I'd forgotten this, near Alfriston in Sussex.
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Lovely - thanks Alain.Originally posted by Alain Maréchal View Post
This gem is not little but it deserves a mention.
Beer Quarry Caves, Devon - http://www.beerquarrycaves.co.uk/
Featured yesterday in Episode 5 of Paul Rose's "Coastal Path" (BBC) - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07wbzgtComment
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The Ness of Brodgar and the Island of Swona.
This was a very good programme:
BBC2
Britain's Ancient Capital - Secrets of Orkney
Episode 3:
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Not sure if this is the right place, but for those within striking distance this weekend, this might be of interest.
A chance to see some of Norwich's 'little gems' of medieval churches.Comment
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Hengistbury Head because I've just got back from a five day break to the Bournemouth area, not having been on holiday or even seen the sea for three years and frankly never expecting it would happen again, given the escorting of two parents in their late eighties and my general inability to feel at ease beyond four miles of my home. But we did it, got on two little trains while there and the boat to Christchurch where there was only one fall and not too serious. Return door to door taxi - £280 - that's just over £93 per person:
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575 Wandsworth Road - Khadambi Asalache's extraordinary house
Mention was made of this National Trust place on the BBC lunchtime regional London news, earlier today.
Khadambi Asalache was a Kenyan-born poet and author who lived at the above address, interior pictures of which were shown of astonishing richness of carved detail, all of it undertaken by the man himself on a property which he had acquired in a rundown state. The likes of this I've never seen anywhere before. The composer Cevanne Horrocks-Hopaylan was introduced as having obtained an award for a work that she has composed in conjunction with the house, inspired by the vision of its late occupant. I had not heard of her previously, but it turns out that she collaborated with the jazz saxophonist Trish Clowes, whom I know, on a piece comprising one of the tracks on the album I just happen to have in my possession
- the same work referred to, "Muted Lines"! 
I'm not sure which of three possible threads I could have posted this on, so I'm putting it here, along with these links:
Obviously this association with the Wandsworth house was arranged after the premiere of the work: I wonder if Trish is aware of all this!
Last edited by Serial_Apologist; 15-01-18, 17:00.Comment
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This (575 Wandsworth Road - as above) was on BBC London News tonight - 15th January - https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/live/bbcone at around 18:50.Comment
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Strawberry Hill House, Twickenham
Strawberry Hill has been on my intended visits itinerary since seeing the local news item devoted to the restoration and advance notice of its being open to the public. My entry fee, the concessionary £12.50 that would have been waived had I been a member of the National Trust, English Heritage, or another organisation the lady receptionist mentioned, was more than worth what turned out to be a most fascinating tour, and one which, had I permitted myself more than the one hour slotted into the rest of my schedule, would have been even better and more informative. The house, whose construction began in 1775, started the fashion for Gothic revivalism at the domestic level which would take off in the Victorian era. The restoration evidently has a long way to go - many of the rooms are still quite bare - but one can already admire the meticulous care with which the undertaking is proceeding, and is evidenced in a 15-minute video show at the start of the tour charting the house's history and showing the care taken in researching the detail necessary to restoring the interior to as near to its original appearance as possible and the practical skills required and put into effect. The place is a rabbit warren! Almost every room had a knowledgeable guide present to explain anything one wanted to find out - how much it had costed to build in the first place, how long the restoration process was expected to last, who the benefactors were, why were certain valuable original features not to be returned, where were they to be seen, if at all. and what was the evidence on which the reconstruction was being based? In the latter instance it often came down to a matter of small details in old prints, and letters 150 years old. Fortunately most of the construction and design sources were documented, and pictures displayed helpfully showed the places from which details of decoration and tracery had been "plagiarized", notably York Minster.
There will be much to go back for as the work progresses. I would strongly recommend a visit to anyone heading up this way, with the proviso to allocate a good couple of hours at least - probably longer to cover the grounds as well, which I had no time to do - because one felt loath to move on from room to room knowing there was so much more still to learn. There appeared to be a disabled lift available for accessing all three floors; and, for once, children were made to feel welcome, and in turn the ones I saw seemed enthralled by what they were seeing, and not at all bored.
Click on the links!Comment
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Thank you for this fascinating post on Strawberry Hill House and the one on Khadambi Asalache's house in Wandsworth.Originally posted by Serial_Apologist View PostStrawberry Hill has been on my intended visits itinerary since seeing the local news item devoted to the restoration and advance notice of its being open to the public. My entry fee, the concessionary £12.50 that would have been waived had I been a member of the National Trust, English Heritage, or another organisation the lady receptionist mentioned, was more than worth what turned out to be a most fascinating tour, and one which, had I permitted myself more than the one hour slotted into the rest of my schedule, would have been even better and more informative. The house, whose construction began in 1775, started the fashion for Gothic revivalism at the domestic level which would take off in the Victorian era. The restoration evidently has a long way to go - many of the rooms are still quite bare - but one can already admire the meticulous care with which the undertaking is proceeding, and is evidenced in a 15-minute video show at the start of the tour charting the house's history and showing the care taken in researching the detail necessary to restoring the interior to as near to its original appearance as possible and the practical skills required and put into effect. The place is a rabbit warren! Almost every room had a knowledgeable guide present to explain anything one wanted to find out - how much it had costed to build in the first place, how long the restoration process was expected to last, who the benefactors were, why were certain valuable original features not to be returned, where were they to be seen, if at all. and what was the evidence on which the reconstruction was being based? In the latter instance it often came down to a matter of small details in old prints, and letters 150 years old. Fortunately most of the construction and design sources were documented, and pictures displayed helpfully showed the places from which details of decoration and tracery had been "plagiarized", notably York Minster.
There will be much to go back for as the work progresses. I would strongly recommend a visit to anyone heading up this way, with the proviso to allocate a good couple of hours at least - probably longer to cover the grounds as well, which I had no time to do - because one felt loath to move on from room to room knowing there was so much more still to learn. There appeared to be a disabled lift available for accessing all three floors; and, for once, children were made to feel welcome, and in turn the ones I saw seemed enthralled by what they were seeing, and not at all bored.
Click on the links!
I'm grateful.
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Too big to qualify for this category really but on a recent edition of "Flog It" I was very surprised by Gloucester Cathedral. Perhaps I should have known more about it, especially as I did at one time have to spend time in meeting rooms in Gloucester for work purposes, but I didn't. It must be one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Britain - and with a fascinating interior.
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William Morris & Friends - Stamford Brook tube
Starts off at 2.30 today, meet up at the above - particularly looking forward to this guided history walk, which, all being well, will take in Kelmscott House, one of Morris's homes and base for the Hammersmith socialists, from which sprang one radical stream of the Labour Party and included Gustav Holst, and Karl Marx before him. and now a museum I've been intending visiting for some years. These connections all make sense to my ageing brain. Should be interesting for one such as I, in hopefully convivial walking company.Comment
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A stunningly beautiful day for a most interesting tour of Morris-associated locales around the bit of the Thames northern shoreline between Hammersmith Bridge and the Hogarth Roudabout, familiar to Vinteuil, ending up in Kelmscott House itself, which was rather disappointing from a visitor's pov because it seemed one only got to see the shop where they sell the trinkets (to be fair the Morris printing press of 1830, in full working order apparently, is on display, but not much more that is original) and a bit of the ground floor that's been turned into a lecture room which could have been anywhere. But the lady doing the tour, who bore a strong resemblance to Jenny Bond the BBC's royal correspondent (or was), was excellent with her presentation, even including Island Records' Chris Blackwell's residence/recording studio on her itinerary. Eric Gill, the sculptor who was originally part of the Morris entourage that moved out to Steyning to form an unconventional artists' commune, was mentioned, along with his now acknowledged ill-gained reputation, his having had sex with everyone, his own children included, and, er, everything - "field pursuits" I guess you could say. One of the daughters had written in her diary about the wonderful upbringing the Gill children had experienced in that household! All in it (not Chris Blackwell's house!) cost a tenner - minus a couple of squid for us old codgers - and we were all handed a handout at the end publicising Emery Walker's House, The Arts & Crafts Home, at 7 Hammersmith Terrace, which we'd seen from the outside. But you have to pre-book a visit online: emerywalker.org.uk, nearest choob Stamford Bridge on the District Line. If I'd not gone, I could have spent the afternoon sunbathing here on the lawn - it was that warm, unprecedentedly so for this late in the year.Originally posted by Serial_Apologist View Post
Tomorrow's walk is around Camberwell, in the morning. None of the folks on today's stroll will be on it, none of them apparently realising there to be such a place as south of the River.
Last edited by Serial_Apologist; 20-10-18, 17:28.Comment
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An interesting read for which thanks. I am pleased you enjoyed it. All I did was plant daffodil bulbs. There is a woman who is regularly on BBC Radio London - Jewish I think - who does many historical guided tours in London for people (not linked to the radio) and is worth considering as she is quite knowledgeable. The only problem is that I can't remember her name.Originally posted by Serial_Apologist View PostA stunningly beautiful day for a most interesting tour of Morris-associated locales around the bit of the Thames northern shoreline between Hammersmith Bridge and the Hogarth Roudabout, familiar to Vinteuil, ending up in Kelmscott House itself, which was rather disappointing from a visitor's pov because it seemed one only got to see the shop where they sell the trinkets (to be fair the Morris printing press of 1830, in full working order apparently, is on display, but not much more that is original) and a bit of the ground floor that's been turned into a lecture room which could have been anywhere. But the lady doing the tour, who bore a strong resemblance to Jenny Bond the BBC's royal correspondent (or was), was excellent with her presentation, even including Island Records' Chris Blackwell's residence/recording studio on her itinerary. Eric Gill, the sculptor who was originally part of the Morris entourage that moved out to Steyning to form an unconventional artists' commune, was mentioned, along with his now acknowledged ill-gained reputation, his having had sex with everyone, his own children included, and, er, everything - "field pursuits" I guess you could say. One of the daughters had written in her diary about the wonderful upbringing the Gill children had experienced in that household! All in it (not Chris Blackwell's house!) cost a tenner - minus a couple of squid for us old codgers - and we were all handed a handout at the end publicising Emery Walker's House, The Arts & Crafts Home, at 7 Hammersmith Terrace, which we'd seen from the outside. But you have to pre-book a visit online: emerywalker.org.uk, nearest choob Stamford Bridge on the District Line. If I'd not gone, I could have spent the afternoon sunbathing here on the lawn - it was that warm, unprecedentedly so for this late in the year.
Tomorrow's walk is around Camberwell, in the morning. None of the folks on today's stroll will be on it, none of them apparently realising there to be such a place as south of the River.
Oh hold on, Dianne Something-stein. Is it Feinstein?. I will see if I can find her website...…...erm, no that's an American politician - it is Diane Burstein:
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... the Emery Walker house is certainly worth a visit - it's quite small, which is why only a few people at a time can go round it. It's very 'complete', as a time-warp lived-in house, with all the Walker/Morris/Burne-Jones etc stuff there as it was when Walker lived there.Originally posted by Serial_Apologist View Post
I lived in the basement there for several months in the late 70s...
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Thanks vints. Now that you mention Emery Walker, he and No 7 Hammersmith Terrace were included in a TV documentary titled "William Morris - the Earthly Paradise" which I recorded on VHS, and still have in my possession. Extraordinary to have lived there!Originally posted by vinteuil View Post... the Emery Walker house is certainly worth a visit - it's quite small, which is why only a few people at a time can go round it. It's very 'complete', as a time-warp lived-in house, with all the Walker/Morris/Burne-Jones etc stuff there as it was when Walker lived there.
I lived in the basement there for several months in the late 70s...
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