Photo Archive: The Earl of Beaconsfield, Maritime Museum, Hull, 2013.

Tags

Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield, figure head, Hull, Hull City of Culture 2017, Maritime Museum, Museums, Ships, The Chap, Victorian., Victoriana

This is one of my favourite exhibits at the Maritime Museum in Hull; a regular stop on my strolls around the city.
This ships figurehead belonged to the “Earl of Beaconsfield”, which ran aground in 1887. The internet, namely the Wreck Site website, informs me that the sailing ship was built in 1864 by a Glasgow firm.
The figurehead depicts Benjamin Disraeli, the first Earl of Beaconsfield, Conservative Politician and Prime Minister twice during the reign of Queen Victoria. He was also listed as one of “The Chap” magazines “Fashion Statesmen” due to his flamboyant attire. The figurehead is very striking, especially in contrast with its two feminine, whitewashed, Greco-Roman neighbours on the half landing on the stairs up to the first floor exhibition spaces.
The museum is free and well worth a visit, even if it’s just to look at the Earl of Beaconsfield.

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Rose Bush Update: 13/06/14.

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Garden, gardening, Red Roses, Rose Bushes, Roses

All of these roses came into bloom, on the same rose bush, last week. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.

Photo Archive: Slitheen, Doctor Who Exhibition, Brighton Pier, Brighton, c.2005.

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Brighton, Brighton Pier, Doctor Who, Doctor Who Exhibition, Doctor Who Exhibition Bright Pier, Slitheen.

The Doctor Who Exhibition was a happy coincidence on my visit to Brighton and it seemed rude not to visit it once I discovered it at the end of the Pier. The Dalek was my favourite exhibit, but it wasn’t as photogenic as the Slitheen, who were relatively new additions to the pantheon of villainous Doctor Who aliens at the time.

Photo Archive: Eastbourne Bandstand, c.2005.

Tags

Band stand, Coast, East Sussex, Eastbourne, Eastbourne Bandstand, Seaside.

According to its website, Eastbourne Bandstand is “the busiest bandstand in the United Kingdom“, but it did not look very busy on the few occasions I walked passed it back in 2005, although the neatly arranged rows of deckchairs look ready to welcome a considerable number of music lovers.

Coldstream Guards Hassock, St. Mary’s Church, Beverley, 14/05/14.

Tags

Beverley, Coldstream Guards, cross stitch, Hassock, HM Queen Elizabeth II, Order of the Garter, St Mary's Church Beverley

Dedicated to the Coldstream Guards.

It was the “annual procession of Knights of the Garter… through the grounds of Windsor Castle” yesterday [or so The Times informs me; there’s a lovely photograph of Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh on page 13] and it remembered me of this hassock from St. Mary’s Church in Beverley. This Star of the Order of the Garter (shown here upside down) is not only worn by members of Britain’s oldest and most senior order of chivalry, but is also the cap badge of The Coldstream Guards who stand “second to none” in the British Army. This hassock must have been stitched by an old Guardsman or, more likely, the wife of one.

Photo Archive: Bicycle racks, Oxford Station, c.2007.

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bicycles, bikes, cycling, Oxford, Oxford train station.

It still amazes me how many bicycles are in this photograph!

 

The Three Graces.

Tags

Ephemera, Grannies Parlour, Hull, Hull City of Culture 2017, old photographs, Photography, portrait photography, studio portrait.

I thought this portrait had a distinctly Pre-Raphaelite look about it with when I first discovered and I very quickly filed it away to one side before continuing the search through the box I’d found it in [sadly there wasn’t anything like it or even an photograph of the same sitter that might help shed some light on the photographs provenance].  It reminded me of “Autumn Leaves” by John Everett Millais, which I vaguely recall from Manchester Art Gallery, although the sitter is a bit older and her attire is more Bohemian.

It looks like a lot of thought has gone into this portrait, don’t you think? I would have thought a pose that leaves half of the sitter’s face in shadow would be undesirable, so I find the contrast of light and dark fascinating, but also rather surprising. Perhaps the sitter or the photographer inspired by the publicity photographs of their favourite silent era film actresses? The back of the photograph is blank, but I’m guessing this photograph was taken in Yorkshire, judging by the provenance of the other photographs along side it, and I’d love to think that, even in cities like Hull, studio photographers were aiming to instill a touch of Hollywood glamour into their work.

What a gem. It looks like the photographer has called on this lady at home [an indication of poor mobility on the part of the sitter perhaps] and has arranged a very interesting scene in the back yard. Look at the character in this lady’s face. She must have had a great love of photographs; note the photograph frame and photograph albums on the table beside her [and the pot plant; obviously a prized possession for it to be included]. I wonder how many more portraits she had taken after this one?

All of these photographs were purchased at “Granny’s Parlour”, 33 Anlady Road, Hull, HU1 2PG.

“Just Jane”, Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, Spilsby, 12/06/14.

Tags

British History, Historic aircraft., Just Jane, Lancaster bomber, Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, RAF, World War Two

The Lancaster bomber (viewed from the NAAFI).

Here are four of my best photographs of the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre’s famous Lancaster bomber, “Just Jane”, which I was lucky enough to see taxiing around the East Kirby airfield yesterday afternoon. The smell and the sound of the aircraft are just as fascinating as its appearance, so if you are planning a visit, I’d recommend checking that the Lancaster is going to be running on that day and the time its running [if I’d arrived 30 minutes later we would have missed it completely).

Viewed from the 1st floor of the Home Front exhibition.

Viewed from where I was drinking my ginger beer.

Going back to the hangar.

…and as I usually post my top five photographs, here is something completely different from the Centre’s vast collection of artifacts:

Beans & Sausage tins (empty).

If you would like more information about the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre follow the link here: http://www.lincsaviation.co.uk/

Cup, Glasgow, 20/03/14.

Tags

Coffee, cup, Glasgow, open, tea., University of Glasgow.

Located in the grounds of the University of Glasgow.

Yellow Bicycles, York, 10/06/2014.

Tags

bicycles, bikes, cycling, public art, Tour de France, yellow, yellow bicycle, York

Our first yellow bicycle.

I must confess, I can’t ride a bicycle myself, but I do take an interest in the sport [especially when Team GB have a chance at winning something] and I’ve always got time to admire a bright yellow bicycle chained to a lamppost. Since my last visit it looks like York has been getting ready to mark the beginning of the Grand Depart, the start of the Tour de France, by decorating the place with yellow bicycles and yellow bunting.

Bunting in St. Helen’s Square.

These yellow bicycles do draw your attention and I did notice a lot more bicycles around the city [emphasis on the word notice; I have got no evidence that the actual number of bicycles has increased] and I was called up more than once by my companions for pointing out what turned out to be bikes that just happened to have yellow frames!

Our second yellow bicycle.

I’m not sure exactly how many official yellow bicycles there are [not to mention unofficial yellow bicycles and additional bicycles, which have cropped up in shop window displays and the like], but I sure you, if you go to York this week, you’re bound to see more than one!

Our third yellow bicycle.

…and finally.

You can read more about the Le Tour Yorkshire here: http://letour.yorkshire.com/#

I would like to dedicate this post to Mr. FP, Mr. LH and Miss. MW for their company today; with special thanks going to FP for inspiring the trip to York in the first place and choosing the date.