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.

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!

Through The Rectangular Window

This is me doing my spying-through-peoples-windows trick! Actually it was an office in one of the Regency townhouses that surround Imperial Gardens. The glamorous light fitting caught my eye and the window made a good frame.

I don't condone spying through windows in any shape or form, unless you are a professional stalker, where its really quite essential!

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?

Two Things Challenge - Young / Old

This weeks Two Things Challenge is Young / Old and this photo of the view down Montpellier Grove fits perfectly. On the left side of the street is the recently built Century Court (young) and on the right side of the street are the Regency town houses that Cheltenham is famous for (old). I think that covers it.

Which do you prefer?

To join in with the Challenge, or to see who is in this week, head over to the Two Things Challenge Blog.

Mellow Yellow

Vinyl Vault and Browsers is something of a hidden retro gem in Cheltenham. Those in the know rate it highly and those that don't know about it soon realise they do when you tell them "its that place in that basement that smells a bit musty and sells old music and clothes"! Situated in the basement of a Regency town house that is now offices, it is crammed floor to ceiling with records (remember them?!), tapes and vintage clothes. I've been there in the past on the hunt for flares to wear to a 70's party. They had dozens of pairs, and the best bit is you can buy them, take them back and they buy them back from you. Talk about recycling!

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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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Fine Details

They certainly knew how to finish off a building in days gone by didn't they? You wouldn't see fantastic detailed sculpture like this on new buildings. Does anyone out there know what this styled topping is called? I have no clue. It looks like feathers or leaf fronds...

It is one of several, high up on the Hotel Kandinsky in Montpellier, which is undergoing a complete refurbishment inside and out. The hotel shut in September last year and is expected to reopen in the Autumn. Tomorrow I'll show you the very artistic hoardings that surround the site.

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Old Tree

Just on the outskirts of the town centre is Clarence Square - a little square of grass, fenced of from the world and accessed by a wrought iron gate. It's surrounded by the Regency town houses that Cheltenham is famous for. As I wandered through the small park I spotted this tree, or rather what is left of this tree. At first I thought it was just a carved sculpture, then I realised its a carved sculpture created from a tree that is still rooted. Tree conservationists in Cheltenham aren't in the habit of letting trees be carved up. I guess the tree was in need of felling and someone with a creative mind came up with this. It looks good, better than it being chipped or used as firewood, and it felt so smooth.

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Not All Pretty

Just to show you that its not all leafy parks, Regency buildings and posh ladies luncheoning in Cheltenham. Like all towns and cities we have problem areas and grotty corners. This is a boarded up building that has been empty for as long as I can remember. Not pretty but reality.

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Black And White

Late post today due to a late night and hangover! Its bank holiday Monday in the UK today so last night we had some friends over for a few drinks, which turned into a lot of drinks! I was planning to show Tewkesbury Food Festival but couldn't stomach it, it'll have to wait until tomorrow! Instead here is a nice simple building.
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Grand Entrance

I think if there were a competition for best door/entrance then this one would win. Its just shouting "look at me!" All that blue and gold, very grand. Nothing more to say other than Alma House is on Rodney Road and the Regency building is used as offices.

Enjoy your weekend.

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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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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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Spring Time

At last - Spring! This is the first blossom I've seen this year. The weather has been milder over the last few days and life is starting to creep back into the parks and gardens around town. We've had a really long and cold winter by our standards so this sight is a very welcome one. Soon the daffodils will be flowering and then spring really will have sprung.

I've got a lot on this week, and its not work - its fun! Anyway, I'm scheduling posts and will comment when I can.

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Green Dome

Just a quick post today. I've posted several different photos showing glimpses of this building over the last few weeks but here is a complete view, with the lion and the domed rotunda, of Lloyd's Bank. This photo was taken from Montpellier Gardens and you can see the new railings I posted about last week. It really is a grand building and it certainly stands out from the other Regency buildings in Cheltenham. Come back tomorrow for my last post....for now....

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!

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/

Marley In Bath

I spent Easter Saturday visiting some friends in Bath, a town about 55 miles South of Cheltenham. Bath is quite similar to Cheltenham as it also has lots of Regency buildings and is renowned for its Spa history. Here are a few of the photos I took. I hope you enjoy them.

The world famous Royal Crescent.

One of the lions on top of the gated entrance to the Royal Park.

A violin playing, tightrope walking street entertainer.

The front of Bath Abbey.

The inside of the Abbey.

A more detailed photo of the stunning stained glass window.

Bath is a favourite haunt for tourists from all over the world and Saturday was no exception. The town was heaving with people. There are loads of things to see in Bath and it would have been nice to be able to explore with a few less visitors, but I still had an excellent day.

Back to Cheltenham photos tomorrow. Come back to see what I can come up with!

New Build

Cheltenham, like many other towns and cities across the country, has seen an influx of modern buildings, some good some bad. This row of new build town houses is just off of Imperial Gardens and is an example of the sort of developments we are seeing. The Council is following government policy to build on unused sites (brownfield) in town centres before pursuing developments out of town (greenfield). Lots of disused spaces in Cheltenham have had new life breathed into them and the majority of new builds are quite sympathetic to their surroundings. The houses above sit easily with neighbouring Regency buildings and I think they add to the character of Cheltenham. Of course there are some new builds that are seen local as an eyesore, but you've got to take the rough with the smooth!

In the background you can see the Eagle Tower, home of the Golden Eagle from yesterday.