Category: Architecture

Double-chamfered

This spectacular monument, in Pevsner’s opinion but I concur, is in the south aisle of St Mary Magdalene in Great Offley, Hertfordshire.

Més que un chess club

If you know a finer clubhouse for chess aficionados, tell me. This is the Nuovo Circolo Degli Scacchi in Rome. It’s almost worth playing chess to belong but I can pop in as a reciprocal member and have done so.

Irish Church Monuments

You may recall Homan Potterton’s first novel, Knockfane, published last year. This is his first book, published in 1975 when he was a young Assistant Keeper at the National Gallery in London.

Var-Siklod

Curious how houses often take centre stage in novels: Blandings, Brideshead, Howards End, Lorienburg, Manderley, White Ladies. I hope I can add Var-Siklod to the list.

Trieste

The very name, Trieste, is redolent of sadness: I’m thinking of Françoise Sagan’s novel. I went for a Ryanair weekend in 2008 and, to avoid repetition, you can read about it in a post misleadingly titled Tahiti .

A Russian Ramble

Let’s go for a virtual walk round St Petersburg.  Jean-François Thomas de Thomon is a French neo-classical architect who designed the Stock Exchange in St Petersburg. Come over to Alexander Park and look at this fine bronze group, The Architects, installed in 2011. Do you recognise Thomas de Thomon? No you don’t because the sculptor… Continue reading A Russian Ramble

Farewell Richmond Park

Bertie is thirteen months old today. Yesterday I took him for a glorious walk round the perimeter of Richmond Park and his behaviour was exemplary until we were almost back at the car.

Rear Window

The story so far. Property developer, Dominvs Group, bought the old Magistrates’ Court on the Talgarth Road. They paid £50 million – nice money, if you have it. The site is between the Ark building to the west and a BP filling station to the east. On the south boundary are the Piccadilly and District… Continue reading Rear Window