I was passing on the A1 and having never visited Belton before, I decided to have a quick look around before the winter light went. It’s a wonderful building of an unusual period with a big deerpark setting. Lots to think about. I will visit again when I have more time.
but only a gentle one.
Bridge Street, Cockermouth, yesterday. The rendered walls reflect the traditional construction of the area.
A moment of quiet
Last week, I was on the roof of the old Woolworth building opposite Accrington Market Hall. Here are rarely seen perspectives of the Hall’s three main sculptures. They were carved by Joseph Rogerson who subsequently became a prominent Liverpool sculptor. Continue reading “Sculptures on Accrington Market Hall”
St. Peter’s Anglican Church is one of my favourite buildings of Hyndburn. It is powerful structure that sits on a hill overlooking Accrington. It was designed in 1886-9 by Henry Ross, an Accrington architect of considerable ability, whose work I increasingly appreciate. I took these photos this morning.
Travelling back from the Lakes, it was time for my annual pilgrimage to Mackay Hugh Baillie-Scott’s Lancashire masterpiece, Blackwell near Bowness, Windermere – a truly wonderful house. Below are some of my happy snaps taken on the phone (please forgive the quality).
If you’ve never been before, Blackwell is well worth a visit… the house excels as a beautifully kept ‘walk-in art exhibit’. It is a fantasy house every bit as much as, say, Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s House for an Art Lover. I am trying to learn some of the lessons of the excellent crisp presentation at Blackwell, for when I advise my colleagues on the care of Walter Brierley’s house, Hollins Hill, a.k.a. The Haworth, Accrington.
Continue reading “Blackwell – The Arts & Crafts House”
This summer I have been visiting Hampstead Garden Suburb, in north London on a series of day trips. Hampstead was a pioneering garden suburb designed by Raymond Unwin, Barry Parker and Edwin Lutyens with many other Arts & Crafts Movement architects contributing buildings. Mervyn Miller’s book on the suburb has been indispensable!
I love this suburb and enjoy deciphering the nuances of design that Parker and Unwin pioneered and liked to use. Unlike their other estates, Hampstead’s buildings were designed by a wide range of Arts & Crafts architects, so there is a lot for the architectural historian as well as the town planner to see.
Continue reading “Hampstead Garden Suburb”
