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.

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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.

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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.

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After another look round the shops I eventuaally had a late lunch complete with knickerbocker glory.

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Then it was time to go home after a good if wet day out.

Basingstoke

From co-op store pictures

From co-op store pictures

Golders Green and Hampstead

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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.

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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.

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?

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.

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