Category: THEMES

TWO HISTORIC LIGHTHOUSES

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The two lighthouses shown below are renegades from the LIGHTHOUSES section under the THEMES heading, to which they are linked if you want to know more (or to view lighthouse interiors, a bit of a specialist preference). But you may well just be content to cast a glance at these images, and move on… The sea in photo 3 really is that colour in the sun.

HOPE TOWN LIGHTHOUSE, ELBOW CAY, ABACO

For a detailed description of Abaco’s iconic striped lighthouse CLICK HERE

Hope Town Lighthouse Abaco 1 Hope Town Lighthouse Abaco 2 Hope Town Lighthouse Abaco 3

HOLE-IN-THE-WALL LIGHTHOUSE, ABACO, BAHAMAS

For a detailed description of this remote and near-defunct lighthouse station CLICK HERE

 

HELSINKI BUILDINGS: NATIONAL ROMANTIC STYLE & ART DECO

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Helsinki Buildings 1 Helsinki Buildings 2 Helsinki Buildings 3 Helsinki Buildings 4 Helsinki Buildings 5 Helsinki Buildings 6 Helsinki Buildings 7 Helsinki Buildings 8 Helsinki Buildings 9 Helsinki Buildings 10 Helsinki Buildings 11

WALL INSCRIPTIONS, CALENZANO ALTO, ITALY

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Wall Inscriptions, Calenzano, Italy 2Wall Inscriptions, Calenzano, Italy 4Wall Inscriptions, Calenzano, Italy 3Wall Inscriptions, Calenzano, Italy 1

THE NEEDLES, ISLE OF WIGHT

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THE NEEDLES, IOW – A COUPLE OF CONVENTIONAL TOURISTY SHOTSNeedles IoW 1 Needles IoW 2

LESS CONVENTIONAL EVENING SHOTS (nb unmodified images – no P/Shop!**)Needles IoW 3 Needles IoW 4 Needles IoW 5** and no sepia filter, in case you were wondering…

ROOSEVELT ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE NYC

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220px-Blackwell_Island_Lighthouse

ROOSEVELT ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE NYC

This New York City lighthouse is situated at the northeast tip of Roosevelt Island, in the East River. It is also known as Blackwell Island Lighthouse, named for the family that owned and farmed the island more than 200 years ago, and whose farmhouse (1796), recently-restored, can still be found nestling among the towering apartment blocks [a subsequent post on the farmhouse is planned]. The lighthouse is also known as Welfare Island Lighthouse, reflecting the use to which the island has been put in more recent times for hospitals, an asylum, and a penitentiary.

220px-Welfare_Island,_Lighthouse,_New_York_(New_York_County,_New_York)

The 50 ft octagonal lighthouse was built of stone in 1872 under the supervision of architect James Renwick Jr, and is a designated ‘New York City Landmark’. It operated until the 1940s, and has subsequently been restored, most recently in 1998. Despite several legends that are attached to the building, its function in a busy tidal shipping channel was prosaically practical. 

new-york-aerial-1NYC Aerial 2Roosevelt Island Lighthouse 1

The area shown above is known as Lighthouse Park. Like many waterside features on this side of the City, it was damaged by Hurricane Sandy. The green lift bridge visible below is the Wards Island Bridge, also known as the 103rd Street Footbridge.

Roosevelt Island Lighthouse 2Roosevelt Island Lighthouse 3

This photo, mainly of a ring-billed gull, was taken from near the lighthouse during a period of sub-zero temperatures. The freighter in the channel has its entire foredeck thickly covered in ice.Gull, Ship & Lift Bridge, NYC

PEACEFUL COWS ON MOTTISTONE DOWN, IOW

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PEACEFUL COWS ON MOTTISTONE DOWN, IOW

These cows were clustered close to the neolithic Long Stone in the November sunshineCows IoW 1Cows IoW 2Cows IoW 3Cows IoW 4Cows IoW 6Cows IoW 5

MOTTISTONE NEOLITHIC LONG STONE, ISLE OF WIGHT

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MOTTISTONE NEOLITHIC LONG STONE, ISLE OF WIGHT

This hilltop is believed to have been a place of burial. The stones are about 6000 years old, but are not in their original position. In later times – for example, the Saxon era – this was a meeting place, possibly a court (cf Witanagemot). The village name, Mottistone, derives from ‘Mooting Stone’.

Cows IoW 5Long Stone Mottistone IoW 5

SUNDIALS ON THE ISLE OF WIGHT

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SUNDIALS ON THE ISLE OF WIGHT

On a recent impromptu  visit to the Isle of Wight, we came across a number of sundials. Sadly we didn’t go to Brading, so we missed the annelematic sundial and the unusual ‘public’ sundial there. On the other hand, I did get to see the Mary Watts ‘Arts & Crafts’ sundial at Tennyson’s former home Farringford (now a hotel in the process of renovation), of which more below… 

1. A CHURCHYARD SUNDIAL AT GODSHILL

2. TWO SUNDIALS AT A PRIVATE HOUSE NEAR SHORWELL

This sundial was in an overgrown sunken garden. I used my phone on a dull rainy day – hence the image quality…

3. THE MARY WATTS ‘ARTS & CRAFTS’ SUNDIAL AT FARRINGFORD 

Among Tennyson’s coterie of friends and regular visitors to Farringford were painter G.F.Watts and his wife Mary. You’ll find all you need – or (probably) want – to know about them here WATTS GALLERY COMPTON. Having seen this pedestal in real life, my completely amateur view is that a suggestion that our own sundial (unearthed by me as a child from a pigsty at my home) is a Watts pedestal is unlikely to be correct. To be honest, I was a bit disappointed by this one: very much Compton style, but not to my taste (if one is allowed to say that…). The lettering is incised, whereas on mine it is embossed (I’m not sure MW used that technique). So although mine has an authentic Liberty plate, the ID of the commissioned pedestal maker remains a mystery – probably lost through the standard Liberty practice of failing to credit their artists or to retain records of their commissioned work. To see the ‘Pigsty Sundial’ and examples of sundials at the Watts Gallery, click SUNDIALS and scroll down through the gallery.

FOR COMPARISON: THE ‘PIGSTY’ SUNDIAL – PEDESTAL AND GNOMONLESS LIBERTY DIAL

A FINE MULTI-FACETED SCOTTISH SUNDIAL AT KELBURN CASTLE, AYRSHIRE

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A FINE MULTI-FACETED SCOTTISH SUNDIAL AT KELBURN CASTLE, AYRSHIRE

If you want to find a good choice of multi-faceted sundials, Scotland is the place to go. A considerable number may be found at country houses and castles, or elsewhere having originated from a large estate. Many, perhaps most, are 200-300 years old. Some are relatively simple; others are so complex that their purpose is clearly as much ornamental as horological. Good examples can be found at Glamis, Haddo House, Castle Fraser and Culzean Castle. The photos below of a wonderful 1707 multi-faceted oblelisk sundial were taken at Kelburn Castle in Ayrshire*.

The sundial from each angle – the polyhedral part, and the stem below

East Side

North Side

West Side

South Side

The ‘Spire’

I later regretted not having counted the number of individual dials. This is one of the most important sundials in the United Kingdom. Some restoration has been carried out, and it now appears to be in overall good condition. It is heartening to think that, more than 300 years after this obelisk was installed at Kelburn, the castle is still occupied by the same family.

*Although the grounds are open to the public, this historic 1707 sundial is in the private part and I am grateful to the Earl of Glasgow for permission to use photos that I took while at Kelburn as a guest.