Category: England - Reading the Signs

Search the site

The Bug Is In The Detail

12/9/2018

If I only had time to write all the blog posts that are rattling around my brain. There are so many photographs foldered on the drive, just awaiting some words to be uploaded here.

These bugs and creepy crawlies were not even in the foldered category this morning. There were in the large grouping or of 250 days of photographs in the ‘To Be Foldered’ folder – but no longer, thanks to a tweet.

This morning, Look UpLondon’s post was about the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. When I saw the images, it reminded me of the building I went past last December.

The blog post reminded me of everything that impressed at the time and which was photographed:

The entrance door and carved logo over
The metalwork railings adorned with specimens
The names carved in stone at top of façade

I even liked the font and style of the streetname.

To learn about the building, take thyself off to LookUpLondon – it will be time well spent.

Three Cathedrals, A Funeral and A Painting

17/3/2018

Sketch for the Funeral of Terence MacSwiney, Lord Mayor of Cork 1920 by Sir John Lavery

Above is a painting by Sir John Lavery held in Crawford Art Gallery.

Below are photographs of the interiors of three Cathedrals.

Take your pick.

Cathedral of St. Mary & St Anne, Cork

Southwark Cathedral

Cathedral of St George, Southwark

This blog post has been rambling around my brain for over two years – hopefully it will not be as long when you get to the end.

This Grave to be Closed Forever

18/1/2017

I do like visiting cemeteries. I do like mosaics.

It is not often that the two combine but they did so in Castlebar a few months back.

I had an early morning stroll around the cemetery. I stopped to ponder at the ceramic mosaic.

It appeared to be a triple grave but if anyone else was to be buried on the left section, it would mean destroying the mosaic.

Briefly I wondered as to whether that section was full; whether a decision was made that no more would be buried on that side; or even none buried at all on that side. Then I walked on and it was mentally filed away as a potential blog, sometime.

Over the Christmas break, I spotted a tweet from GraveyardDetective where he had spotted a headstone in Anfield Cemetery upon which was engraved the message that the grave was not to be reopened after the couple were buried.

It did add a sense of mystery and intrigue.

Why?

Liam Burke (near Castletownroche)

I have seen similar messages only relating to Irish Republican Memorials but to effect that gate/wall remains until Ireland is fully free. I have never seen such a message in a cemetery.

Donal Shinnick (near Mitchelstown)

Back to Anfield - Why? Why was it necessary to have engraved? Was it obeyed?

I have no answers so your imagination is probably as good as mine, if not better – let it loose on that for a while.

A final reminder to self – better upload those mosaics that I have spotted around Cork. Until then, a taster.

Foiling the Birds - at what cost

23/7/2016

In Liverpool a few months back, I spotted an old building with mesh on the façade.

My initial thought was this was an effort to restrict any loose material from falling onto passers-by. I thought that the Building Control in the Council were very proactive in reducing possible risks.

But then, I spotted more and more buildings with mesh. They were all old buildings. They all had decorative elements – ledges, scrolls, carvings, or parapets.

All of these decorative elements would provide a spot for birds to rest and watch the world go by. I now suspect that the mesh is to prevent birds – bird netting. I am not sure I share the marketing spin that it is discreet.

It got me thinking that this might well be an argument for architects and designers to avoid decorative details on building facades, especially in port cities where the extent of birds may be greater.

That then got me worried that the flat plain glass façades that are so prominent in the buildings of today are likely to continue.

‘I have seen the future and it is of regular surface with no features’ does not really give much hope. Does it? Or is it just me?

Kerb Envy

23/6/2016

Kerbs, to misquote Frank Sinatra, I’ve seen a few.

Many years of construction site visits has provided sight of precast concrete, timber sleepers, in-situ concrete with formwork edge and limestone kerbs. I have seen brick edgings and even plywood. Rubble stonework has also been used.

In Ironbridge, appropriately enough, I spotted a kerb made from a material that I had not seen used before – cast iron.

I like the thin depth of the kerb profile and the toothed effect. It looks like it stands up to tyre wheel impact better than concrete.

I like. I do like.

The Way of Moss

18/6/2016

MacMillan prefers Mossy to Mossey, which is does not list. Microsoft Word also objects to Mossey.

Chambers and Collins, similarly list Mossy but do not have an entry for Mossey.

Mossie or Moss, or even Mossy, have been met as shortenings of Maurice.

Until I was in Telford last month, I had never read of ‘Mossey’ but even now I am unsure if it is an adjective or whether it refers to a Mr. Green….

The Healthy Option at Breakfast

17/6/2016

It has been a while since I attended the Cardiac Rehabilitation classes – so some of the details may have faded over time.

Even with a restricted recollection, I am fairly certain that they did not recommend a breakfast as healthy when consisting of grilled bacon and sausages; waffle; hash browns; poached egg; beans; tomato; toast or bread & butter; and, tea or coffee.

Maybe the grilling and poaching makes things healthy.

Or maybe it is healthy in comparison to the others at Midway.

The Alternatives

Midway Truckstop

Imparting a Different Message

14/6/2016

An rud is annamh is íontach. - What is seldom is wonderful.

We have all seen them. The messages are in very many places:

Cash only – no credit/debit card

Minimum €10 transaction for card transaction

Toilets are for customers’ use only

(and listening to Joe Duffy last week, someone was saying that they were told that they had to order and pay before using the facilities).

They are so common that they are really part of the world now and barely warrant any attention.

That is until I spotted this sign at The White Hart in Ironbridge and was reminded of how a community friendly business might care for all potential customers.

To The White Hart, Well done and thank you.

The Norm

Hopefully a caring future

A Public Library

13/6/2016

I write in the margins of my books – generally notes to cross-reference to other dots of information.

I love when I buy a second-hand book to read the notes or inscriptions of others. It is a bit similar to the mantra that we are only custodians of our houses/buildings and are holding them for the next generation. I like to read what the previous generation might have added to the book.

I am a fan of Bookcrossing and very much appreciate public realm works so I was very well impressed with Liverpool One for their book swap chill zone.

Love – A Charity Fundraiser

8/6/2016

I have blogged about the love locks on Shandon Bridge in Cork and those subjected to sea spry at Lahinch.

Last month, we spotted a section of the quay wall in the Docks Museum area which has become a Love Locks zone. But when in Co. Clare, I spotted a new twist on the Love Locks.

In Ennistymon, the metal mesh protecting the shop window has been designated a Love Locks zone – but subject to payment to charity.

I suspect that my make-up dictates that I am not the target audience – even for the free option.

Art - under your feet

4/6/2016

We spotted this outside Lime Street Station in Liverpool.

There were a good number of paving slabs with similar engravings.

I assume that they are computerised/automated engravings from original sketches.

I do like the image as well as the inclusion of co-ordinates. Anything that makes a streetscape, building or place unique is good in my opinion.

Compliance with regulations and need to meet CE, or I.S./B.S standards are such that I believe they are encouraging a small number of manufacturers and a smaller range of products in all construction materials.

It could be argued that shopping centres and main streets are similarly affected with stores from the same chains occupying the centres of cities - each city turning into a version of the other.

I am definitely fed up with standardisation. I have long since determined to support to support the local independent over the branch of the chain.

These paving slabs are just another reminder as to the value of difference and being unique.

I read of proposals for art on the pavings in The Liberties in Dublin, and smiled. Well done, The Liberties.

Erasing The Full Monty

24/5/2016

Chester

A few years back, I admired the carved stonework on Patrick St. recording Montague Buton as a Tailor of Taste. I regularly look up when passing on way to the English Market and smile in appreciation.

A few weeks back, we were in Chester, a city with an amount of heritage and historic buildings. I was surprised to spot that a similar carved stone feature was cut back to create a smooth surface. I would have thought that such carvings were part of the heritage to be retained.

I suspect that, as a ghostsign, Mr. Burton will be visible for some years yet.

Patrick St., Cork

Patrick St., Cork

The Promised Land

8/5/2016

Chester, England

I have not seen or heard of a similar address in Ireland.

In the week since I spotted the sign, it has been running around my head. In the Celtic Tiger years, with so many new developments all competing for a memorable name, I do not think anyone tried this.

Maybe there is time yet for it to be used.

The Lusitania Sank – 101 years ago today

7/5/2016

“Every Man’s Work Shall Be Made Manifest. For The Day Shall Declare It.”

This morning, I was reminded of this anniversary by Stair na hÉireann, Irish History Links and Don MacRaild .

An interesting tweet this morning included a photograph of notice offering a reward for discovery of a body of a Lusitania passenger, Robert Preston Prichard.

A few weeks back, I blogged about the statue of Robert Emmet in St. Stephen’s Green. This was made by Jerome Connor who also made the Lusitania Memorial in Cobh. This week, we were well impressed with the exhibition about the Lusitania at the Liverpool Maritime Museum.

As well as a poster from the White Star Line agent in Caherciveen – John Dennehy, the Museum had a map showing the addresses of those travelling on the Lusitania. William Lawrence was originally from Wales but his then address was Whitegate, Co. Cork – the only Cork address and one of only six from Ireland, Hugh Lane was not among them.

All of these connecting dots were prompt enough for me to put together the photographs from different places linking the Lusitania.

Modern Art Crossing The Line…

6/5/2016

Five-Man Pedersen

If you are looking for any expertise in what defines Art, modern or otherwise, the screen in front of you now is definitely not the correct place.

I am no expert in what defines Modern Art but I did understand it to be work that went beyond what had become the norm; work of a style that challenged the viewer as to interpretation and meaning; work that went beyond the limits of acceptability. A quick web trawl gave me comfort that I was not very wrong with my understanding as to Modern Art.

Terms that come to mind include ‘stepping outside a comfort zone’; ‘challenging the norm’; and, ‘pushing boundaries’.

On Tuesday, I smiled when at the Tate in Liverpool. Of all the places to discourage ‘crossing the line’, the Tate was not top of the list in my mind.

I watched many others pass the art installation. Not one smiled. No one appeared to see any humour in the message on the floor.

I did mention that I was far from an art expert.

Simon Starling