A blog of sketches of historic buildings - Marks of Time

bath

28/12/2024

The Roman baths which gave their name to the city. The pool is ancient but the surrounding buildings largely a scholarly nineteenth century reinterpretation. The statues overlooking the pool represent Roman Emperor's and governors of Britain. A fantastic space, well worth the visit imparting a direct connection to the Roman use of the city and with a good well presented museum attached. This time of the year was celebrated as 'Saturnalia' by the Romans a week long festival around the winder solstice. In the background, Bath Abbey, connected in the 12th century, a Benedictine monastery until the 1540's, restored by Sir George Gilbert Scott in the 1860's.

Avebury

21/12/2024

Happy Winter Solstice, the shortest day in the year and a time of rebirth into longer days and spring once again. Celebrated by the ancients often by the alignment of stones basted upon the rising sun. Avebury in Wiltshire is one such place with stones enclosed within a large earthen surround. So large, indeed, that there is a small village within the enclosure. I had the chance to visit during the summer. Originally, the complex consisted of over 700 standing stones and contained the world's largest stone circle. Long stone avenues led to inner circles and at the heart a stone temple. Wonderfull place, full of atmosphere and mystery. Also a world heritage site a thus regarded as being a feature of outstanding value to humanity.

Watchet east quay

1/12/2024

The wonderful East Quay in Watchet a collection of artists studios, craft shops, cafe and holiday lets to the side of the town's harbour. Quite an unexpected sight but warm and welcoming. Well worth the visit. RIBA South West Building of the Year 2023.

thatched houses, Huish Lane, washford, Somerset

23/11/2024

A fine row of unlisted thatched houses in the small village of Washford, Somerset. Water Reed roofs cut sharply back at the eaves with straw ridges finished with pointed straw finials. Looking well in the clear sunshine.

Lynmouth, Devon

21/11/2024

Beautiful village at the edge of Exmoor. Steep gorge and wooded hills around with a funicular railway rising up the steep slope to villas in the trees behind. Massive damage caused in a flood in 1952 and over 100 houses buildings and bridges destroyed including the Renhish tower drawn here at the land entrance to the pier. The projection at the top is not a mobile phone mast but rather a 'brazier' presumably for setting a light at the entrance to the village.

Salisbury

3/11/2024

Relocated from Old Sarum, a huge Iron Age hill fort on the outskirts of today's town, in 1220, Salisbury was originally known as New Sarum and was granted city status in 1227. The famous cathedral was commenced in 1221 with stones taken from the former cathedral in Old Sarum. The main body of the building was completed in the following 38 years. A stone defensive wall was built around the close of the new cathedral in the 14th century and a busy town developed outside the walls. Today many medieval buildings survive. This is a view down High Street towards the cathedral. High Street Gate marks the entrance to the more serene atmosphere of the cathedral close.

Stonehenge

27/10/2024

One of the most iconic monuments in the world. Stonehenge on Salisbury Plane, Wiltshire, on a dramatic wet windy day. I sketched this drawing from a photograph I took on my visit and decided not to shade the iconic stones. It is a very atmospheric place with the long walk up the road from the visitor centre adding to the atmosphere. Every lump and bump in the surrounding area feels full of meaning and, in fact, most are, as the upstanding monument is only one part of a wider ritual landscape. The first Stonehenge was built around 5,000 years ago with the larger stones we see today being erected 2,500 years ago. Well worth the visit and very well presented despite the large numbers of visitors.

Larne Town Hall

19/10/2024

It has been pointed out to me that I have no drawings of Larne on this website. I do, but it is tucked away within the general Ulster Tour. This sketch, from 2014, shows the fine town hall. Opened in 1870 it is a classic example of Ruskinian Gothic with the polychrome brickwork approach John Ruskin popularised in his writings after visiting Venice. It was also the style of choice for much of our railway buildings which were constructed around the same time. When first opened it contained a large meeting room, offices, a reading room and library and a small museum. The building was very carefully conserved by the District Council about 15 years ago an is in very good condition. Still with a municipal use, it makes a strong contribution to the historic heart of this Ulster town.

Thornton Manor, Wirral.

7/10/2024

Thornton Manor was the home from 1888 to 1919 of William Lever (Viscount Leverhulme) who built the Port Sunlight garden village to house the workers of his Sunlight Soap factory in a high quality environment. He significantly adapted and extended this building and gardens, commenced in the 1840's from his time here. This included the provision of a bed on a platform at roof level, enclosed only by a tarpaulin above where he slept every night The estate remained in the ownership of the Lever family until recent times when it was sold and became a high end wedding venue. Unfortunately, a major fire in February 2022 gutted most of the main building, though the stables remain open to rent and the garden is still well worth a visit.

Dunham Massey, cheshire.

29/9/2024

The south west elevation of Dunham Hall, with the cupola of the Carriage House beyond, overlooking the moat like pond along the edge of the main buildings. The Carriage House has a date stone of 1721. The main building was rebuilt in 1732-40 and again altered at the start of the nineteenth century. Now operated ny the National Trust and open to the public.