Dunster dovecote

The dovecote at Dunster, Somerset, is probably medieval in origin, perhaps built by the monks of the Benedictine priory. Its circular shape with no windows, an entrance door, and entrance from above for the doves, is widely used in such buildings, and this form was retained through the rebuildings of the C18 and C19.

The interior has 501 nest holes and it was from these that the newly hatched nestlings (called squabs) would have been collected to provide fresh meat. During winter the older birds were gathered to provide meat at a time of year when it was scarce. The rotating ladder called the "potence" allowed easy access to the holes.

photos © T. Boughen     Camera: iPhone

St Paul, Parkend, revisited

On a recent sunny but cold day we stopped in at the church of St Paul at Parkend, Gloucestershire. I have photographed this building before in 2021, but on that occasion the building was locked and I only managed to get the exterior. That photograph hinted at the novelty of the shape of the church. This photograph gives an idea of what that novelty looks like inside.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon Z 5

Church with cafe, All Saints, Hereford

Many medieval parish churches open weekly or monthly for tea,coffee and a snack. Such openings usually accommodate local people and the occasional traveller. However, there are, increasingly, churches that include a permanent cafe that is open for the extended hours usual for such eating places. Cafes of this kind are often prompted by declining congregations and a need for extra funds to finance the building and the work of the parish. I don't know what led the church of All Saints, Hereford, to install this quite elaborate cafe in east end of the builing (and in the upper aisle) but they did a fine job in adapting the interior to the extended requirements.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon Z 5

Rotunda, Croome Court

The rotunda (or garden temple) at Croome Court dates from c.1760 and is probably the work of Robert Adam. It stands on a rise a couple of hundred yards from the main house and is almost surrounded by conifers that are thought to be contemporary with the building. The exterior is made of Bath stone. It has a shallow dome, five pedimented windows and one entrance, each of which has a swag above. 

The interior has fine decorative Rococo plasterwork featuring egg and dart, paterae, cartouches, masks and swags, with coffering above. The floor has a central circled sunburst with Greek key edging the room.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon D5300

Ledbury church chancel

There are a number of reasons why church chancels are usually more lavishly constructed and decorated than other parts of the building. They hold the high altar. It is also the place where the clergy and their assistants do their work and it is where the choir usually sits. In the past it was the part of the building that was funded by the church. In contrast, the larger nave was funded by and used by the people of the parish. Chantry chapels sometimes equalled or exceeded the chancel in their ornamentation but more often than not the chancel was, and remains, the most decorative part of the church. That is the case at St Michael and All Angels at Ledbury (above).

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon D5300

A lunchtime interior

Last November we were sitting in a hotel having lunch when I looked up and suddenly appreciated the scene before me. It was one I'd seen before on quite a few occasions but this time it was different. As I reflected on what I was looking at I decided that it was because there were fewer people than usual, the view through the window was more visible, but more importantly, the soft, autumn sun was penetrating the room, enhancing the colours and making the scene resemble a genre painting i.e. a painting of everyday people undertaking everyday activities.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Sony DSC-RX100     2019

Design Museum, London

London's Design Museum has transferred from near the river in Southwark to the bottom end of Holland Park in Kensington. This involved moving from one "re-purposed" building to another, the current home having formerly been the Commonwealth Institute. The exterior has been refurbished but remains essentially the same 1962 vintage, glass curtain-walled building with a hyperbolic parabaloid roof. The interior, however is pretty much new with lots of stairs and galleries featuring light coloured wood and glass panels. Children appeared to love it, and I did too. Incidentally only the curves of the roof are real, the rest are due to the fisheye lens that I used for the shot.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Olympus OMD E-M10