Nigel's Photo Blog

 Introduction This evening I am reporting on the fine heritage property known as Somerset House which sits close to the Strand in London 's WC2 area.  Information on Somerset House This building was intended to impress; in fact to showcase Britain's global power and military might during the period of late 18th century imperialism.  Construction took place under the auspices of architect, Sir William Chambers (1723-1796) during the period 1775-1801. Chambers was the preeminent architect of his day who had travelled extensively and studied in Paris and Rome.This resulted in the pan-European neoclassical style of the subject property. Somerset House's primary function was to provide the headquarters of the Royal Navy with space allocated for various Civil Service departments which had, hitherto, been scattered across London. Chambers' solution to the challenges of his commission was to create interconnected buildings around a deep courtyard with Portland stone used to har...

Introduction This afternoon I am posting a portfolio of images and information relating to the art collection at the Courtauld Institute of Art in London . Background Information The collection was founded some 90 years ago by Samuel (1876-1947) and Elizabeth Courtauld. The former's ancestors were Huguenots (French Protestants) who settled in London during the late 17th century.They initially established a silversmith business then moved into textiles during Victorian times and finally viscose or rayon manufacture which generated substantial wealth. The collection was moved to Somerset House on the Strand in 1989 from where it has become established as the world's leading centre for teaching and research of art history. Over the years the original Courtauld collection has been expanded by donations from: Sir Robert Witt Roger Fry The Gambier-Parry family William Wycliffe Spooner Count Antoine Seilern. Some of the art on display can be seen in the images below. This portfolio i...

   Image of St. Martin-in-the-Fields This evening, I am posting information on the church of St. Martin-in-the Fields near Trafalgar Square , London.This falls within the Anglican denomination.Most of the information herein was sourced from Wikipedia. Chronology An AD410 Roman burial at the site may point to an early Christian place of worship,possibly replacing an earlier pagan temple. The earliest extant reference to a church dates from 1222. King Henry VIII arranged a rebuild in 1542. In 1606 work was authorised to extend, repair and beautify the building. Due to physical deterioration, in 1722 Parliament passed an act for rebuild at a cost of GBP22,000. James Gibbs was selected to design the new church. His rectilinear plan was accepted with foundation stone laid in 1722 and completion achieved 1724. Total cost was GBP33,661. A GBP36.0M renewal programme was commenced in 2006. This concluded in 2008.  Architecture The church is rectangular in plan, with the five-bay ...

 View of Trafalgar Square This evening, I am posting information on a key London tourist attraction known as Trafalgar Square. The square's name commemorates a British naval victory off the coast of Cape Trafalgar which took place on October 21st 1805 in context of the Napoleonic Wars with France and Spain. At the centre sits Nelson's Column, a 169 foot (52m) monument to the architect of the naval victory, Horatio Nelson, who, sadly, lost his life in the action. The column is guarded by four lion statues.  Nelson's Column The square is home to a number of commemorative statues and sculptures. The Fourth Plinth, left empty since 1840, has been host to contemporary art since 1999. Prominent buildings facing the square include the National Gallery, St. Martin-in-the Fields (church), Canada House and South Africa House. National Gallery   St. Martin-in-the Fields  The square also serves as a focus point for community gatherings and political demonstrations.

 Welcome to London, capital of England and gateway to the United Kingdom.  Tower Bridge Introduction London has a long recorded history stretching back almost 2000 years to the 1st century AD when founded by the invading Romans and named Londinium. The city became pre-eminent in Roman times. After the Romans left in AD 410 London achieved importance in Saxon times under Alfred the Great (AD 849-AD 899)  a status maintained by the invading Norman-French in 1066 who constructed the Tower of London. Thereafter, London progressively grew and evolved through the medieval period and then on through the Great Plague and Great Fire, both of the 17th century. In the 19th century London was at the heart of the powerful British Empire. During WW2 London suffered extensive damage and loss of life due to enemy action. Today, London is a vibrant and prosperous commercial and administrative centre with a population of 8.2m. Information on London London is wo...

  Cutty Sark , a 19th century tea clipper at Greenwich This evening, I am reprising a boat trip through London on the River Thames. First, I walked down from my hotel, via Chinatown and Trafalgar Square to connect with a tour boat on the Thames near the Houses of Parliament. Chinatown Rough Sleeper, Charing Cross Road. London is home to extremes of wealth and poverty. Once on the Thames I encountered a wide spectrum of sites including: 3500 year old Egyptian obelisk. Various examples of exotic and modern architecture.# Replicas of items for the 16th century. Numerous and varied bridges. Old buildings dating back to the 16th century. Walkie-Talkie building The Shard Canary Wharf financial district View from Greenwich 16th century Riverside pub, the Prospect of Whitby Tower Bridge , late 19th century Tower of London the origins of which date from 11th century. Replica of 16th century Globe Theatre . Shakespeare was connected with original. St Paul’s Cathedral, early 1...