Old concrete bridge and house, Axmouth

The nondescript bridge that spans the River Axe before it enters the sea at Axmouth in Devon is the earliest bridge made of mass concrete ("Historically, in Britain, mass concrete (is) designated early concrete with no reinforcement cast in situ using shuttering. It was used mainly between 1850 and 1900 on a variety of buildings, mainly as a walling material"- Wikipedia). The bridge was designed by Philip Brannon and built in 1877. It continues in use by pedestrians today but no longer carries motor vehicles. 

 Nearby is a small, rendered, single storey former toll house, also built by Brannon in mass concrete in 1877. It has an unusual tarred, arched roof and bracketed canopy. It is the oldest surviving concrete house in Britain and appears to be still inhabited today.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2

The solitary alligator

In one of the two stretches of water at Cannop Ponds in the Forest of Dean, near the point where the water exits down a spillway, lurks a large alligator. It can usually be seen there, dimly visible through the murk and reflections, if there hasn't been much recent rain. The other day I caught it with its eyes and nose projecting above the surface. You might wonder what an alligator is doing in a stretch of water in England since they are not native to the country. The fact is, it is made of concrete, and is presumably someone's joke. And not a bad one at that.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon P900

Seafront shelter, Cleveleys

I took this photograph in 2007 as extensive work was being undertaken on the sea-wall and defences at Cleveleys, Lancashire. As well as renewing and raising the wall that separated the beach from the both the promenade and road, a number of futuristic lights were being installed (see left). A further addition was circular shelters that also had a look of "tomorrow's world" about them, but were also redolent of the 1930s. More photographs of this striking design work can be seen here and here.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Olympus E-500     2007