It's been a while since I did one of these walking posts. Unlike previous ones, this is a bit of a mash up of 3 or 4 recent walks. Shortish ones lasting from half an hour to two hours. They include some signs of Spring in Richmond Park and its environs, and a couple of lunchtime urban walks in the week.
These first ones are from late Feb
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| The seat of the Margrave von Nundanket. Actually White Lodge, which houses the Royal Ballet School, also in Richmond Park |
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| The Margravina admiring the flora. She did tell me what they all were, but I forgot. |
The next batch is from c 11 March |
| Bench in memory of Lord and Lady Rix. Brian Rix will be known to lovers of farces (and no that's not a reference to recent governments). The Isabella Plantation, Richmond Park |
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| Layers of trees creating a sense of great depth. Also in the Isabella Plantation. |
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| Same location |
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| I can't think why they're telling the bluebells to keep off. |
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| Near Pembroke Lodge, Richmond Park. |
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| Fairytale style cottage in the grounds of Pembroke Lodge. |
Finally photos from a couple of lunchtime walks. I was able to do this owing to a relocation of work base.
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| View north across the Thames by the railway bridge leading to Victoria Station |
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| Ditto, but close-up |
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| Chelsea Bridge from the south bank. Technically I should say from the right bank |
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| The Peace Pagoda in Battersea Park |
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| Attempt to be arty. |
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| The Grosvenor Canal (Left bank of the Thames). I had never heard of it until today. Now less than 200yards long. Even at its longest it only went as far as the site of Victoria Station (c.1/2 mile) |
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| New development on the site of Chelsea Barracks. it looks like only about 1/3 of the total site has been built on so far. |
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| Building named in honour of Margaret Thatcher at the Royal Hospital Chelsea. The RHC is the home of the Chelsea Pensioners. The Parisian equivalent is now a museum - L'Hotel des Invalides. |
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| What looks like the main building at the hospital. |
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| Sports fields belonging to the RHC. Walking football? |
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| This was a surprise. Challenger in urban style camo - I believe pioneered by the RTR Berlin garrison in the 1980s on their Chieftains. |
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| NAM. Probably just a bit too far in a lunch hour. I'd maybe get 20 minutes inside. |
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| Classic Art Deco mansion block? Royal Hospital Road |
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| "Nothing to declare but my genius" in Tite St. |
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| This caught my eye on Dilke St, at the back of a mansion block on Chelsea Embankment. Looks like houses wrecked in the Blitz, but I suspect its more recent damage. A redevelopment? |
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| Dilke St |
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| The Peace Pagoda, this time from across the river. Taken between passing vehicles on Chelsea Embankment |
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| Looking downriver from the left bank to the right bank. The chimneys of Battersea Pier Station on the right. Towers in Nine Elms to the left, close to the new US Embassy. With the MI6 building just a bit further downstream, this is a target rich environment for the Bad Guys on speed boats armed with RPGs! |
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| The Royal Hospital Chelsea seen from the south (Chelsea Embankment) |
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| Old Father Thames. Looking up stream from Chelsea Bridge. |
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| Same view, but zoomed in to see the Albert Bridge |
Lots to explore in that area. Maybe next time I'll take my passport as I venture over to Pimlico.
Excellent. Brian Rix... that's a blast from the past.
ReplyDeleteMy comment at the time confused my wife. “Oh no! It’s the vicar!”
DeleteChris
Some great photos there Chris.
ReplyDeleteLooks like the new workplace has some interesting walks around it which is always nice. Getting out of the office is always the highlight of my day when I am there š
What is the tower for that has the worried face at the top? The eleventh photo I think.
š I never noticed that before, but now I cannot not see it.
DeleteI thought it was a half-hearted attempt to copy Grimsby Dock Tower.
Chris
Really enjoyed your photos, loads of interest in them. I was intrigued by the bluebells notice greatly and the urban camouflage, which was new to me. Really making me want to have a wee trip to London soon. I enjoy just wandering about and looking.
ReplyDeleteAlan Tradgardland
You have done very nice views on your walkabout posts. London is just so big and packed with interesting nooks and crannies.
DeleteChris
A great travelogue there Chris - I recognise the name Brian Rix but will have to Google him to remind myself why! I remember visiting the NAM circa 2002 with my ex brother in law, then a Petty Officer of some kind doing secret hush hush stuff at the US embassy and living with my sister out at RAF High Wycombe - certainly recognised the red brick buildings of the surrounding streets - looks like you are working in a pretty good area!
ReplyDeleteI bet he had some interesting stories that he couldn’t tell you!
DeleteI’m certainly lucky in the location.
Chris
Some great photos there Chris and lots of them remind me of my time in London, as I used to drive/ride past Chelsea Barracks etc. I went through Pimlico once, sans passport, and it seemed to be a lost part of London that was rarely visited, due to the main roads by passing it all the time. Ditto some squares off Lambeth Walk that were little time capsules in the 1980's.
ReplyDeleteI’m intrigued more about Pimlico now. Definitely the next lunchtime destination. And I’ll also have to do the Lambeth Walk. OĆ!
DeleteChris
Loving the piccies but two points of note. A lot of the London shots have any hardly any people in them, howdya manage that? The statue of the old guy in the Tricorn hat appears to have been undercoated in black. Are you intending to spend your lunch hours blocking in the main colours and finishing him off with some army painter strong tone?
ReplyDeleteš I don’t think my skills are up to doing anything bigger than 10mm.
DeleteI guess there’s not many people around because half the residents are sanctioned because of the invasion of Ukraine.
Chris
Mark, that is a hilarious observation on the black undercoating! The statue could use a bit of color.
DeleteThanks for taking us along on your walk-about, Chris. Very enjoyable seeing the area in which you work.
You’re welcome Jon.
DeleteYou can always rely on JBM’s amusing slant on things!
Chris
Some great photos there!
ReplyDeleteThanks Peter.
DeleteNice part of town and great photos, I went to the NAM recently and didn't notice the tank at all, the urban camo must work really well!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
It’s all those straight lines and tight angles. What you expect to see in town š
DeleteThat should be ‘right angles’ š
DeleteChris