Bradford-by-the-Sea Pebble Mosaic, Norfolk Gardens, Bradford, 09/02/16.

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Bradford, Bradford-by-the-Sea, Councillor Brian Lynch, crab, Maggy Howarth, Morecombe, Mosaic, mosaics, Octopus, Parks, pebble mosaics, pebbles, seahorse

According to WWW.Waymarking.Com, this pebble mosaic was designed by Maggy Howarth and it forms part of a memorial to Councillor Brian Lynch, who had a seafaring past, having served in the “navy“; presumably the Royal Navy, rather than the mercantile marine. Bradford-by-the-Sea was also a nickname given to Morecombe, because so many mill workers from Bradford holidayed in the Lancashire seaside town, so Bradford does, or certainly did, have strong links with the coast.

Having travelled from the coast all the way to West Yorkshire, it was very comforting to see the sea or at least a fantastical vision of it, with seahorses bobbing along beside octopuses and crabs.

If you happen to be leaving the train at Bradford Interchange station and set off towards the city centre on foot, look out for Norfolk Gardens and its pebble mosaic.

Photo Archive: Mosaic Apples and Pears, Victoria Quarter, Leeds, c.2007.

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Apples, Arcades, Frank Matcham, Frank Matcham Society, Leeds, Mosaic, Pears, Victoria Quarter, Victoriana, window shopping.

Half an apple (complete with pips).

The Victoria Quarter is one of my favourite places in Leeds (for window shopping, that is, although I occasionally treat myself to a cup of tea there if I’m early for the Matinee at The Grand theatre or the West Yorkshire Playhouse). Visit Leeds.co.uk informs me that the arcades that make up the Victoria Quarter were designed by architect Frank Matcham and the Frank Matcham Society’s website informs me that he is better known for the theatres he worked on. Here are two more photographs of the beautiful mosaic floors:

Pear.

Apples and pears… and what looks like an edelweiss in the centre.

If you ever visit the Victoria Quarter take a moment to looks down as well up at the grandeur of the arcade.

 

Photo Archive: Butetown Mosaic, Cardiff, July 2012.

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boxing, Butetown, Butetown Mosaic, Cardiff, Mosaic, public art, Social history, Steam Train, wielding

My favourite photograph of the mosaic.

One of the joys of walking around a city rather than getting the bus is that you occasionally see something you otherwise would not have seen and you can make the time to enjoy it. It was my first visit to Cardiff and decided to walk to Cardiff Bay from Cardiff Castle, which proved to be quite a walk, but I wouldn’t have found this mosaic if I hadn’t embarked on this walk through the rain. The mosaic shows scenes from Cardiff’s maritime and industrial past, as well as the social history of Butetown, including these scenes below:

Memories of the age of steam.

The Champ’.