Got to say this is NOT the sort of growth you want to see in Bath’s tourist industry. I have no idea how the ‘powers-that-be’ will manage a spot of weeding on Robert Adam’s amazing 18th century Pulteney Bridge – but something needs doing.
Surely this sort of green invasion allows roots to damage the joints between the blocks of Bath stone. Every new crack lets in the weather.
It also doesn’t look too good in the background when you are posing for a picture at one of the most iconic – AND most visited – locations in this World Heritage city. After all, its not everyday you get to stand in front of one of only four bridges in the world with shops lining either side of the structure.
As a relative newcomer to living in Bath l am still feeling my way around the city and its colourful characters.
One of them came into my field of vision yesterday after l posted these images on Twitter. Artist and illustrator Perry Harris has something of a reputation for his amazing cartoons inspired by this city.
I found a quote from him on-line which best describes what he does.
‘I’ve worked in a few areas of art, from cartoonist for punk fanzine Vague to stage scenery painter for the long demolished Theatre Royal Workshop to Architectural illustrator. When not doing my day job, I like to draw & paint.
Over the last 6 or so months I have been posting my cartoons on Twitter as @Uhperry – I mainly draw cartoons of Bath, sometimes they represent day to day life in the city or reflect a current news story (should the gasworks stay or go?). Sometimes it will be just a silly joke or pun…occasionally I’ll just turn the population into giant cats.’
I was honoured to see that my little observational piece about the ‘greening’ of Pulteney Bridge had inspired him to produce his own version of a ‘lost city’ covered in undergrowth. Thanks Perry. He’s worth following folks.
