Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey is founded upon a religious site of the 7th century. A monastery until 1539. Then an abbey and had the status of a cathedral until 1560. Although it is still referred to as an abbey, it currently has the status of a “Royal Peculiar” and is directly responsible to the monarch. It has been the place of royal coronation and burial since 1066.
Sited next to the Houses of Parliament ⇒, it is open to the public (for a fee – see the Abbey website ⇒ and history ⇒) but photography is not allowed inside.
The interior photographs that follow are taken from the Abbey website’s photo-gallery ⇒ that provides downloads for personal use.
Apsley House – The Wellington Museum
Apsley House (Wellington Museum) is one of the most ornate houses in London with a stunning collection of artwork. Unfortunately it is also one of the few places where photography is not allowed. Some photographs can be obtained from flickr or from the archives and are permitted for personal use. Their website is here ⇒. And the Wellington Collection is here ⇒ and fabulous house interiors here ⇒
Attributed to Elliot Brown on Flickr licensing at – Link ⇒
Attributed to Craig Morey on Flickr licensing at Link ⇒
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
Cartoon Museum, London
The Cartoon Museum is moderately priced and hosts exhibitions, events and workshops for both children and adults (see website ⇒ ) and is very close to the British Museum ⇐ which is free to enter. Cartoons and single frame caricatures have been an integral part of British life and included political, satirical, sarcastic, social commentary, humour and the downright bawdy. Earlier cartoons/caricatures, than those here, can be found at the Queens Gallery ⇒.
? but it is quite fascinating.
Although often irreverent, cartoonist could also be patriotic especially in times of war.
The infamous Andy Capp by Reg Smythe
And, a little social commentary from an unlikely source.
And, something to read.
And, learn how to draw cartoons.
Or the easy way, which made me hungry.
Vestry House Museum, Walthamstow And
To the left is the Vestry House Museum (website ⇒) and to the right is a quaint corner ⇒ and a church with some stained glass.
The vestry House Museum history and artifacts.
There are always accusations of corruption. Both true and manufactured.
Edwin Alliot Verdon-Roe built and flew the first British working aircraft. It crashed, but only a little bit. He went on to produce the Avro 504, the most used British aircraft of of WWI. Initially WWI was called the Great War, they didn’t know there would be another.
The more modern style of bicycle had a chain and gearing so that the big front wheel of the penny-farthing was no longer needed. Bicycle clubs became very popular.
And, a pleasant garden out the back.
And, then there is a history of poverty and how it was dealt with.
Slowly, slowly it gets better. The desire to help keeps on being born, unstoppable and defiant. More at Wheels on Fire ⇐ .
And~
The Boat Lift. Re-titled the the True Nature of Humanity by blogger Cindy Hope and worth knowing the truth it speaks.
And ~
And, be strong and be defiant and great each day new day as a gift.
Postal Museum, London
The Royal Mail was first introduced by Henry VIII in 1516 and then made available to the public in 1635. Later it became part of the General Post Office (GPO) which included the telephone system. The Royal Mail has been integral to Britain’s growth and maintenance since early times. More information (prices and location) can be found on it’s website ⇒.
Since early times the mail had to be protected from thieves and pirates.
It continued through two world wars, delivering to military personnel as well as civilians
The Royal Mail introduced innovations like the pneumatic delivery system, where a cylinder was sent by compressed air along a tube. The Royal Mail system had more than 40 miles of tubes beneath London. And ~.
Just across the road and down the hill a little is the the old Royal Mail’s underground system, where you can have a pre-booked ride (please see the website link above).
Down that hole
And return pre-packed ready to mail home. 🙂
Harry Potter, Kings Cross Station and Platform 9 and 3/4
Inside Kings Cross one might find Harry Potter’s famous Platform 9 and 3/4
By heading for Platform 9 …..
.. and finding the shop ….
….. and then the Platform
You will have your photograph taken but only pay for if you want to buy at the shop. You can have a friend take photographs without cost. But, on busy days there is a queue.
There are tours of London film locations like this one ⇒ and the Warner Bros Harry Potter Film Studios ⇒ at 20 miles north-west of London. You can also google for travel inclusive tours. Have fun but watch out for those shop prices.
Lloyd Park, Walthamstow and a Mystery Tune
Lloyd Park is right behind the William Morris Gallery ⇐ which has a some outstanding exhibits. Lloyd Park ⇒ has some pleasant lawns amongst trees and is surrounded by a very pretty moat. Further down there is a quite beautiful mystery tune but I have no idea who created it. First the moat.
At the far end is the Delice café and some more park with an art gallery (next time). Meantime more of the moat.
Add a little whimsy and the mystery tune.
This tune has been passed around for years but nobody knows who created it or where it came from. So, if anybody can identify it, I would be grateful. Meantime it is beautiful, calming and very suited to the pictures.
And, back to reality, perhaps. 🙂
William Morris Gallery, Walthamstow
William Morris (1834 to 1896) ⇒ was a writer, illustrator, textile/wallpaper designer, a social activist and founder of the Kelmscott Press. He had a considerable influence upon design during and after the Victorian period and was a close associate of Rossetti, Webb, Ruskin and Burne-Jones.
The gallery is free to enter and contains additional works by Burne-Jones. It is not a huge collection but there is a lot of educational material and some artifacts with a real wow factor. In addition the gallery provides an online collection, exhibitions (Mary Morris from October 2017 to January 2018), workshops and masterclasses. Please see the gallery website ⇒ . The easiest way to get to the gallery is at the bottom of this page.
More of William Morris can be found at the Red House ⇐ in Bexleheath (south-east of London) where he founded the decorative arts company, Morris, Marshal & Faulkner & Co which included wives and other family members.
The above wallpaper was for Queen Victoria and required 66 separate woodcuts (that’s how it was done) for each section.
The stained glass is by Edward Burne-Jones
For a closer look please right-click on the image, select “open in a new tab” and then left click in the tab/image to enlarge.
Ruskin advised aspiring artists to copy a work by Albert Dürer “until you can’t look at anything else”. William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones spent hours with the above Knight, Death and the Devil.
.
Bust of William Morris
The easiest way to get to the gallery is by traveling to Tottenham Hale Rail Station (or Blackhorse Road Staion) and then take the number 123 bus which stops right outside the gallery pictured below.
Behind the gallery is the gallery garden and further on is the very pretty Lloyd Park ⇐. Together with the free gallery it makes a very pleasant day out. 🙂
Victoriana at 18 Stafford Terrace and the Sambournes
Edward Lynley Sambourne and his wife (Marion) took residence of 18 Stafford Terrace in Kensington in 1874. The Sambourne family and descendants maintained the Victorian style and content. The house was taken over and maintained by the Victorian Society and then the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in 1989.
The website ⇒ is informative, interesting and shows much of Edward Lylynley Sambourne’s work as an illustrator. There are a variety of tours available and open house (when photography is allowed) on some afternoons. Hence the website is an essential read for those who wish to visit and may wish to note there are four flights of stairs without a lift.
The website is also used by Leighton House. An interesting place but photography is not allowed (2017).
For 40 years Edward Lynley Sambourne was notable contributor to the comedic and satirical magazine Punch ⇒ (its website includes a large gallery of cartoons). The house at 18 Stafford Terrace is full of drawings, artworks and some very fine stained glass. He also created the earliest draft drawings for the illustrated version of the Rev Charles Kingsley’s book the Water-Babies. More of Edward Lynley Sambourne’s work ⇒ as shown on Flickr.
The house and its atmosphere has been so carefully preserved that it is like walking back in time, although one can only enter the edge of each room. Enjoy ~ 🙂
. . and goodnight all. 🙂
The Charles Dickens Museum
Charles Dickens was more than a novelist, as can be seen at London’s Charles Dickens Museum ⇒.
The museum includes a large number of educational items together with some furniture and artifacts from Dickens life. Not far away is the Foundling Museum ⇐ which represents a charity supported by Dickens.
A little walk through some of the exhibits common to a Dickens day.
A chalice presented to Charles Dickens by the the Morning Chronicle
Whilst there is a fee to enter the museum, there is a pleasant indoor/outdoor café that is free to enter.
The Foundling Museum, London
The Foundling Museum includes history and artifacts of the Foundling Hospital. The creation of the hospital began as a campaign in 1720 by sea captain Thomas Coram to relieve the plight of abandoned children. Eventually, in 1739, a charter for a foundling hospital was granted by King George II. Over the years the charity was supported by notables such as Handel, Hogarth and Charles Dickens..
Statue of Thomas Coram
The museum holds a number of exhibitions and displays and it is well worth checking the website ⇒, the hospital history ⇒ and Coram’s Charity history ⇒.
King George II by John Shackleton
The hospital was based on well meaning intent and saved many young lives. Nevertheless, life could be harsh in a stern regime especially for boys, as told by the harrowing tale of Tom Mckenzie (The Last Foundling ⇒).
Girls Uniform
Although perhaps not all the time.
Foundling Girls in the Chapel by Sophia Anderson
The museum contains numerous works of art donated by the artists.
The March of the Guards to Finchley by Hogarth
Duke of Cambridge
Robert Gray
Hetty Feather
Hetty Feather was a temporary exhibition based around the heroin’s exploits at odds with the strictures of a foundling’s life. The stories have been in book and TV form.
The young patients at Great Ormond Street Hospital, inspired by the Hetty Feather stories and the lack of kindness that they expose, produced a number of art works telling of the kindness that they receive in more modern times. Some are on show at the Foundling Museum. This one caught my eye.
The Kindness Scale.
I have always believed and always observed that when children are treated with wisdom and shown kind example then they show us the the true nature of humanity. Another example that kind nature being here ⇐ and more of the past that made the present in Wheels on Fire ⇐.
Have a kind day.
Battersea Park And Children’s Zoo and Otters
“Clare? Clare?! Are you listening to me?” “I’m not talking to you, Richard!” – Contributed by blogger Dunelight
More beautiful otters below. First Battersea Park. The park is larger than it looks and provides a boating lake, children’s play areas, a plant shop, bicycle hire, cafeteria and children’s zoo. More ⇒.
Battersea Bridge on the Thames
Battersea Park Children’s Zoo
There is an entrance fee for the zoo. More information and a broad range of facilities for children can be found here ⇒. Below are a few fun photographs but there is a lot more to see.
The park has modern technology. Here is its e-mu.
Mara (Patagonian Cavy)
Meerkats
Young children can take a tunnel into the bubble and see the meerkats close up.
And, right next door are the otters.
Its feeding time and the otters wait by the magic door.
And, each have their own portion.
Time for a little lie down after all that walking about.
A Rare Opportunity to Photograph Inside London’s St Paul’s Cathedral
No longer available for 2017: There is a rare opportunity for visitors to photograph the interior of London’s St Paul’s Cathedral between 6:30 pm and 9 pm (last entry 8:15 pm) on the evenings of :-
- Thursday 27th July 2017
- Thursday 10th August 2017
- Thursday 17th August 2017
- Thursday 24th August 2017
- Friday 25th August 2017
- Monday 28th August 2017
- Thursday 31st August 2017
This is for hand-held non-commercial photography only and the upper galleries will be closed for the evening.
For those without cameras suitable for low-light conditions, the early evening may present the best opportunity.
For more information, ticket prices and booking in advance please click-on Summer Lates ⇒
—————————————————————
For a preview (photographs from 2015) and general admission, please click-on St Paul’s Cathedral ⇐ .
For permits and commercial photography/filming, please see here ⇒.
Enjoy.
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. 🙂
Ightham Mote Interiors
Well hello and welcome to Ightham Mote, a pleasant idyll in Kent. The interiors are presented as a walk through time including an extraordinary painting. Views of the exterior and beautiful gardens and more information about this medieval manor house can be found here ⇐. But first, a little walk through time (although not necessarily in the right order 🙂 ) ~
The above is a corner of the Billiard Room situated across the main courtyard. Back to the main building :-
A replica of Ellen Terry’s famous beetle-wing costume in which she played Lady Macbeth in 1888/89
Miss Elsie Palmer by John Singer Sargent 1890
Thank you for the visit and if you missed the exterior views then you can find them here ⇐ .
Ightham Mote
Ightham Mote (pron; I tham) is a well preserved medieval manor house that was built in the 14th century and is near to Sevenoaks in Kent. The approach is down into a wooded dell that is not at all dingily.
Their website ⇒ and the wiki history ⇒.
The manor house contains an interesting museum of artifacts from various eras (here ⇐ ) and is surrounded by very pleasant gardens and an extensive array of footpaths throughout the surrounding area. Ightham mote has never been inhabited by very ambitious people or involved in dramatic events. Its gentle past is perhaps responsible for its very peaceful atmosphere and has made it a pleasure to visit. 🙂
Across the bridge and into the courtyard.
One enters the house under the rose covered arch. Note the large dog kennel. There is a picture of its inhabitant later.
Outside is just the beginning of the gardens and rural walks. Turn around and there are the stables.
Inside the stables there are a few pictures including one of the dog who inhabited the courtyard kennel.
There is an extraordinary painting inside the house ⇐ and I hope that you enjoyed your visit.
Waddesdon Manor Interior
Thaïs, companion of Ptolemy, by Joshua Reynolds at Waddesdon Manor
20 pics. Waddesdon Manor is an extraordinary display of the Rothschilds wealth, the skill of the artisans who created it and the dedication of those who restored it.
The beautiful gardens and exterior are here ⇐ and for more information and visiting please see the website ⇒.
The manor is near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire. It was completed in 1898 as a sumptuous weekend residence for Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild and has passed through four generations of Rothschilds until 1958 when it was bequeathed to the National Trust.
The elephant is more silvery than gold but difficult lighting had an effect.
The Bachelor Apartments are part of the second floor
I don’t think the implements were an encouragement to bachelor mayhem.
So it’s goodnight from him.
And, what-ho from him.
I hope you enjoyed your visit and the beautiful gardens and exterior ⇐.
Waddesdon Manor and Gardens
Waddesdon Manor North Fountain
17 pics. Waddesdon Manor is near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire. The manor was completed in 1898 as a sumptuous weekend residence for Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild and has passed through four generations of Rothschilds until 1958 when it was bequeathed to the National Trust.
The extraordinary interiors are here ⇐ and for more information and visiting please see the website ⇒.
Above is the North Fountain where the estate shuttle stops. Turn around and there is the manor house.
Waddesdon Manor House
The sloping balustrades of the turret follow the line of the internal spiral staircase. For a closer look at an image; right-click on an image, choose “Open Link in New Tab” and then left-click on the opened image to magnify.
A view back along the drive from the south-west corner of the manor house. The grounds are a little short of flowers at this time of year (early May) but it is a quiet time to visit.
The house has an extensive wine cellar that is open to visitors. The two black towers on the right of the above picture are modern art made of wine bottles. I suppose the artist had to have something to drink whilst musing on the composition and then found inspiration in the empties 🙂 .
A view of the rear and the parterre garden.
A view of the parterre garden from a rear second story window.
From the south-west corner of the house there is path that leads to the aviary.
Rothschilds’ Mynah Bird – A critically endangered species from NW Bali.
I’m not always comfortable about caging animals but these are well kept and have an easy and extended life. Many of the birds are rare and colorful. Unfortunately most of the them were playing find the composer, otherwise known as Haydn Seek.
The grounds are extensive and a great place for a picnic.
The rose garden was not quite in bloom (early May).
So it’s goodbye from me.
And, it’s goodbye from ‘im. Biscuit, what biscuit ?. It twasn’t me guv.
I hope you enjoyed your visit and enjoy the remarkable interiors ⇐.
Canal Boat Cavalcade 2017 at Little Venice
There is a pool at the junction of the Regents Canal and Grand Union Canal that is now known as Little Venice. Every year there is a Festival and Cavalcade of canal boats. Some have traveled hundreds of miles using the vast network of canals that were once the lifeblood of Britain’s trade and industry.
There is a pleasant waterbus ⇐ between Camden Lock and Little Venice. At Little Venice there is a floating café and an enchanting puppet theatre ⇒ for all ages.
Canal boats became ornamental even as working boats.
A Small Sample of the Cavalcade
Some of the Characters
The ugly duckling.
“One likes to be a good sport, but if one more reveler refers to me as loofah neck I shall scream”.
Nunhead Cemetery
Nunhead is one of the “magnificent seven” privately owned cemeteries built during the 1800’s to accomodate the needs of a rapidly expanding London. The others are Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park ⇒, Kensal Green, West Norwood, Highgate, Abney Park and Brompton Cemetery.
Nunhead Cemetery is on quite a steep hill so there are bus route directions ⇒ to the top of the hill and include some other venues in the region.
To view the cemetery map, please click on and then again to magnify.
There are various routes with lots of ivy covered ancient gravestones but it was a sunny day so I kept to the cheerful.
Inside the old chapel there is some art work both modern and ancient. There are occasional exhibitions and tours. Please see the Friends of Nunhead Cemetery ⇒.
At the lower end exit/entrance of the cemetery turn left and then past the Waverly Arms are the bus stops. It is not far to One Tree Hill, the Oak of Honor and St Augustine’s ⇐, but it is up a steep hill so please see the directions ⇐ for a bus route. The same link shows a route to Peckham Rye Park.
Peckham Rye Park and Flowers
From stop V across the road from Peckham Rye rail station the numbers 63 and 363 buses travel south along the west side of Peckham Rye Park. About half way along the park’s length is the easiest way to it’s centre where all the trees are. The Café on The Rye is to the left by the car park, whilst straight on is :-
Peckham Rye Park Japanese Gardens
and :-
Sexby Gardens
If this is early April then summer must be amazing
and :-
Peckham Rye Park Lake
The lake is at the east side of the park and is a short distance to Nunhead Cemetery ⇒, but it is uphill so please see the directions ⇐ for a bus route.
St Augustine’s, One Tree Hill and the Oak of Honor
One Tree Hill is named after the Oak of Honor ⇒ and is a small nature reserve with St Augustine’s Church, the oak and a fine view across London.
The easiest way to get to One Tree hill and St Augustine’s is by the P12 bus from Honor Oak Park rail station to the top of the hill by road. There is a path on the opposite side of the road which passes the Maha Lakshmi Vidya Bhavan.
There is an alternative route via Peckham Rye Park and Nunhead Cemtery here ⇐.
The path leads first to :-
St Augustine’s Church
The church was built between 1870 and 1900 and has some fine architecture and stained glass. It is open in the afternoon during the summer months and is always open on a Saturday morning. More ⇒. Please check the website for services and events before you visit.
St Augustine ⇒ (354 AD to 430 AD) was an early Christian theologian and philosopher.
These walls aren’t really speckled. The effect is the consequence of an unusual mix of ambient light and a high ISO camera setting necessary for the dark alcove without flash. I thought it was a pleasing effect so I left it in.
One Tree Hill
On retracing one’s footsteps there is a set of steps leading to the top of the hill and the Oak of Honor.
If you think I’m climbing up there just to get a few photographs, then you must be ~
what ! no, stop that, get off.
Pesky elves. I wish they wouldn’t do that.
Oh well, since I’m here.
The Oak of Honor
This Oak of Honor ⇒ was planted in 1905 and is the third on that site. The original oak marked the southern boundary of a region known as the Norman Honor of Gloucester ⇒ which began its existence in 1166.
Legend has it that Queen Elizabeth I took rest under an oak on the hill when she went a-maying in 1602. Alternatively she had a picnic with Sir Richard Bulkeley on 1st of May. A-maying could have a variety of meanings including being quite frolicsome. 🙂
As an aside: The spelling of Honor, rather than the usual English spelling of Honour, derives from the antiquity of the place. Early English favored “or” rather than “our” for many words. These earlier spelling were transported to the Americas and remain in use. England seems to have developed and favoured the alternatives due to a continued influx of languages.
Near to the oak is a fine view across London from One Tree Hill’s southern position.
The oak and view are at position 1 on the map. To enlarge the map please click on and then gain to magnify.
The park proceeds down the far side of the hill to Brenchley Gardens where one can board the P12 bus again. The bus can be used to go back to Honor Oak Park rail station (traveling West and then back up the hill) or the other way to Nunhead Cemetery or Peckham Rye Park (later posts).
Thank you for visiting and I hope you enjoyed the tour.
Freed From Time 