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.

The Prince of Wales Oak, Royal Victoria Park, Bath, 28/04/15.

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bath, Bath Mineral Water Hospital, Bath United Hospital, British Monarchy, King Edward VII, Maori Chiefs, New Zealand, oak trees, Parks, Prince Albert Edward, Princess Alexandra of Denmark, Reverend William Jenkins, Royal Family, Royal Victoria Park Bath, The Prince of Wales, The Prince of Wales Oak, The Prince of Wales Oak Bath, Thomas Barter esq, trees

I wouldn’t normally stop to photograph a tree, even one as lovely as this one, but I noticed a small commemorative plaque in front of it, which made me curious. It informed me that this wasn’t just any oak, this was “The Prince of Wales Oak“, planted by the then Mayor of Bath, Thomas Barter esq, on the 10th March 1863. The Prince of Wales in 1863 was Prince Albert Edward, who would later become King Edward VII, who married Princess Alexandra of Denmark on the 10th March 1863, so I think it is safe to say that the tree was planted to commemorate the Royal wedding. The wedding was also commemorated in a painting, now in the Royal Collection, by William Powell Frith, which wouldn’t have known about if I hadn’t been researching the history of this tree! One of the most interesting fact I’ve managed to unearth about Thomas Barter esq is that, on the 19th September 1863, still in his official capacity as Mayor of Bath, met a party of Maori Chiefs from New Zealand, who were touring the United Kingdom. We know this because The Reverend William Jenkins, who travelled with the Maori party, compiled a souvenir autograph book for them, which includes Thomas Barters name [the list of other signatories can be see at www.nzpictures.co.nz]. The book also contains the name of Randle Wilbraham Falconer MD, “Senior physician Bath United Hospital and physician to the Bath Mineral Water Hospital“, so perhaps they visited one or both of these institutions. Later entries, I’ve noticed, contain comments about the visit, but the residence of Bath simply left their names. What an interesting web of stories!

Castle Park, Bristol, 27/04/15.

Tags

Bristol, Castle Park Bristol, Castles, English Civil War, motte and bailey, Oliver Cromwell, Parks, Parks and Gardens, Ruins, The Anarchy, trees, William The Conqueror

The site now occupied by Castle Park seems to have had a chequered history. Bristol Castle was established, in the form of a simple motte and bailey affair, under William The Conqueror. By The Anarchy, which pitted the forces of Matilda and Stephen of Blois in a fight to fill the power vacuum left by King Henry I, the castle had become a formidable fortification. During the English Civil War the castle was occupied by Parliamentarian and Royalist troops and Oliver Cromwell decided Bristol Castle was a liability and it had to go. That’s why, if you go to Castle Park today, you only see the big clumps of wall Oliver Cromwell’s pioneers could not undermine. In homage to William The Conqueror’s original Bristol Castle, I’m assuming, a wooden castle commands a prominent position at the Lower Castle Street end of the park, complete with wooden men-at-arms. I was inspecting the fortifications in Castle Park at about 10 o’clock on a Monday morning in school term-time, so there were very few people about, but the play ground looks like a lot of fun.    

Photo Archive: Percy Park, Tynemouth, c.2010.

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architecture, bay windows, grass, North Shields, open space, Parks, Percy Park Tynemouth, Public houses, terraced houses, Tyne and Wear, Tynemouth, views

Photo Archive: Henderson Park, Coldstream, April 2012.

Tags

Boarders, Coldstream, Coldstream Guards, Henderson Park, Parks, River Tweed, Scottish Boarder, View

Henderson Park.

Like everything from my childhood, I remember Henderson Park being bigger. Coldstream was a regular family holiday destination and stopping off point on our way further North to Edinburgh and the Highlands, because I have a family connection to this Scottish Boarder town, but due to changes in circumstance I had more than a ten year break between this visit and the one before. My sister and I walked from our Aunties’ house at the end of the Town and we walked down the High Street subconsciously heading towards Henderson Park.

Coldstream Guards monument.

The Scottish Boarders Council website informs me that the park was formally the tennis court of a Dr. Henderson, which I didn’t know until today, so that should give you an idea of the size of it. Much like most gardens in the UK it has its well tended lawn in the centre with flower beds around it and monumental stone on end as a focal point. The thing that indicates is a public park is the path that allows you to walk around without ruining the precious turf (I’m not sure if you’re allowed to walk on the grass, but we never have).

The stone monument at the far end of the park celebrates Coldstreams connection with the Coldstream Guards, one of the finest regiments in the British Army (although I am incredibly biased; Her Majesty The Queen does have four other Foot Guard regiments whose member might have something to say about that). It was from Coldstream that General George Monck marched the first Coldstreamers across the boarder into England in 1660 in order to restore the Stuart monarchy.

But the highlight of Henderson Park is the view from behind the monument:

That isthe River Tweed and Northumberland on the far bank. Beautiful isn’t it?