Thursday Doors

15-06-17

The weather has been so unpredictable this year but it finally seems to have settled a little. Managed to get out and about this week on a couple of days in between the chores. Here’s my (late) eclectic contribution to Norm 2.0 “Thursday Doors” blog.

Fleur Enjoying The Warmth

Met up with my PhotoBuddies on Tuesday for a coffee and a walk around some of the older parts of the city (Leicester).

Louvre’s 

This is very near to where the old Great Central Railway bridged it’s way into the station. I’ve decided I like louvre’s.

Underneath The Arches

These two guy’s were more than happy to pose for a photograph outside their Engineering Co. which sits under the old railway arches. We had a good chat about how the area had changed over the years. I’ll pop back next week and drop them in a print of this photo.

S R & S 1919

I’ve tried to find out what S R & S was, but no luck. I guess a trip to the reference library and a look at some old trade directories might supply the answer. The whole area (Bath Lane) had a lot of engineering companies and foundries in it’s heyday, it’s now becoming an apartment block zone !

Peeling

Tucked Away

The next few are from yesterday’s (Thursday) trip to town.

This shop at the top of the Market Place is being restored, it’s a lovely old shopfront.

Knight & Garter

This pub has been just been totally restored, I was tempted to go in and try the beer but I had jobs to do at home.

Bowling Green Street
 
I’ve walked past this lovely doorway countless times, never really took much notice. But it’s been restored and is now a restaurant. Can’t find much information about the building other than it’s Grade 11 listed and possibly the old Water Board offices.

Thursday Doors

01-06-17

Thursday Doors and Street Art might be a better title for my contribution to the excellent Norm 2.0 blog, do click through and check out some of the great contributions.

Was completely oblivious that last weekend there was a street painting event “Bring The Paint” in our cultural quarter, just as I had no idea the Queen was visiting my home town in April. I don’t use social media very much, just Instagram, really gone off facebook where apparently information about the event abounded !!!!

I had arranged to meet up with a couple of friends for a Photowalk on Tuesday and much of the street art was still around.

Photo Buddies
 
I’ve known the guy on the far side of the street since 1970 when we were both at Leicester School of Printing and both had hair.

Counting this one as a door, and there’s a shopping trolley as a bonus.

This one even has an electricity substation behind it, one of my favourite subjects.

 
A lovely old gate.

And from the front.

The little window caught my eye on this one.

Roller Shutters

 

Music Venue Door

The Sound House apparently want to keep the street art on their building.

Old Factory Door

This is the side gate to the factory above.

Finally Some Neglected Doors

All of this artwork was completed over one weekend, most of it will disappear as the whole of the Cultural Quarter is in the process of being restored or rebuilt.

Thursday Doors

18-05-17

Orthez, Aquitaine, France

A bit of a cop out really, but my excuse is 2 weeks of man flu and not very good weather. Hopefully I’ll be out and about soon and have some new doors to post. These images are from around 2006 and taken on a film camera.

Check out the excellent Norm 2.0 blog for a great selection of doors from around the globe.

My friends moved out to Aquitaine to set up a Bed & Breakfast, which I have visited many times. It’s such a lovely area, and I hope to be seeing them again later this year. The nearest town of any size is Orthez, it’s a set on the Gave de Pau, has some great buildings and more importantly some great doors.

Gave de Pau

14th Century Bridge & Tower

I guess I’ve always liked photographing doors, archways, and gates !

This One Was For Sale

This is What the Rest of it Looked Like

If only I’d had a million or two.

All Good Things

Pastries, Chocolates, and Beer, what more do you want ?

Furniture

Religious Building

Really liked the Ivy and the doorway of course.

Olympus OM101/(OM88) #2

A few more images from the Olympus OM101, these were taken at Stamford, Lincolnshire on Rollei Retro 400s film. The weather was really bright and this brought out a bit of the infrared sensitivity of the film, a red filter would have shown it more, next time.

Post Haste 

35 – 70mm lens.

Great Windows

35 – 70mm lens.

Waiting

35 – 70mm lens.

Canopy

35 – 70mm lens.

Ricoh Shotmaster Ultra Dual #2

The Last Real Department Store Closes

35mm lens Setting

55mm lens Setting
This was the last real traditional department store in the city and has now sadly closed. I used to shop there for greetings cards and kitchen bits bobs, the staff were really friendly and helpful. The store was first opened in 1880, it was called Joseph Johnson & Co. (Some interesting History) This seems to be the story in a lot of countries around the world. I believe it’s going to become apartments, no surprise there.

Victoria Park Gateway

35mm lens Setting
On a brighter note the the gates and stonework to Victoria park (not far from where I live) have been restored and look really good. They have also completely rebuilt the car park, I was a bit dismayed at first because they cut down a lot of trees, but have replanted with more than there were before.   

Thursday Doors

30-03-17

It really should be Thursday Gates for my contribution to Norm’s excellent Norm 2.0 blog. The weather has been really temperamental in my part of the UK but I managed to gather a few gates on my travels over the last few weeks.

Some Attention Needed

This one belongs to a pub, a good real ale house.

Faded

I liked the colour and the bars above this gate.

Well Protected

Scissors

Victorian Filigree

24 Hour Access

I actually took this image 2 years ago, but have been looking for a reason to post it.

Ecclesiastical Gates

From my visit to Stamford Lincolnshire last week.

Thursday Doors

23-03-17

Here’s my contribution to “Thursday Doors” on the  Norm 2.0 blog, some great contributions over there, worth checking out.

It’s been over 20 years since I visited Stamford in Lincolnshire so on Tuesday I jumped on a train, and 3 stops and 40 minutes later I arrived at Stamford. It was a lovely sunny day but cold.

Candlesticks

The first door that caught my eye was this curved restaurant door. The menu looked really good, including a bottle of wine for £650.oo ! The food prices were far more reasonable.

The Blossoms Were Out

Georgian

Most of the buildings in Stamford are constructed using this lovely honey coloured stone.

The Pub Door

Broad & Slim

Pink or Cerise ?

A Bit Of Symmetry

Red & Stone

I thought this door had quite an unusual design.

Moon Door

Green & Stone

Wall Clock

St John The Baptist Church Door

Really enjoyed the visit to Stamford, the people were very friendly and I had some of the best Fish & Chips I’ve had in a long time. Definitely be going back.