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.

Look Out

There is something about squirrels that just make me smile. I often stop to watch them busy at work, running, climbing. This little chap was at the Cheltenham Crem, taking a moment to have a look around before carrying on squirrelling.

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.

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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What's Black And White And Red All Over?

Today's photo! Or a newspaper. Get it? Black, white, red all over. Oh, never mind! I spotted this bright red door the other day, well its hard not too. Lots of the Regency buildings around Cheltenham have basements and cellars that are accessed by doors on the outside of the buildings, down steep stairs. These steps had iron railings with this ornate decoration.
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Stone Stairs

It's been a long time since I've posted a black and white photo, time to rectify that. These stone stair leads up to the entrance of Pizza Express, opposite the Town Hall. I haven't eaten there in quite a while but the food is good and the restaurant is really nice. I like the simple design of the railings. What do you think?
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Steps And Railings

Steps and iron railings like these could be in front of Regency houses in Bath, London or Edinburgh but obviously these are in Cheltenham. The town houses on Imperial Square have a great view, they overlook Imperial Gardens and the Town Hall, and they are one of the towns best examples of fine architecture.
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Flowery Fence

This makes a change from normal wrought iron railings. I'm not sure about the colour but the detail and design is brilliant. It must have taken ages to create this fence, but the time was well worth it.

Don't forget tomorrow is Theme Day. This months theme is Paths and Passages. You don't need to sign up anymore, just post your photo and copy the code from the CDP site to be added to the list. Its easy! Join in tomorrow.

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Now And Then

Cheltenham is a town with lots of heritage, and lots of old buildings. Luckily for us most of them are protected, they have been enjoyed for hundreds of years and will be enjoyed for hundreds more. The old buildings in the heart of town are used as shops, bars and restaurants and their present occupiers have to work around the historic features. This Cult Clothing shop, on Clarence Street, is at the cutting edge of fashion and has a sign to match, but it fits in well with the iron railings of the balcony on the 18th century building. I really like the contrast.

Thanks to everyone who left a comment about my Sky Watch Friday photo, its greatly appreciated. I had a good few days in 'The North' but its cold up there!

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Sit On The Line

The nuts, bolts and iron from yesterdays post all make up this rather unusual bench. There are several of them alongside the Honeybourne cycle path. This path, away from the main roads, links one side of town to the other, and follows the route of a former railway line. I doubt if the benches are made from the material of the Honeybourne line, as it ceased to exist many years ago and the seats are a recent addition, but it is an effective nod to the paths former life. I like them, though they're not that comfortable to sit on!

Any Old Iron

Just a little something to keep you interested. Two macro shots of something to be revealed in full tomorrow.

Bespoke

If you are at the cutting edge of style, and have money to burn, then this is the place for you. Designer furniture, custom made, is the order of the day at Bespoke. I took this photo in the evening, when the place was closed, and I was really drawn to the green tiles and the ornate wrought iron window guards. The contents of the shop didn't do anything for me.

And now, in the style of Ming in New York, it's question time. Have you got anything designer or custom made in your home?

Rusty Post

This rusty old metal gate post looked like it was about to collapse. It is all that's left of what must have once been an ornate wrought iron gate. The building at the end of the drive is a typical Cheltenham Regency one that is being renovated, probably into apartments. Although it won't fit in with the new look I hope they keep this post from the past.

There was no outright winner of Saturdays guessing game. The stuffed bird was in the window of a Barbers Shop. I've no idea why! So I'll give a link to Babooshka for her answer - a car dealership! It was as strange as the real answer!

Theme Day - Metal and Sky Watch Friday!

It's Theme Day time again and its also the ever popular Sky Watch Friday today. I wasn't feeling inspired about this months theme but I wanted to try to post a photo that would cover both events. Up until 11pm last night I had a metal themed photo but it meant I couldn't join in with Sky Watch. I was talking over my useless ability to be organised with Phoebe, she said it would have been good if I had a weather vane to show. A little light bulb went on in my mind! I had one! And here it is.

This is the weather vane on top of Cheltenham Ladies College. It is made from cast iron and lead (I think!) and the sky in the background really was that grey, its not a black and white photo!

If you want to join in with Sky Watch Friday, and to see the other Sky Watchers offerings, head over to the Sky Watch Friday blog.

And click here to view thumbnails for all participants of this months City Daily Photo Theme Day. There are 182 blogs taking part, so take some time to pay them a visit.

Seeing all of those metal and/or sky photos should help pass the time on a Friday afternoon! Have a good weekend everybody and thanks for the inspiration Phoebe!

Reinstated Railings

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!

Its A Bandstand!

Yesterdays Green Goddess is part of the iron railings on the bandstand in Montpellier Gardens. This bandstand was recently refurbished during the parks makeover and now it looks in great condition. The bandstand was built in 1864 and has stood the test of time. It is still used in the summer months, when you can see Silver and Brass Bands performing on the weekends.

There was no outright winner to yesterdays competition, so the prize of a link goes to Neva and Lynn as they had the nearest guesses.

More Like It

This is more like it! This is the kind of building that Cheltenham is known for, unlike the apartments in yesterdays post. This Regency terrace is on the upmarket Suffolk Square, just on the edge of the town centre. When they were first built in the 1800's this terrace would have been individual grand houses, but now the majority are divided into flats. I wouldn't mind one with a wrought iron balcony.

Have a good weekend one and all!

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.

Friendship Circle

This cast iron rhomboid forms part of a public art feature in Sandford Park. The Friendship Circle was one of the first Council funded art installations in Cheltenham, installed in 1993, by South African born artist Neville Gabie to represent the twinning of the town with other towns around the world like Anncey, France and Cheltenham, America. The work contains a flat plan, made of iron laid in the concrete, of one of the rhomboids and then has three rhomboids in different stages of completion. The four main paths in the park cross through the Friendship Circle. Its great to be able to get up close and touch or climb on this really interesting piece of art.