Love Charlie

 Herne Bay is a coastal town in Kent, it isn't as flashy as nearby Margate and Ramsgate or as picturesque as Whitstable but what it is, is a more relaxed, quieter destination somewhere to take things easy. where life seems to slow down and if that is what you are after then you could do a lot worse than spend some time in Herne Bay. One of the main attractions Herne Bay has to offer is its pier, the original pier was nothing more than a mooring platform that stretched out into the water but during the late Victorian era as holidays became more and more popular the town along with its pier were developed and expanded so much so that by 1897 Herne Bay was home to the country's second longest pier. Throughout the Edwardian era and early C20 the pier was renovated several times accumulating in a grand structure featuring a pavilion theatre. Following World War II the pier seemed to fall on harsh times and on January 11 1978 a large storm destroyed a large section of the structure l...

 'An English man's home is his castle', is quite a true statement and for many years when it came to his home, whether it be semi detached, detached or even a bungalow,  he preferred it to be a two storey dwelling. A s a nation we seemed to turn up our noses at living in a multi storey dwelling, the idea was seen as European, those in Paris or Barcelona may have accepted the idea of people living on top of people but over here it was mostly shunned upon, there are however a few, early examples of us doing just that.  The Albert Hall Mansions in Kensington, London is one such example built in 1879 this Victorian tower block rising 10 storeys (including two attic floors) and situated in a very picturesque and exclusive location, opposite both the Royal Albert Hall and Kensington Gardens was one of the first to throw of our reservations of multi storey living. Designed in the Queen Anne style by architect Norman Shaw the building was constructed from red brick and features l...

Scarborough is a town situated along the North Sea Coast in North Yorkshire, England. Following the discovery of mineral water flowing from its cliffs in the 1620s the historical town became the country's first seaside resort and with beautiful sandy beaches and picturesque cliffs Scarborough continues to be a popular destination with holidaymakers to this day.  High upon the cliff head sits Scarborough Castle which has looked out across the town and sea since the 1130s, the old town is nestled below along its harbour and marina while its town centre is found adjacent on an elevated stretch of coast. Scarborough has managed to be both an evergreen tourist spot while managing to maintain a large amount of its historic architecture and it is that which this post is dedicated to, so come with me and explore some of the interesting buildings Scarborough has to offer! Information on buildings can be difficult to find especially if they aren't well known or classed as an important si...

Leeds Town Hall is an excellent example of Victorian Architecture and the civic pride that ensured their public buildings were as grand and as decorative as they could afford. Similar to how a company's internet or website today is their public image, the architecture of towns and cities displayed not only to it's population but to the rest of the country that their town was something to be proud of. In 1850 Leeds Council decided that with their town's growing population (Leeds became a city in 1893) and success in the area that they needed and deserved a new town hall, this combined with the desire to compete with the nearby town of Bradford which was also experiencing growth meant Leeds required something grand, something lavish, something that would indicate to the rest of the country just how important the town had become. Leeds Town Hall A Pillar Of The Community In 1852 a competition was held to design this new symbol of Leeds civic pride, the winner a Mr Cuthbert Bro...

My hometown of Wolverhampton is a city in England, with a population of around 250,000 it is the 13th largest city in the country, located about 15 miles north west of England's second largest city, Birmingham, it forms the second largest area of the West Midlands Conurbation with a combined population of 2.5 million. Wolverhampton received it's city status in 2000 earning it's title as the Millennium City, it originally grew as a market town serving the woollen trade, due to it's location close to the birthplace of industry, Ironbridge, the town expanded rapidly during the Industrial Revolution. More recently the production of cars and motorbikes became an important factor in keeping the town on it's feet and today engineering and education are two of it's major employers. Wolves, Wolvo, Wolverhampton, Home As with any city with a long history Wolverhampton has an interesting array of architecture covering all eras over the last few centuries, her...

It's the most famous clock in the world, instantly recognisable and a landmark of not just London but for the whole of Great Britain, it's a very good time keeper too, I am writing about Big Ben. Big Ben as seen from Westminster Abbey The Queen Elizabeth Tower or as it is more commonly known Big Ben, is a tall, Gothic clock tower and the most recognisable feature of the Houses Of Parliament in London, the title actually refers to the bell inside the tower not the building itself but over the years has come to symbolise both. It's official title of The Queen Elizabeth Tower  was named in honour of Queen Elizabeth ll (the second) on her Diamond Jubilee in 2012, renamed from simply The Clock Tower (how inventive) it was also known as St.Stephens Tower.  Completed in 1859 in a Gothic Revival style to the designs of Augustus W.N. Pugin ,  the clock first started ticking on 31 May 1859, it's other musical attributes however were first heard in stages, it's hourly s...

An Evolution In Architecture I have an interest in architecture, just a quick look through this blog should prove that! I don't know when or how it came about but it is something I have been passionate about for quite some time. To be more precise I have an interest in old architecture, Victorian, Edwadian, Art Deco, designs from eras when buildings had detail, I am not adverse to modern architecture but find it as a whole quite bland and boring, although I am aware of some more recent whimsical constructions.  This hall should be in a museum, the Grand Hall of the Natural History Museum in London My favourite design has to be the Natural History Museum in London, a place I have visited many times over the last few years both with family members and on my own. Entrance to the museum is free and if you plan your visit carefully and go during school hours then it is a lot quieter, not only are the displays interesting however but the museum itself is a masterpiece. Alth...