A chimneypiece at Worcester Guildhall

Worcester's Guildhall is a Grade 1 building that dates from 1721. The exterior exhibits many features characteristic of the Queen Anne and early Georgian periods. Moreover, it is still a functioning civic building with rooms of varying sizes including a large and imposing assembly room on the first floor. On a recent visit I was particularly drawn to the two large chimneypieces of the assembly room that are clearly of a later date than the setting. Are they part of the remodelling of 1791 by George Byfield? Clearly not. They probably date from the restoration by Henry Rowe and George Gilbert Scott in 1877-80. The wooden surround is topped by a swan-neck pediment and a shield with the city's coat of arms. Within is marble edging and tiles. The tiles to left and right of the fireplace are pictorial. On the left are poppies and a butterfly with, on the right, irises and a dragonfly. These have an oriental feel more in keeping with a later C19 date. The whole of the chimneypiece may be the work of the sculptor William Forsyth (1833–1915).

Steel swans, Ross on Wye

This pair of steel swans ("Swans in Flight") by the river at Ross on Wye is the work of the Polish-born sculptor, Walenty Pytel. He came to the UK with his family in 1946 when he was five years old, settled here, and attended Hereford College of Arts. In 1965 he turned to metal sculpture and this has been his main focus ever since. Pytel is particularly known for bird sculptures and has executed many public commissions in his adoptive county including, as well as the above, geese and salmon sculptures at Ross on Wye, birds of prey at Great Malvern and swallows at Ledbury. His more widely known works include the Jubilee Fountain, Westminster and four eagles at Benfica's soccer stadium. I took my photograph on a recent foggy morning, and achieved a bit of flare in the bird silhouettes by including the sun in the shot.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2