A wander around Abingdon, Oxfordshire (looking for signs old and new)

A different destination for today's wander. Looking to go somewhere different from home, but not travelling too far, we decided to stop off at Abingdon in Oxfordshire for a few hours. Our wander started with a short and muddy walk along the Thames path, which was pleasant enough, but soon we ended up in the town, with scenery more fitting for my blog.

Starting off with what I originally thought was a bit over over-officious policing of the waterway, but then realised it had a more humourous tone to it.

Sign at Abingdon lock, River Thames, Oxfordshire

Sign at Abingdon lock, River Thames, Oxfordshire

In to the town now and pleasing to find not only an old sign / ghost sign on the Oxfam shop, but also two doorway mosaics there too. The sign reads

LANGFORD & SONS CORN & COAL MERCHANTS

Old sign for Langford & Sons Corn & Coal Merchants, Abingdon, Oxfordshire

Doorway mosaic, Abingdon, Oxfordshire

Doorway mosaic, Abingdon, Oxfordshire

Following the doorway mosaic at the Corn and Coal merchants, I found another just a little further down the road. This shop threshold also had some ornate tile work.

Doorway mosaic, Abingdon, Oxfordshire

Ornate tile work, Abingdon, Oxfordshire

Good to see the sign for the FREE LIBRRAY is still in situ, even if the library itself is long gone.

Old sign for former Free Library, Abingdon, Oxfordshire

Old sign for former Free Library, Abingdon, Oxfordshire

A short visit to the town, which we rounded off with a quick visit to the museum. These two pictures are from the roof terrace which is open upon request for a small fee.

View from the rooftop of the Abingdon Museum, Oxfordshire

Zooming in a little and the horizon is pretty much filled with what remains of Didcot Power Station.

Didcot Power Station from the rooftop of the Abingdon Museum, Oxfordshire

That's all for today. Thanks as always for reading. Comments welcome.

A Weekend Wandering in Kent (part 7, doorway mosaics of Canterbury and Rochester)

Finally we arrive at the last instalment of my recent weekend in Kent. Today it's the turn of Canterbury, Chatham and Rochester to feature. The day trip to Canterbury was on a very wet and grey day, so there are no classic cathedral pictures, not only because of the weather but also as some of it was being repaired. I did find a few wonderful doorway mosaics though.

H.Hart & Co Ltd., Doorway mosaic, Canterbury, Kent

Deakin, Doorway mosaic, Canterbury, Kent

Deakin & Sons, Doorway mosaic, Canterbury, Kent 

On the way back home from Kent we stopped off at Chatham. We had a vague notion of visiting the dockyard but were put off by the price, so instead had a quick wander along the river and to Rochester. These two pictures of the Medway were taken from a lovely little Café-cum-Gallery called Sun Pier House.

The Medway River at Chatham

The Medway River at Chatham

After filling our bellies and with just a little time left before our car parking expired, we headed off on a short wander into Rochester.

J.Stanley Outfitter, Doorway Mosaic, Rochester, Kent 

Doorway Mosaic, Rochester, Kent 

I was half-tempted to remove the door mat, or at least peek under it, but was a little too self-conscious. Maybe some kind reader can tell me what's hidden, assuming something is.

Chemist, Doorway Mosaic, Rochester, Kent 

A.J.Ireland, Doorway Mosaic, Rochester, Kent

Thanks once again for reading. This is the last blog post I'll be doing of Kent, at least for a while anyway. I have a few archived trips that I've not yet written up so will post on one of those next time, not sure which one yet though.

A Weekend Wandering in Kent (part 6, Whitstable)

Having finished my last post on Margate in my previous post, we now move on to Whitstable. This was a remarkable day out in that we had done no research whatsoever so had absolutely no expectations of what it would be like, nor what we would do there. Firstly the weather was wonderful, which always helps, and secondly the town and its surroundings were beautiful. Our wander on this glorious day started at the harbour and took us west along the coast for a couple of hours, and then back into to the town.

Whitstable Harbour, Kent 

Whitstable Harbour, Kent 

Boats on the beach, Whitstable, Kent

Although the skies were clear, it was fairly cold so not that many people walking along the beach and sea front once we'd left the town. The beach huts looked wonderful in the winter sun, but none were being used today.

Beach huts, Whitstable, Kent 

Beach huts, Whitstable, Kent

Beach huts, Whitstable, Kent

Beach huts, Whitstable, Kent

A red boat on the beach, Whitstable, Kent

The beach, Whitstable, Kent

 The beach, Whitstable, Kent

The beach, Whitstable, Kent

We must have walked along the beach and shore line for a good few miles before turning back. We had hoped to find a cozy little café to stop at for tea and cake but weren't in luck as the only one for miles was closed for the season. On the return leg we were treated to a most spectacular sunset. In this picture it's only just getting going.

Sunset over the beach, Whitstable, Kent

The sunset also made for some lovely, enhanced colouring on the already beautiful beach huts.

Beach huts catch the sunset, Whitstable, Kent

And also on this overturned red boat.

A red boat on the shore, Whitstable, Kent

These houses reminded me a little of the Painted Ladies in San Francisco. What a wonderful view they must have.

 Painted houses, Whitstable, Kent

As we arrived back at the outskirts of Whitstable, the sunset became more and more spectacular. There was a well situated pub, The Old Neptune I think, where we sat down for a mulled wine and mince pie to watch the sunset. Pretty sure it was the one featured on the cover of Whitstable and Herne Bay Pubs.

Sunset over the beach, Whitstable, Kent

Sunset over the beach, Whitstable, Kent

Suitably refreshed we headed into the actual town for the first time in our visit where we found a pleasing selection of ghost signs, doorway mosaics and street art.

CELEBRATED ALES & STOUTS

Ghost sign, Whitstable, Kent

Doorway mosaic, Whitstable, Kent

 What struck me most about this piece of street art was the Crass logo in the middle of the girl's white dress. Took me right back to my rebellious teenage years.

Street art, Whitstable, Kent

This selection of ghost signs was a bit strange in that they almost looked as though they were recent additions made to look old, but I'm sure that's not the case and just looks that way because the wall behind has been recently painted.

WILLS's

STAR

CIGARETTES

WILLS's

GOLD FLAKE

WILLS's

FLAG

CIGARETTES

Ghost signs, Whitstable, Kent

To end my Whitstable post, here's another piece of street art which caught my eye, the Queen being pulled along by her corgies. The thing about this that amused me most was the fact that she is wearing trainers.

Street art, Whitstable, Kent

Thanks for reading. Comments always welcome. Still a few Kent instalments left to write so remember to check back in a few days.

A Weekend Wandering Around Kent (part 5, Margate to Broadstairs)

And so we come to the final Margate post, which covers a walk along the coast from Margate to  Broadstairs. Once again there is a mixture of different vistas, ranging from the sunny view from the Turner Gallery, through some of the run down seaside attractions, ending up with a sunset and some doorway mosaics in Broadstairs.

After a wonderful breakfast at The Curious Cupcake, we headed to the Turner Gallery for an hour. My wife is the arty one in the family, but as it was free I found it ok, and quite nice to get out of the bracing wind.

Margate bay from the Turner Gallery

For those of you with eagle-eyes, you can just make out the big wheel at Dreamland in the background.

Margate bay from the end of the harbour arm

Unsure of our plans after the gallery, but in the need to walk off the breakfast, we started a drift along the coast, not really having a destination in mind. As we headed east from the gallery the area became more run down. We walked through the boarded-up lido area, which I covered in a previous post and continued along the coast. I couldn't decide what this derelict building was. Perhaps either a bus shelter or simply somewhere to sit and take in the sea view.

Derelict shelter, Margate, Kent

Not far from the shelter was Club Caprice. Although it's now boarded up, it does seems to have had a bit of a hey day from what I've managed to find on the internet, and a sad day when it closed for some I suspect.

Boarded-up building, Margate, Kent

Unfortunately many of the ghost signs facing the actual sea front have been battered by the weather and some are almost all gone. This one is a bit more legible that the one further below. The words I can decipher say

??? 

REMOULDED

24 ETHELBERT Rd

ANTIQUE

FURNITURE

BRIC A BRAC

CURIOS ETC 

Ghost sign, Ethelbert Road, Margate, Kent

This next ghost sign however, whilst once I suspect looking quite magnificent as it covered the entire side of the building, is completely unreadable.

Ghost sign, Margate, Kent

The Little Oasis Crazy Golf course at Cliftonville, Margate, has seen better days.

Abandoned crazy golf course, Cliftonville, Margate, Kent

Again another abandoned building where I cannot determine the purpose. Possibly a shelter of some sort?

Derelict building, Cliftonville, Margate, Kent

Derelict building, Cliftonville, Margate, Kent

This lift takes people between the esplanade and the beach. I'm not sure if it's still in use, or maybe perhaps it's just closed for the off season.

Lift from the esplanade to the beach, Margate, Kent

Lift from the esplanade to the beach, Margate, Kent

Once we'd left the built up area of Margate, much of the walk was a bit barren if I'm honest, and it was blowing a gale so I didn't stop to take many pictures. By the time we'd arrived in Broadstairs however, the sun was out again and just in time to treat us to a wonderful sunset.

Sunset over Broadstairs, Kent

Sunset over Broadstairs, Kent

Unfortunately this meant that by the time we'd arrived in the town it was getting dark. I did manage to take a couple of doorway mosaic photos, but will have to return another day to do a proper visit of the town.

Doorway mosaic, Broadstairs, Kent

Doorway mosaic, Broadstairs, Kent

Well, that concludes the Margate section of the Kent wander. Previous instalments are available starting at a weekend wandering around Kent (part 2, Margate). I still have some photos from Whitstable and Canterbury to share, which hopefully I'll get around to doing later this week.