All White

Its hard not to show Cheltenham's Regency buildings every day. There are so many and they are a big part of the town. This one is quite typical in design and style - four floors, a wrought iron balcony, stones stairs leading to the imposing front door, simple architectural details, crisp white paint. This one also has the benefit of facing onto Imperial Gardens, behind the Town Hall, and is in one of Cheltenham's best locations.

Girls Face

Today some more details from the red brick former school that is now apartments. I still haven't found out the name of the school. Sorry! What I do know is that they don't make school buildings like this anymore.

How The Other Half Live

As a total contrast to yesterdays terraces here is a house complete with turret, just a stones throw away, in the next street. This house stands right on the corner of Pitville Circus Road and at one time would have been a real landmark standout building. I suppose it still is! I presume the huge building is now divided into flats, but in its heyday it would have been a home to show the standing within society of the owner. And why not? Why have a plain old roof when a turreted tower will do?!

Sky Watch Friday

Red And Blue.

Enough of the green (see previous posts if you have no idea what I'm talking about!) Now its red and blue, well for today. I love the detail of the architecture of this former school building that is now converted to apartments. I can't actually remember the name of the school, need to check that out, and, as I have a few other good photos of this building to post, I will do some research! In the mean time just enjoy SWF!

To join in with, or to check out other skies, head over to the Sky Watch Friday Blog.

All Saints Church

As I mentioned yesterday, today it is more of All Saints Church. The Catholic church on All Saints Road has some wonderful carved details and lots of interesting pitched roofs. Instead of trying to choose one photo today I thought I'd treat you to four! The first photo is of the stone detail above what was once the main door to the church, it is now sectioned of with railings, I guess to preserve it.

All Saints was established in 1868 by a group of local people keen to create a style of worship not generally found in Cheltenham, that followed the 19th century Oxford Movement.

The church itself was designed by John Middleton. Middleton's original design included a tower with a large spire, but although building and decoration of the interior continued for many years, the gable roof to the bell-tower was not completed until 1992, but without the spire the architect designed over 100 years earlier.

And finally the Crucifix in full that I showed you part of yesterday. Impressive.

Theme Day - Doorways

Its the first day of the month (where is the year going?!) and here in the CDPB community its Theme Day. This months theme is 'Doorways' and Cheltenham has a host of ornate doorways to choose from. I went for this blue door, surrounded by a porch of wrought iron. Quite typical of Cheltenham and it Georgian architecture.

Can you see the padlocks securing the door? The building is for sale and the agents don't want anyone untoward paying a visit!

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

New Discovery

Having lived in Cheltenham all my life (exciting, I know!) and having featured the Pitville Pump Room here several times before, I realised I'd never actually been inside! So yesterday I took a little photo trip. Its fantastic inside, though a little eerie as there were no staff to be seen (I think they were all having their lunch!) The primary purpose of the Pump Room is as a venue for music performances, parties, conferences and weddings. The main room is surrounded by a balcony and topped by a fantastic dome. There are so many wonderful features to photograph and the afternoon light showed the place at its best. It was a real treat. Here are two of my favourite photos, but there will be more to come.

In

Yesterdays cobbles lead up to Cheltenham Town Hall! I've posted a lot on this building in the past, but this is a different view. I think all of us have revisited places and buildings while blogging. To find out more about the Town Hall click on the label below.

How Old?!

Lots of buildings, old and new, in and around Cheltenham have the date of construction on the front. Some are just a date carved into a brick but some, like this one, are very grand. The details on this one are extra special. You can see that the house was built in 1897 but its the carved flowers underneath that caught my eye. Each one is different but just as intricate as the next. Nice touch.

Straight And Curved

It's more shapes and lines from me today. Although I suppose every photo contains shapes and lines! Anyway. Here we have Eagle Tower in the background and The New Club at the front. Its also another contrast of architectural styles. I've posted on Eagle Tower before but I'll fill you in on The New Club today. This former Private Gentlemen's club was formed in 1874 and used to be situated in a building on the Prom. It moved to this fine Regency building in Montpellier Parade in 1970. The club now has open membership for men and women, although you do have to be a professional to join or to have been recommended by a present member. Well, you've got to keep the riff raff out! Speaking of riff raff, I had to deliver something there once and it is very grand inside. Really lovely. High ceilings, sweeping staircase, wooden panelled walls, a library, bars, a restaurant, need I go on?

Shapes

Lots of new buildings - offices and homes - are appearing around Cheltenham. Not as many as at the height of the property boom, but new-builds are still happening. These modern town houses, just off of Imperial Gardens, have a funky design with interesting shaped windows, different textures and unusual features. I quite like them, though they are very expensive, so I won't be buying one anytime soon!

I'm away for a few days. I'll catch up with your blogs next week.

Court Side

This is the side of the building that was once home to the County Court and has now stood empty for over three years. You can find it in the originally titled County Court Road!

Once again sorry for my absence on the old commenting rounds. I'm a busy boy this week.

Ornate Echoings

So there I was on Saturday, sitting in the hairdressers having my hair cut, while nursing a hangover from hell, and through bleary eyes I spotted this view out of the window. Divine inspiration struck. A photo opportunity and I had my camera with me! Here is the result. The ornate iron work that surrounds the window balcony echoing the ornate roof of Costa Coffee. I love it when a plan comes together.

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Big Top

This is the inside of the dome of the Rotunda, that is now home to Lloyds bank. I thought I'd show it in black and white as I think it highlights some of the details and its not far off the real colour, a greenish-grey with a red circle round the highest point.

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Theme Day - Night

Its the first of the month and its Theme Day across the CDPB community. This months theme is 'Night' and this is my offering. It shows Christ Church lit up at night. Its an impressive building and can be seen from all around Cheltenham, especially at night.

To see all the other many interpretations for this Theme head here.

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Deco Design

Just down from Cambray Baptist Church, standing solidly at the end of Cambray Place, is Cambray Court. The building is from the 1920's and, although not screamingly so, is Art Deco in design. The building is still split into the original apartments as it was nearly 100 years ago and is a very popular residence in the heart of town. I'd like to get beyond those gates sometime and see if its a bit more Art Deco inside.

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Encouraging All

"Encouraging all people to become fully committed followers of Jesus Christ" is the slogan of Cambray Baptist Church. Best of luck with that one! Can you tell I'm not religious?! I'm not against people believing in whatever they want or finding strength and comfort in a higher being, but its a tall order trying to convert all people. I bet lots of people are happy not to be encouraged.

Whatever you think about religion and the people there-in they know/knew how to build impressive churches. This one is a bit plainer than the normal heavy stone and spire-topped ones that are common right across the UK, but it is none-the-less a fantastic building. It looms large and stands proud on Cambray Place, right next to the High Street. The building dates back to 1855, although the first Cheltenham Baptists were formed in 1690 and used to worship in a disused malt house. The congregation that became Cambray Baptist Church was formed in 1843 and the then churchgoers raised the money to build this building.

What are your thoughts on religion and church buildings?
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Town Hall Detail

This photo may look familiar to some of you. Its a close up of this photo from last Tuesday. The Town hall is covered in carved detail like this, but its not until you look for it that you really see it. As you can see the photo is in black and white (nothing like pointing out the blatantly obvious!) but I took it using the dreaded manual settings! I'm getting there slowly! Anyway, that's it. Got to get some more photos today, I have nothing to show you tomorrow. Nothing!

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Grand Scrolls

Want a word for the day? How about 'volute'. For those that don't know what it means (and I didn't) its the posh name given to the scrolls at the top of Ionic columns, like the ones shown. These grand pillars are helping to hold up the roof of one of the Regency houses that surround Pitville Park. I also like the tiles with the fancy details, I've not seen these before in Cheltenham. I wonder if they are original?

Don't forget its Theme Day tomorrow across the CDPB community and the theme for July is 'Empty.' There's no need to sign up any more, just copy and paste the code and you're in!

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Banking On Black And White

I asked yesterday what you wanted to see today and the consensus of opinion was a bank in black and white. I always give you what you want, so here it is! I'm glad that was the choice, as these photos are the result of my first attempt at playing around with the manual settings on my camera. And I took them in black and white. I'm quite pleased with them.

This is Lloyds bank on the High Street.

It has some wonderful architectural details.

To read about the buildings history see my past post.

As I've mentioned several times this week I'm off on holiday next week and I'm handing Cheltenham DP over to you. If you'd like one of your photos to appear here then email me (address in my profile.) You'll get full credit and a link.
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