About Picture this UK
Picture this UK (picturethisuk.org) Contains:- Best Places to Photograph in London, Best Places to Photograph near London, Best Places to Visit in London, Best Places to Visit near London, Best places to see in London and 100 + places to visit in London. Both inside and out.
Tower Bridge
British Museum
Please click on the ⇒Gallery⇐ for more
The Red House at Bexleyheath
21 pics. The Red House is in a continuous state of renovation and hence a little sparse inside. Nevertheless, it is intriguing, full of history and surrounded by gardens that are both beautiful and tranquil. The house was designed by Phillip Web for his friend William Morris. Both were very creative and have a long history of respect from their peers. There is a lot more of the history at the end of this post and here is the website ⇒ with entry fees.
Nearby is the sumptuous Danson House ⇐ and it is not very far to the more ancient Hall Place ⇐.
In Walthamstow (North London) there is the free William Morris Gallery ⇐ which is well worth a look.
Meanwhile :-
The Red House Croquet Lawn with the equipment for those who know how to play.
The murals are perhaps not as vibrant as they appear here, but this is what the camera saw and hasn’t been enhanced. I think it is perhaps because of the quite extraordinary light from the windows.
The history is readable by right-clicking on the image, select “Open in New Tab” from the pop-up menu and then left-click on the image to magnify. Return here by exiting the new tab.
Hollyhocks
Of course the last say ⇐ must be given to the flowers who reliably appear year after year.
Crossrail Place Roof Garden
Slightly to the east of central London there is the the high rise complex of Canary Wharf. Amongst the tall buildings there is the new roof garden of Cross Rail Place beside West India Quays station on the Docklands Light Railway. The garden is only a short distance from the Museum of London Docklands⇐ (not to be confused with the larger Museum of London ⇐).
The garden is quite new and doesn’t have a lot of colour yet but is a pleasant place for a short stroll or just quietly sit.
There are two piano’s for anybodies use.
A view of the rood garden on top of an area of shoperies and eateries as seen from West India Quays station. The building in the distance isn’t really leaning to one side, it’s just a peculiar perspective. 🙂
Mudchute London City Farm
Mudchute London City Farm ⇒. “Set in 32 acres of countryside in the heart of East London, the Mudchute is a community charity, with a working farm, stables, a children’s nursery and a wide range of education activities. We are open every day, free of charge”. There are also miniature ponies, goats, lamas, alpacas, donkeys, ducks, geese, sheep, a pets corner, a small aviary, a nature trail, a shop/café and a restored WWII ack-ack gun.
The area originally acquired its name from being a dumping ground for the mud/silt being dredged from the Millwall Docks during the 1800’s. History ⇒.
I started from the Pier Street entrance/exit and only had enough time to photograph some of it.
The farm is very child friendly. Whilst there I saw some little ones, with spades taller than themselves, cheerfully moving earth from one place to another.
The top of the fence is open but it keeps out the foxes and the farm’s cat who, of course, thinks he owns the place.
The farm is just a little south of the greatly regenerated London Docklands.
“Well hello, good evening and welcome”
Some breeds of ewes have horns. I think that these are a mix of Jacob sheep and White Face Woodland sheep.
At first they were very interested in visitors, but it didn’t last long. Loss of interest was quickly followed by a lot of very loud baaing. I finally realised that nibbles, bought from the shop, were expected .
“Nibbles ?”
“Baaaa. This one ain’t got no nibbles, Baaa”. “Baaa, you tell ‘im Agnes”. “Yeaaah baaa, can’t come around ‘ere with no nibbles, the cheek of it, baaa”.
“I’ve had my nibbles and I’ve got a rhythm stick”
Fearing the firing squad, I departed.
These are either llamas or alpacas. I’ll avoid the obvious joke of not wanting to stick my neck out on that.
“Just having lunch at the moment”.
“Oh yummy the gourmet table”.
“Carrot, what carrot !”.
From the other side of the farm looking south. There is an exit/entrance near here to Mudchute Docklands Light Railway (DLR) station.
I hope enjoyed your visit.
In East London there is also Hackney City Farm ⇒ and Spitalfields City Farm ⇒.
Spring 2017 with Squirrels and Flowers and Song
And here at the Squirrel Olympics in Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, Bobtail makes his final slalom run of the day. He’s going well and it looks like it’s going to be a record.
And the crowd are going wild. They’ve never seen anything like this and it’s absolute bedlam here.
The Crocuses are cussing
They’ve lost control and applauding like crazy.
And the stamens are out of their seats.
The Windflowers are all of a flutter.
The Poppy Anemones are popping
All the other Anemones are all anemoning
Will this madness never end.
And the umpire has had enough and run up a tree. 😀
The band is restoring some calm with some cool music and encouragement to go for a walk with a little swing in your step.
.. or spring.
More Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park ⇐ (with a fox).
More Brighten the Day Gallery⇐.
Museum of the Order of St John
The Order of St John (St John’s Ambulance Brigade) was founded in 1099 and is an international organisation. The museum is on St John’s Lane which is off Clerkenwell Road. That part which is frequently open, is not very big but packed with educational placards and video.
On a tour day there is additional access to upstairs rooms and artifacts, see the website ⇒. Further down this page there is a virtual tour of the upstairs rooms and a video about the Order of St Johns and St John’s Ambulance Brigade .
The short history is concise and well presented.
Please see the website ⇒ for tour days and use the contact details to determine if photography is allowed on tours.
There is no sound with the virtual tour.
Museum of London Docklands
14 pics. The Museum of London Docklands ⇒ is in the Docklands region (nearest rail being West India Quay on the Docklands Light Railway) and is all about the history of the Docklands as distinct from the more extensive history of London at the Museum of London ⇐ at 150 London Wall.
The Museum of London Docklands is full of historical information, is free to enter and non-commercial photography is allowed.
There is a lift that goes to the top floor, which is a good place to start. I do prefer stairs that go down.
The Sailors Walk
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More Exhibits
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In Commemoration of the Great Strike Sept 1889 ⇒.
Tobacco Weighing Station
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The First Bantamweight Lonsdale Belt
For a closer look of the history please click on the image and then again to enlarge.
Steel Consul Shelter
There is an extensive area covering the war years during which the docks were a prime target..
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Incendiary Attack by William Ware 1940
London Docklands Now
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For more of the Past That Made the Present there is Wheels on Fire ⇐, a timeline at the Science Museum ⇐ and the History of Navigation ⇐.
The Queen’s House Interior at Greenwich
The Great Hall Floor
14 pictures. The house has been refurbished and is free to visit. It can be found adjacent to the National Maritime Museum⇐ in Wonderful Greenwich ⇐. Check the Queen’s House opening times ⇒. Non-commercial photography is allowed now (since early 2016). .
The house, formerly known as Queen Anne’s house, was built between 1616 and 1635 for Queen Anne (of Denmark) wife of James I of England. Unfortunately Queen Anne died in 1619 and the house lay abandoned until work restarted in 1629 for Charles I’s consort, Henrietta Maria.
The Queens House is now full of artwork including works by William Hodges, George Stubbs, Hans Holbein, William Hogarth, Thomas Gainsborough, the Tulip Staircase by Inigo Jones and one of the famous Elizabeth I Armada portraits.
The architect was Inigo Jones and the style is said to have influenced the architecture of the USA White House.
The Architecture
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The Great Hall Ceiling
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The Tulip Spiral Staircase by Inigo Jones at the Queen’s House in Greenwich
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The Artwork
This is just a small sample.
One of the three famous Elizabeth I Armada portraits that still exist. This one cost £1.5 million. There is another at Woburn Abbey and another at the National Portrait Gallery ⇐ (although I did not include the Armada Portrait) .
The Armada Portraits depict the destruction of the Spanish Armada whilst attempting to invade England. The armada was destroyed mostly by the British weather. Like many portraits of Elizabeth there are several symbols included. For instance the pearls indicate purity, the bow indicates virginity and her right hand over the America’s indicate her advancing dominion and colonisation.
Other portraits of Elizabeth I can be found at Hatfield House ⇐ and show an even more advanced use of symbolism.
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The Thames and Greenwich Hospital by Moonlight by Henry Pether
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Sir Walter Raleigh
Sir Walt founded the state of Virginia in the Americas (after Elizabeth I the virgin Queen) and brought potatoes and tobacco to Europe.
This is why the Beatles sang in “I’m so Tired”, in reference to tobacco, ” And curse Sir Walter Raleigh, he was such a stupid git”.
He secretly married a Gentlewoman of the Queen’s Privy Chamber (Elizabeth “Bess” Throckmorton) which resulted in he and his wife being imprisoned for several months. Years later, he was executed for refusing to accept James I as Queen Elizabeth’s successor.
A Ships Figurehead
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The Young Queen Victoria
Thanks for your visit and I hope that you found that interesting.
As an added note, the house does have a reputation for being haunted ⇐. To confess, it was probably me having a sick day. To be more serious, I found it a very calm place and caused no concern at all. Even the people, who took the photograph that started the rumour, refused to believe it was ghostly.
Canterbury Cathedral
17 Pics. Canterbury Cathedral ⇒ was founded in 597 by Augustine and enlarged during the 11th and 12th centuries. The cathedral became notable when archbishop Thomas Becket ⇒ was murdered there by followers of Henry II. Becket was later cannonised as a martyr and Canterbury became a place of pilgrimage.
Canterbury became yet more famous when Chaucer wrote The Canterbury Tales ⇒ in 1386.
The cathedral is not so greatly ornate as St Paul’s Cathedral ⇐ but it is an extraordinary sight. There is a charge for entry so please see the website ⇒.
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The gate to the cathedral precincts.
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Cathedral Entrance
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The entrance leads into the Nave and one is struck by the huge size and antiquity of the cathedral. The ability to construct on this scale without the assistance of modern technology is awe inspiring.
Looking back from the far end of the Nave.
Continuing further there is the entrance to the Quire and Trinity Chapel.
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Some of the stained glass along the way.
The Quire and Trinity Chapel.
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The tomb of Archbishop Chichelle. There are many tombs in the cathedral including Henry IV and Edward the Black Prince. Archbishop Chicelle is the most ornate. Thomas Becket was buried beneath Trinity Chapel but his bones were destroyed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the reign of Henry VIII .
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It seems that graffiti is nothing new, although it is always worth taking a close look in old churches and buildings for Witch Marks ⇒, which are not quite as they sound.
AND don’t miss out on the Cloisters with their extraordinary ceilings (I did). They are at the back of the cathedral. Here are some Google pictures ⇒ .
Thanks for visiting Freed From Time and there are a lot venues at About Canterbury ⇐.
Crossness Pumping Station
18 pics. The Crossness Pumping Station ⇒ , just east of London, together with 82 miles of brick intercepting sewers, 450 miles of main sewers and 13,000 miles of local sewers were connected and officially opened in 1865. Visiting ⇒ sometimes steaming but not always open so please check the link.
This was to solve :-
The Great Stink
At that time they believed that a miasma (odour) was the cause of diseases, such as cholera which killed thousands. Indeed a city could not grow or prosper without solving the problem. The solution, of a well designed sewage system, was a major part of resolving the actual cause of such diseases, infected water.
Another important contribution was a clean water supply system. An example of this and the great engines can be found at the London Water and Steam Museum ⇐.
The London sewage system was designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette who also designed many other Victorian London buildings and mustaches. 🙂
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The pumping station continued in use until the 1950’s, abandoned until 2003 when one of the four engines and most of the ornate ironwork were restored.
Visitors get hard hats.
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Each engine was of the triple expansion type where; a high pressure steam cylinder (the lower here) received high pressure steam (lots of pounds per square inch) over a small number of square inches, an intermediate pressure cylinder received lower pressure exhaust from the high pressure cylinder over more square inches and the intermediate cylinder exhaust was passed to the largest low pressure cylinder. An efficient way to use all of the pressure provided by a boiler.
The high pressure cylinder in the basement.
The intermediate and low pressure cylinders on the ground floor.
A chap with a proper hat is always reassuring. 🙂
One of the main beams (the refurbished one) on the first floor.
And, from underneath. The shaft on the left operates one of the pumps and the one on the right leads to :-
.. the crank and wheel which simply maintain a steady impetus.
The governor (or regulator) is attached to the engine so that it spins. The faster it spins the more the weights are forced outward by centrifugal force. As the weights are forced outward they depress the central plunger which reduces the flow of steam and slows the engine achieving a regulated speed.
And, outside on a wet day..
I hope you enjoyed your visit.
Tower Bridge
North Approach to Tower Bridge
London’s Tower Bridge ⇒ was built and ready for use by 1894. The centre section still opens to allow tall vessels to pass. The bridge lift schedule ⇒.
A little history:-
1912 – during an emergency, Frank McClean had to fly between the bascules (lifting sections) and the high-level walkways in his Short biplane, to avoid an accident.
1952 – a London bus driven by Albert Gunter had to leap from one bascule to the other when the bridge began to rise with the number 78 bus still on it. – Harry Potter would have been proud.
The bridge is next to The Tower of London ⇐ and both are very close to Tower Hill Underground rail station.
Entrance to the bridge interior is from the either the north or south tower. Entrance from the north tower is easier because it means that one goes down the only section of stairs. I do prefer stairs that go downward. 🙂
Do keep your ticket for later entrance to the old engine rooms.
At the base of the north tower there is a lift which leads to a small exhibition/film area.
Then to the two walkways. Each walkway has a section of glass floor..
One small step for man.
One giant leap ~ these boots need a clean.
Younger feet seemed to have less apprehension doing this. Perhaps because when I was young glass was more fragile.
View to the East and Canary Wharf
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View to the West including HMS Belfast ⇒
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At the top of the South Tower and then down the stairs to the next lift.
Then out of the South Tower.
. . and follow the blue line on the pavement to the old engine rooms.
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Coal fired steam was used to drive an hydraulic pressure pump.
Accumulators
Pressure in the system was accumulated under weights.
These are the engines which pumped water under the accumulators.
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When there was sufficient accumulated water pressure it was used to power the bascules (central raising section) drive engines. Since 1974 an electrical driven hydraulic system has been used. Tours ⇒ of the less accessible interior are available.
Now on the South Bank there is access to HMS Belfast, a number of eateries and the extensive South Bank attractions ⇐ .
Greenwich Royal Observatory
The Greenwich Royal Observatory includes Flamsteed House and the Harrison Timekeepers ⇐. In the midst is a small garden with this very impressive Dolphin Sun Dial.
The sun-dial is self-adjusting. As the height of the sun changes with the time of the year, the shadow position changes its height and so indicates a corrected time..
The Greenwich Royal Observatory and Flamsteed House.
Inside the onion dome is the largest refracting telescope in the UK. First used in 1893, it remains one of the largest refracting telescopes ever built. Entry is free except the night sky observation evening. For more and to find out about night sky observation evenings please click here ⇒ .
The Planetarium ⇒for which there is a charge.
The Astronomy Center ⇒ is mostly educational and is free to enter.
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Astrolabes and Armillary Spheres were used to predict/exhibit planet and moon positions..
Visitors to the Astronomy Center can touch part of the Gibeon Meteorite ⇒. At 4.5 billion years old it is the oldest thing that a mere earthling might touch.
An early spectroscope. Spectroscopy ⇒.
Outside the Meridian Courtyard ⇐ is a 24 hour electric clock. The use of roman numerals means that it is actually indicates 2 pm.
And, there is a lot more to see and do at Wonderful Greenwich⇐.
Flamsteed House, The Greenwich Meridian and The Harrison Timekeepers
Statue of General Wolfe, the Great Equatorial Telescope, Flamsteed House and the Time Ball at Maritime Greenwich
All about Wonderful Greenwich and its many attractions is here ⇐.
One of the and most significant and greatest endeavours of human history has been the pursuit of navigational method at sea. It required the accurate measurement of astronomical observations and the development of a marine chronometer. The later being particularly difficult.
The Meridian Courtyard
The Meridian Courtyard is just in front of Flamsteed House, with the The Time Ball ⇒ on top. Here you can stand on the worlds east/west divide at 0 degrees longitude. Admission to Royal Observatory, Flamsteed House and the Meridian Courtyard is here ⇒.
However you can stand on the meridian for free where the red meridian line crosses an intersection in the paths in the park on the tourist map here ⇒.
The Meridian Line
There is usually a queue to stand astride the Meridian Line. This where the journey to east or west begins.
Inside Flamsteed House
Initially ones position, to the east or west of a starting point, could only be determined by dead-reckoning. That is, by measuring the distance traveled. At sea that meant measuring ones speed through the water. It was done by throwing a log overboard attached to a rope. The rope had knots at fixed intervals and the number of knots that were drawn out were counted for a fixed period of time using a sand glass. It was contrived so that one Knot was equal to one nautical mile per hour. A term that is still used today.
The dead reckoning method was woefully inadequate for long distances, no use for creating accurate charts and led to many disasters.
A better method required an accurate seagoing timekeeper. Such a timekeeper could be set to keep the time at a meridian. Greenwich was adopted and the time as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Wherever the ship was it would have the time at Greenwich. Therefore if at local noon the GMT timekeeper showed one o’clock the ship must be 1/24 of the way around the world. If the clock showed two o’clock then the ship must be 2/24 around the world etc and with every second that passed a smaller division. A fuller explanation and an extensive history of navigation can be found here ⇐.
After many years of effort John Harrison created the first maritime chronometer that would keep accurate time even on board a rolling ship.
Harrison Timekeeper H1
The project began with H1 which was not accurate enough.
Harrison Timekeeper H2
Neither was H2.
Harrison Timekeeper H3
Neither was H3.
Harrison Timekeeper H4
In 1759, after near 30 years of effort, Harrison created H4. This device had the advantage of advances in metallurgy, temperature compensation and the important realisation that a smaller/faster movement would be less effected by a ships movement.
There are more Antique Timepieces at the London Science Museum⇐.
And then:-
Marine Chronometer
Mechanical Marine Chronometers can be as accurate as 5 secs gain or loss in fifteen days.
Electric Clock
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Early Quartz Clock
The first quartz clock was created in 1927 and worked by counting the electrically induced vibration of a piece of quartz. By 1969 a miniature version could be worn on ones wrist. Quartz chronometers can be as accurate as 0.7 seconds gain of or loss in 15 days.
Atomic Clock
A cesium (atomic) clock operates by exposing cesium atoms to microwaves until they vibrate at one of their resonant frequencies. They are accurate to within one second in 1,400,000 years.
The next generation of atomic clocks will keep time to one second in 15 billion years. At last the perfect boiled egg.
Back to some of the artifacts in Flamsteed House.
Freedom casket (contains the Freedom of London Scroll) presented to Sir George Biddell Airy (1801-92) Astronomer Royal, by the City of London in 1875
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A Wooden Telescope
If you would like to know more about the development of navigation and its importance to our evolution it is here ⇐.
And, thank you for visiting Freed From Time (which isn’t as much of an anomaly as it sounds, probably 🙂 ).
Farmopolis
Farmopolis ⇒ is an ambitious project very near to the O2 arena on the Greenwich Peninsula. At present only a very small part has been built and is still a work in progress. It consists of a small café/restaurant with some indoor and outdoor seating and surrounded by plants rescued from the Chelsea Flower Show. These plantings should be complete by the end of August 2016.
Like many such venues I found the food and drink rather pricey and pretentious, but there are plenty of places nearby where a picnic can be enjoyed. There are events ⇒ at the site and the flowers are worth seeing.
Below is a view from the United Emirates Cable Car ⇐.
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St Dunstans in the East
Along Great Tower Street, west of the Tower of London ⇐, past All Hallows by the Tower (AD 675)⇐, there is St Dunstans Hill and the church garden. The church was Originally built around 1100 AD, destroyed by the Great Fire of London (AD 1666) ⇒, rebuilt and then severely damaged during WWII. The garden is now a quiet oasis in a busy part of London.
More ⇒ and more (wiki) ⇒.
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Victoria and Albert Museum of Childhood: Ancient and Modern and Clangers
22 pics. These Chinese Rock Gardens were gifts from the Chia Ch’ing Emperor of China (1796-1820) to the French Empress Josephine, wife of Napoleon Bonaparte. It is said that the ship carrying these gifts was captured by an English warship. The English offer to return the rock gardens to the French, after the 1802 Treaty of Amiens, was declined.
It is recorded that gardens arrived at the East India Company’s Museum in 1809 and passed to the South Kensington Museum (now the Victoria and Albert Museum) in 1880 and now displayed at the V & A Museum of Childhood.
They are in remarkably good condition and worth looking at the detail (click on the image and then again to magnify).
For more about the Museum and pictures of the more vintage toys, dolls houses and other items, please click here ⇐. For their website, events and services please click here ⇒.
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Dolls and Soft Toys
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Paddington Bear
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The Snowman, Dogtanian, Sooty, Sweep and Soo
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Bagpus
And, the singing mice.
The mice liked to sing so much that they would not work otherwise, not nohow.
They also like to play tricks on Professor Yaffle.
Professor Yaffle
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The Pogles
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AND THE :-.
The Clangers live on their own small planet, communicate in mellifluous whistles and eat blue string pudding.
Soup Dragon, Clangers and Froglets
They also like soup from the soup wells tended by the friendly Soup Dragon.
Small Clanger and Tiny Clanger
There are many characters in the Clangers, these are just a few.
A fuller understanding of British consanguineous eccentricity (i.e. as mad as knitting fog) might be obtained from taking a look at Bagpus, Clangers, Portland Bill, Dangermouse, Magic Roundabout (original version) and Shaun the Sheep (especially) on YouTube .
So, it’s goodnight from him,
..and it’s goodnight from ‘im.
Victoria and Albert Museum of Childhood – Vintage toys
24 pics. The V & A Toy Museum is in Bethnal Green just a little north of Bethnal Green Underground station on Cambridge Heath Road. There are numerous events and workshops for children including schools groups. It is worth seeing their website ⇒.
The museum is free to enter and photography is allowed but difficult due the lighting and reflections from the glass cases. Nevertheless it is worth a visit, especially since their stock keeps being replenished from a large archive.
There is a second post with Chinese Rock Gardens, more toys and favourites from television here ⇐. 🙂
The V & A Museum of design in South Kensington is even larger and can be found here ⇐.
Dolls Houses
This just a sample.
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Toy Cooker and Tea Sets
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Toy Theatres
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Mechanical Puppet
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Johnny the Dunce is an early clockwork toy (circa 1850) with music and a swinging leg.
Vintage Models
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Steam Locomotives
The first two of these models have small spirit burners underneath which raise steam and result in locomotion. A good way to set your carpet on fire.
There are more model steam engines/locomotives here ⇐.
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Rocking Horse
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Teddy Bears
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Painting
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“We used to make our own amusement in the old days”.
Bacon Street Art and Charlie Burns and More
Not far over the foot bridge from Fleet Street Hill/Pedley Street art⇐ there is Bacon Street and a picture of Charlie Burns who led an extraordinary life. A life which included a private audience with the Pope who gave him a medal for charitable work. Well known on Bacon Street and the surrounding area, his fascinating story can be found here⇒.
More on Bacon Street
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On Sclater Street.
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On Chance Street
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On Redchurh Street
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That is the last of street-art for a while. Next, something smaller.
Street Art Beyond Pedley Street and Allen Gardens
Starting from Brick Lane (east London), famous for a wealth of spicy foods, Pedley Street alley art⇐ leads to Allen Gardens and is not far from Spitalfields City Farm⇒. (closed on Mondays).
Allen Gardens
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The Nomadic Community Gardena and Cafe.
Turning back from Allen Gardens and through the underpass there is the Nomadic Community Gardens and Cafe (also closed on Mondays the day I went) .
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At the end of the gardens turn left into Fleet St Hill.
Fleet St Hill.
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At the end of this short road is a footbridge and what lies beyond is Cheshunt St ( turn left) then turn first right onto Kerbala St which leads to Bacon St and Charlie Burns and More⇐.
Brick Lane Street Art and Tolerance
18 pics. There is a lot of street art in the area of Brick Lane (east London). The picture above, by Stik on Princelet St, may not seem very remarkable but it shows an essential truth of this part of London. The picture is self explanatory, its significance is that it is well known and has remained intact for more than three years. And, more street-art:-
Street Art Beyond Pedley Street and Allen Gardens⇐
Bacon Street Art and Charlie Burns and More⇐
Also on Princelet St:-
On Hanbury St off Brick Lane.
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On Brick Lane.
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The Pedley St alleyway that Leads from Brick Lane to Allen Park.
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Behind me there is Allen Gardens with more street art and to the right there is more of the Pedley St alleyway with street art and the Nomadic Community Gardens, all in the next post⇐. A little further behind me is the Spitalfields City Farm⇒ which is closed on Mondays.
Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, Fox and Flowers
Tower Hamlets Cemetery was opened in 1841 and its last use was in 1966. It is now a lightly managed woodland, a nature reserve and has an ecology center. It is the only woodland for miles and comes complete with many cheeping birds, squirrels and the occasional fox. About Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park ⇒.
The park is located just south of Mile End underground station (on exiting the station turn right then second right onto Southern Grove and the park gates further down on the left).
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The above are artificial (fooled me).
These are just outside the southern railings.
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More from Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park in spring with squirrels ⇐.
Flower Festival at Leeds Castle
During the Flower Festival the castle was festooned, here are just a few. And there is more to see at Leeds Castle Interiors and Leeds Castle Grounds. 🙂
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Leeds Castle Interiors
A castle has been on this site, in Kent, since 1119 and has been used by a number of royalty including Edward I and Henry VIII. The castle was purchased by Lady Baillie in 1926 and was used for a number of worthy purposes including a hospital for airmen during WWII.
In 1974 it was left to the Leeds Castle Foundation to be preserved for the benefit of the public. The history (Wiki) is here, castle/events website here, grounds/moat/lake/gardens here, falconry display here and the flower festival is here.
The name “Leeds” seems to have the original meaning of loud or rushing water. Hence there is a Leeds village nearby and another Leeds in the north of England.
This fellow is carrying a pole axe which was used to penetrate armour, quite often the opponent’s helmet. Hence the expression, being pole-axed.
I’m sure you could play a board game on that.
Henry VIII and it looks like he left his tankard behind.
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I’m not sure whether this is a charming guardian or a psychopath in a skirt. I suppose the defining question is; would I want him at the top of my stairs on dark night ?
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And, Richard II. We all know what happened to him.
Thanks for the visit and ~
Leeds Castle Grounds
20 pics. Leeds Castle in Kent that is. The long lake beside the castle and the path that passes the formal gardens and leads to the playground, maze, falconry display and a cheeky Jackdaw. Castle interiors here. See the castle website and tickets are valid for a year of repeat visits, yay. In the meantime enjoy ~.
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This is “Elsie” the land train from ticket office to the castle entrance (50 pence each). The walk is about 10-15 minutes and passes through some pleasant gardens.
Approaching the castle.
The time of my visit coincided with a flower festival. More of that in another post.
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There is a cafe and restaurant and a small dog-collar museum.
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Past the cafe and restaurant are the gardens.
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And, the tiered gardens beside the long lake and a view of the playground fort.
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“This year I will be mostly wearing my nose in the air”. | “She will too, she’s such a boy. I’ve got a long skirt you know”
There is a maze (keep turning left) with a turret at the center. Beneath the turret is a grotto complete with sounds of the sea, a doom laden voice reciting doom laden poetry and a tunnel to the way out. 🙂
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“And what are you laughing at. Just because I’ve got a comical looking face. I’ll have you know that I’m part of the entertainment”. “They don’t give these umbrellas to just anybody”.
“From me, Jack Daw, and all the other birdies, we hope you enjoyed your visit and do come again”. 🙂
Freed From Time 