Sunday, March 31, 2013

Inside an Institution



A couple of days ago I was privileged to visit the new BBC centre. It's a fantastic building, but you are told to keep moving because you never know if you are on camera.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 1

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Whittington Gardens



Yesterday's statue comes from Whittington Gardens, a postage stamp sized green place just off Lower Thames Street. The statues (there are two) are a little disturbing at first, but actually quite dynamic. Sit and contemplate a water feature if you'd like to relax.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 1

Friday, March 29, 2013

The Hooded Horseman



This is a fairly new addition to London's streetscene, I wonder if anyone recognises where it is? A cat here might be a clue.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 2

Thursday, March 28, 2013

A Minty Bit Longer!



UK readers will no doubt remember the slogan, "Trebor mints are a minty bit stronger", but all the East End factories, including this one in Katherine Road closed down long ago. The Trebor brand (Robert, backwards) was sold off in the 80's. Read the history (including when a policeman got a candy coating) here.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 0

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

A Different Departure



Departure is a community arts centre in the Commercial Road, East London. That little bit too far east to be trendy, I've hardly ever seen anyone in it. But seeing as how it always looks inviting, and has been there for years, I reckon that's my loss.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 0

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Out Hunting



Hyde Park used to be the monarch's hunting ground, and this group by Princes Gate seems to echo that. But, who is hunting who or what I would not like to guess.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 1

Monday, March 25, 2013

Obsession with detail



This is one small section of the carving on a pillar in the V&A museum's west wall - one that most people will walk past without stopping. Personally, I'd recommend you took as much time over this as you might over some of the exhibits inside, it is rather fantastic.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 2

Sunday, March 24, 2013

This is Rubbish



Those stacks of containers don't contain shiny consumer goods, it's west London's rubbish being shipped downriver for treatment - recycling and landfill.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 1

Saturday, March 23, 2013

The End of the World As We Know It



I wonder how many cities have a location called "World's End"? It hasn't yet, anyway, which is reassuring.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 0

Friday, March 22, 2013

I love Markets



I Love Markets is not only a true statement, but an organisation seeking to promote markets right across London. At the moment there is a photo contest open to all https://www.ilovemarkets.com/london/photocontest.

posted by Ham at 07:33 -- Comments here: 0

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Squeezing Catholics



Or, to be exact, squeezing the Roman Catholic Church of English Martyrs. Sat in Prescott Street in the East End, it sits uncomfortably cheek by jowl with some rather unlovely buildings; this is a Pugin masterpiece.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 1

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

No, you have him!



This "Modern Sculpture" just south of Battersea Bridge looks like nothing else to me but that the kid is being lobbed by the mum, and dad may or may not catch. I was amused to find that the imbalance is caused by a missing bird, to which the child is stretching out his arms. I was further amused to learn that "the piece is meant to represent unity between the people of London", I suppose that someone has to pick up the pieces.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 3

The Forum



A funny thing happened on the way to the Forum, it changed its name to the Cineworld Fulham Road. Not quite the same ring to it, eh? Still a grand building though.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 2

Monday, March 18, 2013

Grade 1 Listed



The 18th Century St Mary's Church in Battersea is a Grade listed building, for obvious reasons. Local history goes back to AD 700, when Battersea contained "45 villagers and 16 smallholders with 14 ploughs and eight slaves, seven mills and woodland enough to pasture fifty pigs". You can read the local history here.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 1

Saturday, March 16, 2013

On the Shoe Line



I'm sure you will have seen pairs of shoes for whatever reason, flung onto high phone lines or the like. I can see some sort of challenge in that, but this? I dunno, at lease they get washed.

posted by Ham at 07:23 -- Comments here: 4

Friday, March 15, 2013

Barge Life



As you walk along the Thames path, you will come across many houseboats of varying sizes and degrees of comfort. I have to say I understand the appeal of each of them.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 0

Thursday, March 14, 2013

The Heliport



After the recent tragedy with the helicopter crashing into a building, I thought it would be interesting to show you the heliport, how small and accessible it is. The building on the left is a hotel.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 0

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Atomic Advertising



This is the view southwards off Wansdsworth Bridge. I can't make up my mind whether the advertising hoarding improves the view, it's one of those places that would have been lovely as rolling green grass, but is entirely desolate as multi lane roads in a nearly human free void.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 0

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

A Reminder



A reminder that the boat race is the longest continuously run sporting event in the world (since 1829)can be found on the Thames Path. Sorry it doesn't photograph very well.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 0

Monday, March 11, 2013

Putney Bridge



Which is where the Oxford Cambridge boat race starts from each year. I suppose it is sensible it isn't in either Oxford or Cambridge when you think about it.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 2

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Living & Giving



By the time you get to Fulham, you get a better class of charity shop. In fact, it's no longer even called a charity shop....

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 0

Saturday, March 09, 2013

Out Clubbing



The Constitutional Clubs were affiliated to the Conservative political party, as disticnct from Conservative Working Mens' Clubs; places for men to go to drink and play. South Fulham Constitutional Club closed in 2006 and is now a residential development.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 2

Friday, March 08, 2013

Empty Streets



It is worth going to The Mall over teh weekend, if only to experience the absence of traffic.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 1

Thursday, March 07, 2013

Irony



The Eastern Dispensary - founded 1782, erected 1858, supported by voluntary contributions - is now a bar, supported by voluntary contributions.

Oh yes, that's another building going up in the background.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 1

Wednesday, March 06, 2013

Because We Can



This is one of the latest crop of skyscrapers springing up around London, seemingly designed eccentrically because they can. Time will tell whether the novelty will hold any lasting architectural value, I suspect we will look back on these as slightly embarrassing examples of the genre.

Maybe not. You can read more about this building - "The Walkie Talkie" - and its rooftop garden here.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 1

Tuesday, March 05, 2013

The Re-Work Continues



The Olympic ground from the top of Stratford multi story car park shows how the structures are changing: the aquatic centre has lost its water wings and the stadium has lost its coat. The backdrop of the city skyline is a bonus.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 0

Monday, March 04, 2013

Holy Roads, Batman!



If you ever wondered what is likely to happen were there to be a major water main burst in the middle of Regent Street, you need wonder no more. I am sure glad I don't have to worry about driving in London at the moment.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 2

Sunday, March 03, 2013

City Point



I'm off taking new photos today, I'll leave you with a photo the refurbished entry to City Point and a number of near useless facts.

  • The building was built in 1967 as Brittanic House, a 122m (399ft) headquarters for British Petroleum. An extensive refurbishment, designed by Sheppard Robson International and completed in 2000, increased the floorplates and added height to the top floor. Britannic House was then renamed CityPoint.
  • CityPoint is the City of London's largest commercial office building in terms of rentable floorspace.
  • CityPoint was the City of London's second tallest building upon completion in 2000, but was overtaken in 2002 by the 179.8m (590ft) 30 St Mary Axe.
  • The original design proposed by Santiago Calatrava included an enormous fin on top of the building that would have taken the height to 203m (666ft), but this plan was rejected because of fears it would spoil views of St. Paul's Cathedral.
  • posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 2

    Saturday, March 02, 2013

    Outside Poppies Diner



    Poppies in Cable Street, near the Tower of London, has been serving in London for nearly 70 years, I'm not sure that it has always had the Diner setup, but it is none the worse for that. If you are visiting the Tower, this would be one of my recommendations for where to eat.

    posted by Ham at 08:50 -- Comments here: 2

    Friday, March 01, 2013

    A Thames Barge



    This girl was 100 years old in 2003, you can read more about her here.

    posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 0

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