There’s a real feeling today of Spring being held back by this cold and literally blasted weather. A real seasonal tension being played out here on the lawns of the Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel. In Pulteney Street l saw a woman clutching a little pot of sunshine, between her hands, to take home and brighten her grey day. Tiny narcissus bulbs with flowers glowing yellow on this dark and winter-gripped day.
Enough poetics. While l was there l noticed someone had carved initials above the house number over the front door at number 48. Who or what was ‘B.C.’ l wonder?
Have to say l wonder why the Holburne Museum continues to keep its gate into Sydney Gardens unlocked. The entrance to the museum’s grounds is an almost impassable giant patch of mud.
Walking down Cheap Street – which means market by the way – l glanced into Parsonage Lane and noticed – for the first time ever – a beautifully carved window and doorway with two cherubs holding up a wreath above on the left hand side of this narrow street. An architectural mixture of classical and baroque. Does anyone know its history?
Heading up Lansdown Hill another example of faded Victorian street advertising. What exactly was the Old Red House? This building on River’s Street is not that colour, but it does seem to have been the local branch of a business established in 1798! Another puzzle that – hopefully – someone can help me with.
The Old Red House was a magnificent old-world bakery and patisserie in the premises in New Bond Street now Laura Ashley. It was wood panelled and had a tea rooms and an upper gallery. It then became a coffee house and gallery run by Jan Howarth the artist and then wife of Peter Blake. This has a collection of raw linen covered sofas painted by ma
ny different artist friends. I often used to sit on a genuine Peter Blake.
Thanks for that George. A mind full of useful information!
Not everyone gets to sit on Peter Blake!