Richmond Park

Last week I went on a walk to Richmond Park. My walking companion knew a quick way through a couple of private roads, a route I have never taken before. It was indeed quicker. We entered by a gate I have never used before and soon we were crossing the park to the Isabella Plantation. These gardens were a favourite place for my family when I lived at home. My dad would drive us to Richmond Park regularly, and these gardens were always on the agenda.

The gardens have evolved over the years and now includes a new toilet block and signs. The day we went there was rather overcast and cold, but trees were coming into blossom.

Richmond Park is one of the Royal Parks and the largest. It dates back to 1272 when it was called Manor of Sheen. From its highest point you have an unrestricted view of St Paul’s Cathedral, twelve miles away. You can read a short history of the park here.

We stayed only a short while as we still had the walk back home, but now lockdown restrictions are easing it would be nice to revisit soon.

Came across this at the end of of one of the private roads! That was a new one on me.

Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens and Westminster

The original Pleasure Gardens were laid out in the 1600’s. though it wasn’t until 1729 when a man named Jonathan Tyers saw the potential of the gardens for entertainment that they came into their own.

It cost a shilling to enter, quite a sum back then. The idea was to keep the riff-raff out! Despite this, princes entertained prostitutes and drukenness was common. The gardens were a backdrop to several novels, including Vanity Fair by William Thackery. Inside you could get a meal, be entertained by an orchestra, enjoy a firework display, through a lantern lit tree lined secluded garden and hear works by George Frideric Handel (he was a sort of composer-in-residence). However, the gardens became known as a place where the seamier side of the wealthy was on display!

The Tea House Theatre is a cafe that also runs poetry evenings, music, and debating. NIce to see that entertainment still exists in the park!

The gardens finally closed in 1859. Do read the excellent article on the Museum of London website. It has a short history, pictures and a layout of the gardens.

I have become quite fascinated by the gardens over the years. These days the gardens are surrounded by housing estates. The gardens have play areas and a city farm, which opens again next week. I was able to get a few photos through the wire fence, though! You can get a glimpse of Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens from the window of the train as it journeys into London Waterloo station. The train stops at Vauxhall.

Boo, or is thar Baar! Vauxhall City Farm

I love the sculptures at the main entrance to the gardens – a woman and a man. It’s nice to know that the gardens still exists in some form, but I can’t help wishing I could travel back in time and visit them as they were – scandal and all!

The statues at the main entrance to Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens

A walk over Vauxhall Bridge and it’s not long before you come to Victoria and Westminster. I was out to see a sculpture just called Wind Sculpture that I’d come across online. Firstly, I came to the beautiful Westminster Cathedral. Some years ago I visited and went up to the top of the tower.

Wind Sculpture, Westminster – Ideally placed in a very windy spot!

There is a lot of work taking place in Westminster. Many of the little parks are occupied with workmen taking a break. Christchurch Gardens looks relatively new, what I would call a ‘pocket park’. The church no longer exists, but the there is board giving the history and the connection with suffragettes, as well as a sculpture to them. At the main entrance there is a sculpture to the composer Henry Purcell. There is an interesting article about Christchurch Gardens here.

It was in Christchurch Gardens where I stopped to have a hot drink (it was quite cold that day) and then I walked on to Parliament Square before heading towards Embankment. A brief walk along the Thames took me to Hungerford Bridge where I crossed the river and walked back to the train station.

Kingston-on-Thames & Wimbledon Park

On Monday the ‘stay-at-home’ restriction was lifted. The advice is to ‘stay local’. So, with good weather here, it was time to board a bus for the first time since December. I wanted to go into Kingston have a look in Food For Thought (health food shop) and get some sort of veggie or vegan ‘roast’ for Easter day dinner. Firstly, the Thames was calling to me.

We (I was with one of my son’s) got ourselves a takeaway hot chocolate and headed towards the river and the Queen’s Promenade where we sat down to drink. We then headed back, went under the bridge and headed towards Canbury Park Gardens and onwards to what is known as The Half Mile Tree. A slow walk back into town to pick up supplies and then back on the bus home. What we noticed was how quiet the town was (non-essential shops don’t open until 12th April), and how many shops had closed down and wouldn’t be returning. In my own town similar things have happened, and right across the UK this is one of the results of lockdown, and so many people now buying goods online. Sadly, there will be more to come.

Last time I was here, this was a Christmas set up!

The Half Mile tree is said to be about 500 years old. Removed in 1951 due to its dangerous condition and replaced in 1952.

On Tuesday I met a friend at Wimbledon Park. The last time we were here it was autumn, now it is spring. The park was very busy with tennis coaching, and school kids having lessons. Lots of mums and babies and toddlers too. The cafe was open for takeaway and it was the hottest day of the year so far, getting up to around 24c. It was a lazy day in the sunshine with a chance for a good catch up.

COMING NEXT WEEK a look at Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens and Westminster.

Sunrises and flowers

I’ve started jogging again, after saying ‘never again’! I’d been thinking about it for a few days before I took my first jog in six months. Once out, I realised how much I’d missed the early mornings. There’s hardly anyone around but a few dog walkers in the park. Sounds seem magnified, so the birds seem to sing louder. Being close to nature works for me, and there’s always the possibility of seeing a great sunrise.

Yesterday our clocks went forward one hour. It meant I was late up. I try to jog every other day, and yesterday was a jog day. However, I felt tired and decided to run in the smaller park nearer me instead of Beverley Park where I usually run. It was an overcast morning and blowy. No lovely sunrise, but you can’t get it every day! One day I ran in rain. There was the sun and rain, so there was a rainbow. And then there are the flowers in the park. It gets more colourful each time I go. This will be the second year I have seen spring flourish in Beverley Park. I ran through half the seasons last year, only stopping in September. I did continue to visit the park, though I wasn’t jogging. So I have been through the year there with all the colour changes, as well as the rain, the sun, the snow, mist and wind. Is there somewhere you go regularly to get away from everyday stress and to keep sane in this pandemic?

Now to the photos.

Waiting for the wind to disperse the seeds

The tennis courts (to the left) can re-open today. Fully booked all week!

A quick run through Blagdon Park on Sunday morning

A walk to Wimbledon Common

I set out for a long walk with one of my sons, and according to him it ended up being eight and half miles. It was certainly worth it, despite stiff legs for days afterwards. A lot of walking to get there was uphill., and we did take a detour which added to the length of the walk.

We used the usual route via the railway cut and Raynes Park and stopped off at Holland Gardens so my son could adjust his shoe. Then up, up another steep hill to the common. This is where the detour started. Although the Buddhapadipa Temple is closed right now, I did wonder if the grounds would be open so I could get a photo of the outside of the Temple. Sadly, it wasn’t, but I took a few photos anyway (one through a glass window in the wall!). I shall wait for it to reopen and visit again.

Best shot I could get through a glass wall.

From there we doubled back and headed towards the Windmill Cafe. I wasn’t sure it would be open, but I suspected they would be doing a takeaway service to make some money. Well, it was very busy. It had just started to rain, but we stopped for hot chocolate and a portion of chips each. We couldn’t sit anywhere, so we stood under an awning, trying to keep our distance from everyone else.

The Windmill was also closed, but during normal circumstances it opens at the weekends. I’ve never yet been inside it.

We set off back along the path and took a right-hand path to follow the pond round. The rain was pretty heavy by this time, but the walk was beautiful. The trees are just coming into bud and will look very pretty soon. Perhaps a trip back is in order, though this time I shall wait until the first restrictions are lifted and go on the bus! That way I can explore more of the common, which also adjoins Putney Common, where I don’t believe I’ve walked in years.

To get your bearings, the Windmill Cafe is on the opposite side of the common to Cannizaro Park if you approach it from Wimbledon. You will often see horses being ridden on the common as there are stables nearby. And if you have time and the legs for it, do explore Wimbledon Village.

Cattle trough and watering hole, by the side of Wimbledon Common

London at random (archive memories)

Over the years, I’ve taken hundreds of photos in London and been to many places. Today I’d like to share with you just a few photos randomly picked out of my photo folders. I hope you enjoy them.

The Cinema Museum is a private collection of memorabilia. It is housed in the former workhouse where Charlie Chaplin lived as a child. They offer talks and show films. There is a small shop and refreshments are offered.

One day my husband and I took the train from Liverpool Street station out to Harold Wood. This is as far as we could go using our 60+ Oyster card (this card gives us free travel on buses, trains and tubes in the London area – a perk of being over 60 years olds!) The Elizabeth Line is the new kid on the block. Formerly called CrossRail, when completed (it is years overdue and way over budget), the line will run from Reading in Berkshire through London to Shenfield in Essex, with branches to Abbey Wood and London Heathrow Airport.

This was our first experience of travelling in one of the new trains and it was quite exciting. I’d become obsessed with the line after watching several documentaries about the tunnelling, and what was found in the various soil layers (I’ve attended several exhibitions too!), and took a course on it! Bits of the line are now open, but I am still waiting for the whole line to be completed.

Harold Wood – part of the London Loop walks

The staircase, Sigmund Freud’s house, Hampstead

Osterley Park and house in Isleworth dates back to the 1570’s and is owned by The National Trust

Living Wall and Pocket Garden near Tower Hill station

Some unusual seating at the Brunel Museum, Rotherhithe

Crossrail Place Roof Gardens, Canary Wharf

The poet John Keats came to live at this house in 1818. The house was originally two dwellings and Keats lived in the smaller half with Charles Brown. Keats stayed for seventeen months before travelling to Italy where he died.

When I have Fears That I May Cease to Be

When I have fears that I may cease to be
   Before my pen has gleaned my teeming brain,
Before high-pilèd books, in charactery,
   Hold like rich garners the full ripened grain;
When I behold, upon the night’s starred face,
   Huge cloudy symbols of a high romance,
And think that I may never live to trace
   Their shadows with the magic hand of chance;
And when I feel, fair creature of an hour,
   That I shall never look upon thee more,
Never have relish in the faery power
   Of unreflecting love—then on the shore
Of the wide world I stand alone, and think
Till love and fame to nothingness do sink.

(https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44488/when-i-have-fears-that-i-may-cease-to-be)

Taken at the Hive exhibition at Kew Gardens

When lockdown ends (places I want to revisit)

King Alfred, Winchester – September 2020

On the 29th March the ‘stay at home’ restriction is due to be lifted. We are still advised to stay local, but local to me covers London/Surrey borders. It may be a little longer before I can visit Winchester in Hampshire, but it’s not far off.

Here I thought I would post some photos of places I wish to visit when the country opens up again. The photos are a selection from last year.

Tate Britain – galleries in general open on 17th May, all being well.

I am planning gallery visits. The first one I have my eye on is the new David Hockney exhibition at the Royal Academy.

Possibly my first visit to London will be along the Southbank where this iconic tourist attraction can be seen. I have been on it twice!

Thames Path – Kingston to Hampton Court stretch – June 2020 (first outing after first lockdown!)

I do like to be beside the seaside – Eastbourne – July 2020

Watermeadows, Winchester – September 2020

From the Archives – Carshalton

I’d been through Carshalton on the bus a few times. It always looked inviting, so in 2015 this was the stopping point. Since then I have returned a few times, including a year ago when I walked part of the Wandle River Trail, which incorporates this.

This is a beautiful spot. There are always ducks, swans and other birds on the ponds. There is also a church opposite which is worth a look, and the town, though small, offers coffee shops – a nice pit stop before or after a walk. Carshalton also boats The Honeywood Museum overlooking the ponds. It’s history goes back to the 1600’s and the house was probably built for the Earl of Arundel. You can read the history of the place here.

The museum regularly holds exhibitions. The rooms are interesting and there is a great little cafe. Though the cafe is currently closed due to Covid restrictions, I believe they are doing a takeaway service.

Used in the war to keep children safe while sleeping!

Across the road from the ponds is All Saints Church. This is impressive inside, and a church has stood here since the Norman conquest!

To finish with, here are a few general shots in and around the ponds.

Chasing the sunrise

There is no place near me where I can take decent photos of the sunrise. There is always something in the way – a razor wire fence, a building, trees. A few mornings ago this became obvious as I chased the sunrise. I thought a nearby bridge would elevate me enough to get a good shot, but no, there was a school building slap bang in front of it! The view I wanted was always just around the next corner, but always around that corner there was something in the way.

By the time I got to an open space, all the brilliant orange and pink colours had disappeared. However, I did take some photos, and it was lovely to be out early in the morning before most of the joggers descended.

Over the weekend, with my son away, I was able to take a few photos from his bedroom window, and being higher, I could zoom in and miss the razor wire of the building opposite. But, just to show you, there are a couple of ‘razor wire shots’ – the best colours, but not the best foreground!

(All photos taken with my Lumix Panasonic bridge camera unless otherwise stated)

View from my front room (taken with my mobile)

Relax and breathe

I thought you might like to listen to something relaxing while viewing these photos. Do you like it? All these photos have been taken in the last two months.