unusual tower that reminded me of a gun emplacement!
The glory of the church was the reredos which was beautiful. Three bands of ornament run up to the ceiling and the paintwork in blue was glorious.
The outside was similar to St Saviours Eltham and the clergy and congregation very welcoming.
After seeing the ultra modern church it was back to the past with Eastbury Manor. A fine Tudor house in the middle of a council estate. There were some wall paintings and a turret staircase that was made of large blocks of ancient oak. All the Tudor stuff was there with chimneys and bottle glass windows in the turret, some old rafters in the roof space etc.
After Eastbury off to Romford to see the Havering Town Hall. The council chamber here had been modernised but still pleasant but the Mayor’s parlour was a bit better than Dagenham, with lots of gifts presented on the opening of the place in 1937.
After that I went off to Dr Barnardo’s Childrens village in Barkingside. Built in a cottage homes style it looked rather like a well ordered model village complete with childrens church
with small pews and good examples of biblical children in the stained glass including David, and Moses being found in the reeds. There are even bells in the church rung by a chiming mechanism and very nice they sounded. The church was given by an anonymous donor whose name is now lost to history.
The village is no longer a childrens home but does house retired or sick Barnado’s staff and is their main head office. A display in one of the cottages gives information on the village work and shows the rather spartan living conditions the children had although this was no doubt much better than the living conditions they would have had if they were not in the home.
Another visit this weekend was to St Mary’s church Wanstead with its 18th century box pews and stained glass Royal Arms. This was a great treat to see.
First port of call was Barking Town Hall where there was access to the council chamber Mayor’s parlour and committee rooms. Designed in the 1930s and built in the 1950s it was opened by Dame Evelyn Sharpe. After this I went to see the Barking Parish Church dedicated to St Margaret of Antioch, which incorporates the ruins of Barking Abbey in its churchyard. There was a lot going on here and I was taken into the only building left standing of the old Barking abbey – the curfew tower. This tower incorporated a little chapel and on old stone reredos. I went back to have a look at the church with its new extension as cafe and bookshop. This new extension looked exactly as the church must have looked when it was new and was a marvellous addition to the church. The friendly members of the congregation took me round to see the high points, including a window dedicated to fishermen and some carvings of figures from Barking’s history. I followed that up with watching a demonstration of bellringing.
I eventually left the church just after 11 and walked to the East side of barking to see St Patrick’s church. I was expecting a Roman Catholic one but it was Church of England, with a very unusual tower that reminded me of a gun emplacement!
The glory of the church was the reredos which was beautiful. Three bands of ornament run up to the ceiling and the paintwork in blue was glorious.
 |
| From Travels around London |
The outside was similar to St Saviours Eltham and the clergy and congregation very welcoming.
 |
| From Travels around London |
 |
| From Travels around London |
After seeing the ultra modern church it was back to the past with Eastbury Manor. A fine Tudor house in the middle of a council estate. There were some wall paintings and a turret staircase that was made of large blocks of ancient oak. All the Tudor stuff was there with chimneys and bottle glass windows in the turret, some old rafters in the roof space etc.
 |
| From Travels around London |
After Eastbury off to Romford to see the Havering Town Hall. The council chamber here had been modernised but still pleasant but the Mayor’s parlour was a bit better than Dagenham, with lots of gifts presented on the opening of the place in 1937.
 |
| From Travels around London |
After that I went off to Dr Barnardo’s Childrens village in Barkingside. Built in a cottage homes style it looked rather like a well ordered model village complete with childrens church
 |
| From Travels around London |
with small pews and good examples of biblical children in the stained glass including David, and Moses being found in the reeds. There are even bells in the church rung by a chiming mechanism and very nice they sounded. The church was given by an anonymous donor whose name is now lost to history.
The village is no longer a childrens home but does house retired or sick Barnado’s staff and is their main head office. A display in one of the cottages gives information on the village work and shows the rather spartan living conditions the children had although this was no doubt much better than the living conditions they would have had if they were not in the home.
Another visit this weekend was to St Mary’s church Wanstead with its 18th century box pews and stained glass Royal Arms. This was a great treat to see.
 |
| From Travels around London |
 |
| From Travels around London |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
