United Reformed Church, Newent

The non-conformist church buildings of Britain, that is to say the Protestant churches that are not the established Church of England (C of E), offer considerable interest to the architectural historian. Often they are built in the Gothic style favoured by the C of E, but more frequently than the established church they follow classical precedents. Sometimes you can see an obvious attempt to eclipse the size and decoration of the local C of E building: at other times there appears to be a deliberate determination to be different. Mostly, however, the size and wealth of the congregation dictates that the church be a lower-cost, brick-built rectangle under one roof, on the small side, and with the money spent where it will be seen - on the main elevation. Such is the case with the United Reformed Church (formerly the Congregational Chapel), a structure of 1846, in Newent, Gloucestershire. The stone facade is in the Gothic style with other elevations in brick (except for stone window tracery). The symmetry of its main elevation and its materials make a pleasing contrast with the brick, render and timber-framing of most of the buildings on the town's main streets.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Sony DSC-RX100

Leather belts and denim

You have to take care when buying a belt today. Plastic masquerading as leather, plastic coating leather and various other applications of plastic on leather can easily deceive the shopper looking for a simple, straightforward leather belt, the sort that will give good service for many years. The belt in the photograph above is about fifteen years old and I hope it will give me a further fifteen years. I usually wear it with jeans because, to my eye, the warm-coloured, worn leather and strong buckle go well with faded denim blue.


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

Stigma, style, stamen and petals

It's remarkable how episodes from childhood can pop up in your memory as though they were yesterday. When I was looking at this photograph on my computer of an open tulip bloom I mentally checked off the botanical names for the parts of the flower. In so doing I was transported back to the time in school when I drew a labelled diagram during a lesson about plant reproduction. As a botanical illustration this photograph lacks clarity. However, the contrast between the sharp centre and the soft surround gives it qualities that I like.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Sony DSC-RX100