WW1 memorial, St Mary, Ross on Wye

Most, if not all, cities, towns and villages have an outdoor cenotaph listing the fallen of WW1, WW2 and subsequent conflicts. In November it becomes the focus of remembrance of those who gave their lives in the military service of their nation. In many places this memorial is complemented by a similar list of the fallen of, particularly, WW1 in the local Anglican church. This conflict - the "war to end all wars" - resulted in more miltary deaths than earlier or later wars in which Britain had been involved and profoundly affected society and families across the nation. The memorial in the church of St Mary, Ross on Wye, is very typical of such monuments. It lists the names in alphabetical order (some do it by rank!) followed by the regiment or service in which they fought and features the line from Horace (Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori). Also typical is the dates and a decorative mosaic, here featuring a cross and wreath. It is spotlit, hence the vignette-like fall off of light towards the edges.

Writing the above brought to mind a brass memorial that I recall seeing in Sutterton church in Lincolnshire.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Sony DSC-RX100

Snowdrops and oak leaves

More snowdrops are appearing each day, reminding us that hellebores, daffodils, crocuses and the rest will soon follow. The small white flowers appear undeterred by the cold January that has followed on from the equally cold December. This little group had forced themselves up through a thick layer of oak leaves that had eventually fallen after clinging on to the trees for a longer period than usual.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon Z 5

Decorative lamps, The Royal hotel, Ross on Wye

The Royal hotel, Ross on Wye, dates from 1836-7 and is one of the earliest, purpose-built hotels (as opposed to inns) in Britain. It is a large, three-storey, stuccoed building located on the site of the old Bishop's Palace, in a prominent position overlooking the meander of the River Wye. The two large, ornate lamps shown above flank the main pedestrian entry to the building.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon Z 5

Hereford Cathedral - looking west from the choir

click image to enlarge

One of the pleasures of photographing the interior of a large church or cathedral in winter is that, cloudless sunny days excepted, a photograph often combines elements that are lit by artificial light and others lit by natural light. The artificial light usually has an orange tinge while the naturally lit areas have a blue cast. Those distinctions are clear on this photograph - the stonework, woodwork and the tiled floor of the choir are lit by electric light; the massive stonework of the nave columns and the vaulting ribs (with the exception of the arches of the arcades) have the blue cast of natural light entering through the nave windows.

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

Cyclamens, assorted colours

One of the attractions of the cyclamen is that it can be persuaded to flower indoors in the depths of winter, a time when many flowering plants are dormant. We have, for many years, had cyclamens that spend much of the winter on the window sills of an unheated conservatory, only bringing them into the house proper when the temperatures dip below freezing for any extended period. We currently have plants that have spent previous winters with us, and a few that were bought last year. They are a variety with smaller flowers and have been in full bloom for weeks, with more weeks to come.

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

Late afternoon at the Monnow Bridge

The fortified gatehouse on the medieval bridge over the River Monnow at Monmouth is a subject I look at each time we visit the Welsh town. However, on a recent afternoon the details of the tower and archways were subdued as we walked towards the brightness of the descending sun. And, as is often the way in winter, the silhouette, shadows and the attendant colours, people and birds became key subjects in the photograph. 

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon Z 5

River Wye floods at Ross on Wye

click image to enlarge

In recent days the south-west of England and Wales have experienced winter flooding. At Ross on Wye an elevated viewpoint on the cliffs by the graveyard offers a good view of the extent of the water near the town. The top panorama shows the large meander of the river at this point and the areas where the water has spilled out of its channel. When this photograph was taken the river gauge was registering a height of 3.9 metres above the datum point. The top of the river's normal range is 3.2 metres.

click image to enlarge

The second panorama was taken two days later and shows the river at its highest point in the current flooding - 4.65 metres above the datum point. At this level no houses were affected but a pub and a couple of other properties were somewhat inconvenienced by the water. The highest the River Wye has ever reached at this location is 5.1 metres in February 2020.

photo 1 © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2
photo 2 © T. Boughen     Camera: iPhone

Former Franklin Barnes building, Bridge St, Hereford

The surprise building on Bridge Street, Hereford, is this 1930s Art Deco/Moderne building. It looks like it could have been a cinema but in fact was the retail premises of the local farm and garden merchant, Franklin Barnes & Co Ltd. The structure is steel framed with green and cream Vitrolite cladding. The stepped top, flag-posts, horizontal window bands, green "streamlines" and minimalist clock are all typical of Britain's somewhat underwhelming embrace of Modernism. All these details on the main elevation were wisely retained when it was restored c.2008. What was added at this time was the three red squares. Purists might deplore such an addition. I think they go well with the original design and improve it.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2

Ceiling lights

Sitting in a local coffee shop recently I looked around for anything that might make a decent photograph. I'd already secured the self-portrait posted on the blog before this one. As I looked around I was taken by the mixture of ceiling lights in the shop. Looking further I concluded that the best selection was directly above my head. I remembered, several years ago, taking a semi-abstract photograph of a lamp, showing its effect on the ceiling, and the lines of the corner of the room. Perhaps, I thought, I can make a similar sort of image. I'm reasonably pleased with the outcome.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: iPhone