Blue Brooch

Just a photo today. Have a good weekend.

Short Road

This old fashioned sign is on the back of Martin's Jewellers on the Prom. The bit of road that is Imperial Circus is only a few meters long but must have the grandest sign in Cheltenham!

Repetition

Lets have some form and repetition today. These artificial topiary balls (yes, they're plastic!) are lined up outside one of the jewellery shops on the Prom. I had to be quick taking this photo as the store has a security guard stood inside, behind the glass door. I think its locked and you have to be let in, that's how posh it is. Anyway...he was giving me a strange look, especially when I looked up for the security camera and stood underneath it to take the photo (I know how to avoid detection!) He probably though I was casing the joint!

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Protected Antiques

Promenade Antiques is, not surprisingly, on the Promenade in Cheltenham, opposite the Colonnade. This little shop has been there as long as I can remember and mainly sells gold and silver jewellery, watches, and ornaments. People are always stopping to look at all the interesting items in the window, eyeing up the latest shiny trinkets. Last year the shop was in the news as a car full of men pulled up outside, jumped out and tried to smash the window to steal the treasures behind the glass. Luckily for the shop owner (but not the robbers) two shopfitters, working on the refurbishment of a shop opposite, ran over and fought them off. The thieves made off empty handed and the workmen were local heroes, for a day or two at least.

Martin & Co

Martin & Co jewellers is the oldest jewellers in Cheltenham, established in 1806. Situated on the Colonnade, at the North end of the Promenade, it proudly calls itself "the County Jewellers" and this is proved by the fact it provides the Gold Cup for the Cheltenham horse race in March. They create and sell many pieces of fine jewellery as well as silverware and watches. The Colonnade was first built in 1791 and was intended to be for shops selling fine goods. The original plans for a grand row of shops of some length didn't materialise and so a small version was finished. In 1935 the original Colonnade was demolished to make way for a fountain, smaller shops and a traffic roundabout. This is how the Colonnade looks these days with Martin & Co being one of the shops on what has become a fancy traffic island.