Last year Montpellier Gardens under went a £1 million refurbishment, with new paths being laid, trees planted, the tennis courts moved, the former gym turned into an art gallery and, the most noticeable improvement, the iron railings reinstated. The railings were removed from all of the towns public parks, gardens and buildings during the Second World War, they were taken as scrap to be melted down and aid the war effort. Today, around the edges of the parks and gardens, you can still see the old stone bases that once held the fences in place. These new railings were based on the original ones and now help define Montpellier Gardens. Not all of the perimeters have had the railings put back, but this is a start.The photo below shows the railings being removed in June 1940. I love the fact the workmen are in their shirts and waistcoats! All very proper!
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10 comments:
The railings are lovely. I especially like the fact that you have the 1940 photo of their removal to go along with your brand new photo of their reinstatement.
Great old photo. Seems amazing that they would put a new fence up so long after the first one was taken down. Sounds like the entire garden has been transformed.
Oh, that old photo! They were in their work clothes and yet they look so elegant today... Nice post, Marley. Park refurbishment is always great news. :)
That's a sobering thought that fences once had to be melted down for the war effort. So different from the metal thieves going around these days.
Nice to discover your blog today.
Shalom from Jerusalem.
Hi Marley, like both the old and new photos. They way the workmen are dressed denote professionalism and expertise.
What an interesting story about the fences. I'm glad they are putting them back and I love that old photo. They certainly were very well-dressed in the picture! Hope your Dad is doing better after his operation.
Do you think they all say whatcha guv'nor cor bilmey mary poppins? I didn't know these pointy railing were still about. Interesting to see both images. Were did Montpellier Gardens get it's name from? Was it the French Montpellier, the Montpellier in Vermont, or none of these. I am a francophile which is my excuse for my nosiness.
i like the angle on your first photo... and it's neat to be able to see the old photo of the fence too...
Amazing ironwork on the fence.
But I have seen enough horror movies involving victims falling out the windows and getting stabbed by those fences to appreciate the danger of those pointy ends. :-)
Thanks for sharing about it! I love the old photo too. It's a beautiful one.
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