Inside The Pump Room

Just a quick, and rather late, post today. I've been busy getting into the festive spirit. Basically eating and drinking and visiting!

As the title says, this is a shot from inside Pitville Pump Room.

Normal service resumes tomorrow!

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?!

Grand Red Door

This very grand entrance to Weston House in Pitville used to be my doctors surgery. It is now flats, the doctors have moved to a posh new purpose built centre. The Regency building is said to be haunted! Spooky!

Looking Down

A view from the balcony of Pitville Pump looking down onto the dance floor.

Instrumental

While I was having a sneaky peak around Pitville Pump Room last week I snuck into a side room off of the balcony. The room was full of these oriental-looking musical instruments, not what I was expecting to find in the Pump Room. Does anyone have any idea what country they might originate from? I have no clue.

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.

The Planets Birthplace

"Welcome to Cheltenham's musical gem - the Regency terrace house where Gustav Holst, composer of The Planets was born in 1874. The story of the man and his music is told alongside a fascinating display of personal belongings including his piano. The museum is also a fine period house showing the upstairs downstairs way of life in times past, including a working Victorian kitchen and laundry, elegant Regency drawing room and charming Edwardian nursery."

This unassuming, rather unimpressive house is the birthplace of Cheltenham's most famous son. His statue was unveiled in town a few weeks ago and I promised to show you the museum dedicated to him. The opening paragraph of todays post is taken from the Holst Museum website. Click on the link below for more on the museum and some photos of the inside of this town centre terrace - http://www.holstmuseum.org.uk/