St Michael's Abbey, Farnborough

A hidden and little known gem in Farnborough on the Surrey-Hampshire border.              

St Michael’s Abbey and the adjoining monastery of St Michael has a surprising history being the final resting place of Napoleon 111, his wife Empress Eugenie and their only son, the Prince Imperial, Louis.

Having been exiled Napoleon chose to live in England and upon his death and that of his son the Empress Eugenie moved to Farnborough and decided to build an Imperial Mausoleum to house their remains. The resulting magnificent French Neo-Gothic and Romanesque style building is outstanding.

Next to the mausoleum the monastery of St Michael was built to accommodate a religious order to pray for the souls of those in the crypt – Napoleon, his wife and son; and to share the Christian Faith. The monastery continues as a small Benedictine community, home of the Catholic National Library and operates a commercial bookbindery. 

Aldershot

A cold, wet, grey day in Aldershot – miserable, no good for taking photographs but OK for shopping? The place is unappreciated but the town does has a few good buildings and some interesting architectural details if you stop to look around.

The town centre has no historic buildings having only developed when the army set up camp there in the 1850’s (the older part of Aldershot lies to the East), said to be one of only a few towns to just have shops along one side of its High Street.

One of the best buildings in my view is the ex Ritz/ABC cinema (now Bingo) it’s very much in the 1930’s style, Historic England don’t think it is worth listing (I have asked them) and it's not even locally listed so could well be lost to redevelopment.

  

Chichester & Bognor Regis

It was a nice sunny day for a ‘PhotoWalk’ in Chichester last year, with lots of interesting buildings and details to see and photograph. I think that Chichester, Winchester and Guildford are as good as each other but I, of course, prefer Guildford.

The centre was quite busy with shoppers but peaceful in the Cathedral (pleased that they do not charge for entry as a lot of other cathedrals do). Some good stained glass especially an excellent set of windows in the Lady Chapel by Clayton & Bell, there is a large window (1877) in the South Transept by Marechal of Metz with stunning coloured glass and flying serpents !

Then onward to Bognor Regis through a sea of neat bungalows, all spick & span, then some attractive Tudorbethan houses nearer Bognor. The “Regis” was bestowed on Bognor in 1929. A bustling shopping street, unpretentious and quite unlike Chichester. A few buildings of interest including the RC church (1881) by J S Hansom an impressive West front with a plate tracery rose window. 

   

Kingston upon Thames

A visit to Kingston to keep up with changes and to check on things that can be included on the next PhotoWalk around the town centre. Not too many changes but a few things seen that had gone unnoticed before.

As is the case with many  towns one has to look above the shops to see things of interest and to appreciated the buildings. Kingston has a good town centre with some interesting buildings among the best being the church of All Saints, which has relatively recently been given an excellent internal makeover.

The local Museum and Art Gallery building (1904) is worth a visit. It has a pleasing exterior but getting people to visit local museums is always a challenge and not helped here by being a bit cut off from the town centre by a busy road.

The Guildhall (1935) by Maurice E Webb has an impressive front and Bentall’s (1931-5) by Webb in ‘Wrenaissance’ style has some good sculpture on its frontage. The Market Place had a makeover a couple of years ago and is now a lively area with the Market House (1838-40) at its centre, a 1706 statue of Queen Anne shines brightly over the market.

Norwich

A recent trip to Norwich allowed me to revisit and re-photograph a number of interesting buildings. Probably my favourite city with a great Cathedral, the Castle Museum and dozens of churches. It being Heritage weekend meant a rush around some of the buildings that were open.

Two 20th Century buildings stand out architecturally in the city, one in a classical form and the other in the 'Swedish Romantic Movement' style.

The Norwich Union building of 1904 by G J Skipper with giant Ionic columns and rustication, an imposing facade to give the right impression for an insurance company.

City Hall was designed by C H James & S R Pierce in 1931 and completed in 1938. An impressive building having a balcony 365' long, a portico of attenuated polygonal pillars and a tower 185' high, all in the "Swedish Neoclassical spirit".

3 bronze doors decorated with eighteen plaques by James Woodford depicting scenes of the city's history caught my eye and are well worth a closer look.

Sheerness. Local Board of Health Building.

Sheerness has always been a ‘Back of Beyond’ sort of place and despite the new Sheppey Crossing bridge linking the Isle of Sheppey with the mainland the town still has that feeling – you don’t pass through Sheerness you have to have a reason to go there.

In the centre of the town is situated a building of interest which is in a poor state and has remained derelict for years. The Local Board of Health building has two parts to it, one the base of a large water tank (now removed) and the other part quite different in style. The water tower dates from 1863 and front building may date from the 1880’s.

Listed by EH in 1987 it was delisted in 1988, Swale Borough Council are treating it as a ‘non-designated heritage asset’ with Conservation Area protection. Demolition was refused in 2011. Local heritage groups are keen to see it preserved but the current owner seems to be letting it deteriorate. Someone needs to take some action before it’s too late.

The Railway Hotel, Edgware

Listed Grade 11 and described by Historic England as '... among the best examples of a picturesque historicist road-house in the country'. Dating from 1931 and designed by A E Sewell for Truman Hanbury Buxton, brewers.

Closed for a number of years, now in a sad state and in desperate need to attention. The sign outside says 'SOLD' but nothing has happened and a search has not come up with any news of what is going to be done with it. 

Lets hope it will be saved soon - would make a great Wetherspoons