Hatfield House

While we were on holiday in the UK we visited Hatfield House Estate. The original Old Palace was built in 1497 by the Minister of King Henry VII, John Morton. In 1509 when Henry the VIII was crowned the Palace came into the King's hands and became the primary residence for his children. Fifty or so years later Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, decided to tear most of the Old Palace down and build a new bigger and 'better' one next door, in the Jacobean style. Although most of the Old Palace was pulled down the Grand Hall is thankfully still standing. It is spectacular from both the inside ...

... and the outside. I love the rich red/brown colour of the bricks.

The stable yard has recently been refurbished. I really like the inky blue paint that was used to stain the timber. It matches the blue/grey bricks used to create patterns in the facades (see above).

When I say visiting, I should probably explain that we only saw a tiny part of the grounds, apart from the Grand Hall we saw the stable and coach yard where the shops are. Our daughter had just had a pretty aggressive tummy bug and this was our first outing in a few days. She was very wobbly on her feet and only managed to walk from the car to the café. No cream cakes for her though!

Hatfield House website cane be found here.

Another BBONTHEBRINK post that features 'Bricks bricks Bricks'. 

Dreaming of Sunflowers

We missed out on seeing sunflowers this year, so I'm dreaming about them instead. Most of these are Loire sunflowers.

After the rain.

The bees like them too.

As far as the eye can see.

They also look wonderful from behind.

Bonne journée to you all.

Golden Oxford Stone

I was born and brought up in Oxford, but as a teenager and young adult I confess I wasn't really looking around me and admiring the beauty of the place. I was too busy coordinating my gazillion and one part time jobs with a view to leaving town as soon as possible. Now, as a 'grownup', I've started to look around me more carefully and of course this city has some rather amazing historical sites to admire. What has struck me this visit is the beauty of the stone, a rich golden coloured sandstone with toffee overtones, prone to erosion and as a result full of texture. 

Here is the view you get as you walk behind the Sheldonian Theatre in the centre of town, looking towards the Divinity School.

The detail of the stonework is amazing, and why those stone mullions don't break is beyond me.

Filigree corinthian capitals.



I love these wall ties that punctuate the facade of the north wall of the Bodleian Library.

This windowless facade on the western wall of the Bodleian Library courtyard to the is so striking. 

The Divinity School was just closing as we arrived, but I managed to take a sneak photo as the door was being closed. Look at the groin vaults on that!

And as we headed towards home, I got a a quick glimpse of the (Oxford) Bridge of Sighs, so called because of its' similarity to the Bridge of Sighs in Venice. Though no boats passing underneath here.

Doors Galore

For a while I've been inadvertently collecting Paris doors. Here is a typical Parisian door.



Here is a ... not so typical Parisian door.



The detail of the carving is exquisite.



A small arched door into a cellar in a courtyard of Rue Durantin, Paris 18th.

More red. A door on a river boat on the Seine quite near the Eiffel Tower.

It's all in the details. Welcome.



Here is a typical Parisian door that has seen better days. Marché Saint Ouen.



A lovely arched and shuttered doorway to the Trianon in Les Jardins de Bagatelle.

A rectangular shuttered doorway.

This door by the vineyard in Montmartre always catches my attention because of its unusual proportions. So tall and thin. I also love the faded, blue paintwork, it almost looks patinated.

Here is a neighbouring art deco door.

Another fabulous art deco door on the riverside of the Palais de Tokyo. Gold.

A door to a gallery on rue Gabrielle, Montmartre. Silver.

A door less than 50 metres from the Sacré Coeur.



This photo is less about the door and more about the planting that surrounds it!



And this door is less about the door, and more about the planting within it!