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?

Curved Chimneys

Unusual chimney pots as viewed from the Regent Arcade car park. I don't think I've ever seen any that look like this before. That's it today, enjoy your weekend.

_

Royal Crescent

Surprisingly Royal Crescent is the back drop to Cheltenhams bus station, the Royal Well. The bus station is a bit of an eyesore in front of the towns earliest Regency terrace to have survived intact. The Crescent was first designed as two blocks of 12 houses, with a road between, by architect Charles Harecourt Masters at the start of the 1800's. Construction started in 1805 and was completed in the early 1820's, the houses first used as lodgings for visitors using the towns Spas. The Crescent is now used mainly as office space with many Solicitors and Doctors surgeries occupying most buildings. In 1998 the over grown trees and shrubs between the bus station and Crescent were removed, revealing the white curved terrace, and replaced with a Beech hedge and Silver Birch trees as a commemoration of Diana, Princess of Wales who died the year before. The ironwork railings and balconies are one of the features of Royal Crescent and are typical of the Regency buildings in Cheltenham.