Dee Time

St Mary the Virgin in Mortlake was built in 1543, replacing a 14th century church closer to the river on the site of what was a 20th century brewery and is 21st century flats.

English Baroque

Butterwick House in Hammersmith was built in the early 1700s by one Edward Ferne who added a wing for his mistress, an actress. 

NFN

Across the road from the site of the Mortlake Tapestry Works is St Mary the Virgin, Mortlake. I finally took a look inside on Monday.

Strawberry Hill Revisited

The concept is that the Lost Treasures of Strawberry Hill have been temporarily returned for a once-in-a-lifetime experience but like the curate’s egg it is only good in parts.

Summer’s Lease

“Summer’s lease hath all too short a date … “ This is the auditorium and stage of Opera Holland Park as it looks in winter.

Social Anthropology

I read Anthropology (and Psychology and English) at Durham. The origins of Man were hard to get a grip on and defeated me. However, I did enjoy Social Anthropology. It may have inspired trips in later years to the Middle East, Africa and the Caucasus.

From Alperton to Paddington

How do you first see a city? Arriving at Venice’s Santa Lucia station and stepping out onto broad steps leading down to the Grand Canal is hard to beat. Yesterday I walked to London along the Paddington arm of the Grand Union Canal.

Castles in the Air

This is the view from the top floor looking north. The futuristic office building on the left is The Ark. To the right, the chocolate and white striped building is a Novotel.

Witney

Witney is famous as David Cameron’s constituency from 2001 to 2016  but three hundred years earlier Witney was synonymous with blankets.