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Post by cheerypeabrain on Aug 18, 2017 18:58:53 GMT
Oh how could I forget B.U.R.M.A.
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Post by kerouac2 on Aug 18, 2017 19:00:08 GMT
I'm sure that you Brits will reveal these acronyms to us. All I know is W.A.L.T.H.A.M.
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Norwich
Aug 18, 2017 20:12:37 GMT
via mobile
Post by mickthecactus on Aug 18, 2017 20:12:37 GMT
K.O.K.O.
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Post by mossie on Sept 21, 2017 16:07:10 GMT
Returning from flights of long forgotten fantasy, I recently made another trip up to Norwich. This time I had noticed a place marked on the street plan as "Cow Tower", from farm days I remember they had a tendency to ride on one anothers backs for some reason. This led me into dreaming of several cows each standing one on the other, and knowing the reputation of Norfolk, thought I would find the place. It meant walking along the river from the station and passing the lane leading up to the cathedral, a new guide book informed me that that lane marks the line of a canal used to bring stone up into the city to build the cathedral. Major buildings in those days made liberal use of Caen stone, which is a strong, but light creamy fine grained limestone, which is fairly easily carved. Meaning it was very useful for cathedrals and the like with their delicate tracery and fine lines. A lot of explanation for nothing, here is the cathedral, as seen across the sports fields which lay beside the river. And passing by the Bishops Bridge, which marks the line of the original Roman road into the city. It had its own little forest Eventually, on a sharp bend in the river Cow Tower is reached Built 1398-9, it formed a cornerstone of the city defences and intended to mount artillery, as well as various smaller gun ports and arrow slits, it could house a small garrison. It has stood the test of time, but has had some recent restoration. Note that is is made from very primitive hand made brickwork, the brickies must have cursed those irregular edges, here is a little gunport, now closed by a tile, which shows the state of the bricks and the doorway, showing the use of dressed Caen stone, which all had to be shipped over from Normandy and up the river. Walking on up the path beside the river I was able to supplement my anti spider defences with some super conkers from the trees beside, and suddenly found this artists attempt to house a large flock of strange birds. This was a much more sensible artwork So I retraced my steps to Bishops Bridge where I had spotted a handy pub, and got stuck into my Guinness Just a standard pub and not at all busy, but I guess a nice summer evening would fill it So I wandered back up into the city, passing the Hermitage, and via the cathedral to the bus for the station
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Post by bixaorellana on Sept 22, 2017 15:46:15 GMT
Mossie, does Norwich get much tourism? The more you show, the more it becomes obvious that Norwich would be a lovely place to visit.
Do you really suppose the masons cursed those bricks, or did it make their lives easier than having to shape stone would have been? Also, I wonder if the point of making the tower round was so that it would deflect artillery hits better.
Lovely pictures from you, as always.
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Post by mossie on Sept 22, 2017 18:29:34 GMT
Norwich is a popular shopping place and a few years back ranked No6 in the country for day visitors. As I hope I have shown, it has quite a lot of attractions. I think the reason for the round towers is strength. It is difficult to compare stonework to brickwork, techniques and skills would be very different. Piling bricks one on another takes much less skill than dressing stone to regular shapes. Also stone is not so abundant, as I put, Caen stone had to be shipped from France, no mean feat to move a few hundred tons right up to the site digging canals as required. There was no heavy haulage in those days. I have raked out another photo I took in the cathedral cafe, which I title "Eat your heart out, Kim Kardashian", very cruel but the thought just hit me when I decided to take it.
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Post by kerouac2 on Sept 23, 2017 13:06:50 GMT
I could do with a daytrip to Norwich some day, probably.
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Post by mossie on Jan 28, 2018 22:21:27 GMT
On my last visit I took a quick look round this fine old church, which is right in the city centre beside the market It turned out to be shorter than I had intended because some building work was taking place, and a lot of things were obscured by plastic sheeting to protect them from dust etc. Some is apparent in this general view here They had been digging up the floor in the chancel, so most of the altar rail and also the pulpit had been removed. The old stone slabs covering the worthies buried there were stacked up ready to be replaced when the work is complete. i couldn't discover if the archeologists had had a go at the graves, but it was most likely The carved saint on the post at one end of the altar rail was still in place, keeping a beady eye on the congregation. Priests had to be small to use this door The window is super For some reason, at the other end of the nave, the stairway up to the organ loft had been superceded by this spiral effort. Note the little door which would have given access to the original stone stairs. I guess it may have been needed when this newer, grander and larger, organ had been installed Here is the detail of the older door, although it is relatively modern Not much else this time, but I had had to do a double take when I had visited the library and this animal startled me
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Post by mossie on Mar 13, 2018 19:39:08 GMT
Only one shot this time, not strictly Norwich, but the low sun nicely showed the remains of the Roman town walls around Venta Icenorum. The town built by the Romans to pacify Boadicea's rebellious tribe. It also shows the local flooding caused by the recent snow melting and swelling the little stream which runs by the site.
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Post by kerouac2 on Mar 14, 2018 4:49:58 GMT
Ah, but it looks like the cusp of spring.
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 16, 2018 16:18:38 GMT
Finally catching up to the two most recent additions to this excellent thread. The church and its square are a nice look at the juxtaposition of old and new in Norwich, besides showing how pleasantly spacious the center is. Where were you situated to get that photo?
And at first I thought your most recent photo was a lovely landscape painting -- it's wonderful.
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Post by mossie on Apr 6, 2018 19:41:50 GMT
There is an 'artist' who is all the rage, so much so he is a multimillionaire. But his work falls into what I categorise as 'pretentious crap', so what do I know about art?!! Anyway he has an artwork on public display in Norwich so I went to have a look. It stands in an alleyway leading down to the river opposite the University College of Art. Here it is viewed from its better side Full frontal is frightening In need of a restorative coffee in a nearby cafe, discovered that that was arty as well, although rather more restrained I sat beside this little decorated chest of drawers Crossing over the river had a look in one of Norwichs' many historic churches Here is the solid timber roof, I realise it looks as though it has been laid on its side here I have posted a shot of the recording of a peal of its bell and the clock in the Images thread, but round the corner one always finds a convenient pub, the bell ringers have to have somewhere handy to refresh themselves. I thought this was very aptly named Another interesting shop nearby Then a stroll along by the river to find lunch I did not risk the Mischief but another nearby After a bit of shopping that closed another day out
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Post by bixaorellana on Apr 6, 2018 22:16:37 GMT
Yaay ~ more wonderful views of this charming town! I think your capsule review of the sculpture is rather kind, considering. I don't know how old your children are, but they might be in the right age group to have had The Visible Man model kit, from whence the sculptor seems to have stolen his idea. The artsy cafe is much more pleasant, as is the beautiful church. The turned-on-its-side picture seems rather apt, since it shows so clearly how that kind of roof resembles the interior of a boat. Looks as though Spring has sprung is your area. Thanks for the great visit there.
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Post by kerouac2 on Apr 7, 2018 3:57:24 GMT
Yes, I was thinking that the sculpture wasn't very "artistic" but nevertheless possibly quite useful if one has small children who ask a lot of questions. Then again, they probably ask even more questions than one can answer when confronted with such a sight.
I don't see how you managed to find such good weather, Mossie, since you are stuck in Europe just like a lot of the rest of us.
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Post by bjd on Apr 7, 2018 6:14:30 GMT
When my daughter was 10, I took her to the science museum in Toronto. It is a "hands-on" place with lots of experiments and touchable displays. One of the displays was a model of the human body exactly like this and the kids could take it apart and put it back together. So this artist obviously stole the idea -- it's not art, it's science. A good idea but perhaps more suitable for a basic anatomy class than a public installation.
I like those two pictures behind the people in the café.
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Post by mossie on May 17, 2018 18:45:58 GMT
I have to inflict some more of Norwich on you today, not that I did a lot. I did climb up onto the Castle Mound from where one gets a bit of a view into the city. Particularly straight up one of the side streets across the market to the City Hall. But of course much attention is focussed on the coming Royal wedding, so much so one of the pubs has had the sign repainted. Very greedy, as you see the pub now has three names. The Murderers shows on the sign (not vert appropriate to put Harry beside it), but it is properly known as The Gardeners Arms. To make matters worse only yards away up the hill is this fancy restaurant Enough hot news, hope all the Royal watchers enjoy Saturday. I am pleased as they look a good couple, but do not like all the hoo-hah surrounding them, particularly the press hounding the brides father.
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Post by bixaorellana on May 17, 2018 22:43:00 GMT
Oh -- is that Saturday? Great shots, Mossie. What is the complex of buildings on the far left of the first picture -- the ones with forests on their roofs? Also, what are the very colorful peaked roofs covering part of the street in #2 -- a market? The Gardeners Arms might have skipped spending money on that oddly placed picture of Harry & instead spent it on replacing the poor tired Union Jacks they're flying.
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Post by kerouac2 on May 18, 2018 10:36:48 GMT
There is a lot of fine brickwork in that town.
The trendy vegetal roofs look like they have been there for awhile.
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Post by mossie on May 18, 2018 12:50:55 GMT
The buildings with gardens on the roof are part of the castle complex. Such walls were originally built with walkways on top and storerooms for arms etc underneath.
When a lot of Norwich was built of brick was when bricklaying was a skilled trade, and a bricklayer served a proper apprenticeship. Above all people took pride in their work, not like today, where skills of that sort are despised because they cannot be taught at a university.
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Post by mossie on May 31, 2018 19:07:34 GMT
Yesterdays visit was mainly a stroll along the river, this old tree stump is rotting away, but is still managing to shove up some new growth. We are now into holiday season and these cruisers are moored up temporarily while the occupants visit the city, or just mess about in boats While a pair of swans were cruising about scrounging food The trees along the path are now coming into full leaf Notice Kerouac that it we do have dull days, but it helps smooth out the reflections. To finish here is one of the gates through the old city wall, which ran beside the river in this area. A ferry ran across to here in the 'good old days'
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Post by bixaorellana on May 31, 2018 21:46:48 GMT
Thanks for the answers to my questions, Mossie.
This is a particularly lovely interlude, with exquisite photos. Very surprising to see that ferry landing gate in such perfect repair. Any idea if it's still in use for anything?
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Post by mossie on Jun 1, 2018 13:56:18 GMT
I had forgotten that that gate is at a place called Pulls Ferry. It leads to a lane up to the cathedral grounds which runs along the line of the canal created to bring the Caen stone up to the site of the cathedral from the River Wensum which is a tributary of the River Yare which winds a tortuos way to the North Sea at Great Yarmouth
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 1, 2018 14:57:56 GMT
How lovely! That is a true walk through history.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jun 1, 2018 19:20:20 GMT
And as for me, I am wondering if the modern world could survive without fiberglas boats. Nobody would ever build small recreational boats out of wood these days. So I imagine that this is an improvement of peoples' lives, albeit not necessarily aesthetically.
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Post by mossie on Dec 11, 2018 20:59:53 GMT
A nice bright, but cold, day yesterday saw another little trip up to Norwich. I had a look inside the Forum, which is a large public space which houses the library, the regional BBC, the Information bureau and a shop and cafe. It is also used for public events and I explored a bit while trying to get a shot of their Christmas tree. Here is a general view through the main space, outside one can see the church of St Peter Mancroft. Don't ask, I have no idea what the name means but it is a fine old church, built in the perpendicular style in the 1400's. This was my next port of call, it is well kept and very tidy and is set up for Christmas with a tree covered in labels. and a good Nativity which has obviously been well looked after There is a well decorated altar screen A very fine roof with a full choir of angels and stars Before leaving have to admire the carvers skill on this bench post In the alley outside some street artist's skill and this witty one while beside the market this hot dog seller was taking a rise out of the obnoxious Philip Greed So then it was off to the pub, some shopping, and the train home. Hope you have enjoyed my little stroll.
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Post by breeze on Dec 12, 2018 0:25:27 GMT
It's always a treat for me when you have a day out in Norwich. You always find something new and interesting, or old and interesting.
Locating a library where people like to congregate is always a good idea and this one looks well used. What a view! And comfy chairs to boot.
Gorgeous ceiling and altar screen in the church. Some church functionary did a nice job with the greenery below the creche, using just what's readily available at this time of year.
Are you sure the baby is in the crib? I can't actually see it, and the guy on the right seems aghast.
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 12, 2018 1:55:57 GMT
Yes, what Breeze said -- always something new to show!
The forum is wonderful -- a new style town square.
Love the altar screen.
To Breeze: don't you think they might be waiting until Dec. 25 to put the baby in the crib? Note that the Wise Men haven't arrived yet either, as is correct. Well, Mary & Joseph wouldn't have arrived either this early.
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Post by kerouac2 on Dec 12, 2018 4:30:12 GMT
Yes, in Europe at least, the baby is not put in the crib until the 25th.
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Post by breeze on Dec 12, 2018 11:52:01 GMT
Interesting about the baby Jesus not appearing till the 25th. The things I don't know! Around here, a nativity scene has the baby from the getgo.
Without the baby, three of these people seem to be praying over a pile of straw. The shepherd on the right is thinking he'll go do a little Christmas shopping as long as he's in town, and then come back with the whole flock after the 25th.
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 10, 2019 1:28:53 GMT
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