The Sanctuary Ring (12th Century) - North door, Durham Cathedral
Saturday was not the most auspicious day for photography. Though there was never more than a mere inkling of January drizzle, the sky above was a heavy grey eiderdown through which weak sunlight was filtered in its struggle to illuminate County Durham. In spite of this, I am sharing ten of my images with you.
Old telephone kiosk in Shincliffe
"The People's Lamp", Bowburn
On the south wall of Durham Prison
Church Street, Seaham
"Tommy" on Seaham seafront - the statue weighs 1.2 tons and is over 9 feet tall
Plaque in Durham Cathedral - American visitors should find this especially interesting
Lego model of Durham Cathedral in the museum
North Sea at Seaham
The grave of Saint Cuthbert (634 AD - 687AD) in Durham Cathedral
I enjoyed your photos. While I'm impressed by those associated with the cathedral (including the LEGO model), I find the statue of "Tommy" quite moving.
ReplyDelete"Tommy" is indeed an impressive statue - even on a grey, January day.
DeleteAh the North Sea on a soft day ! Is it true they cried it the German Sea ?
ReplyDeleteSure it's a grand sight it is, but where's the nearest pub, I've a thirst on me
that would choke a donkey.
There were several pubs nearby - including "The Coalface" and "The Hat and Feathers" where we had our lunch.
DeleteP.S. I think you meant "called" rather than "cried"?
Cried is auld Scots, Sir.
DeleteAs in, I am a fan of a blog cried Yorkshire Pudding.
Heinrich Heine wrote a book of poems, Die Nordsee.
There is a translation by Vernon Watkins whom I confuse with the
great Vernon Scannell, Lincolnshire poet and semi-pro boxer.
The North Sea was routinely named on maps as the German Sea,
indeed we still have the German Bight on the BBC's Shipping Forecast.
The Dutch say the Noordzee and they have the Zuiderzee too.
All this talk, I'm thirsty again. Off to The Coalface for some BEER !
Nice photos, thank you. I like the North Sea and that Lego Castle. The sanctuary ring is great, and I'd be fitting those hollow eyes with security cameras.
ReplyDeleteIts original purpose was to scare away evil spirits.
DeleteIt is hard grasp the size of 'Tommy' without anything to compare.
ReplyDeleteThe sea wall looks like a great place to wave watch.
Sorry about that. You would come up to his elbow.
DeleteA good set of pictures to show us what your short stint there was like, never mind the lack of sunshine. Do you know who made "Tommy"?
ReplyDeleteRay Lonsdale. "Tommy" even has his own Wikipedia page.
DeleteThanks! I'll have a look.
DeleteGreat photos, especially evocative of the place on a typically grey winter's day.
ReplyDeleteTommy is wonderful. It evokes such sadness for all those Tommies who suffered.
I was similarly struck by that statue made from steel in an area that was well-known for ship building. It is the same colour as The Angel of the North.
DeleteIt was actually The Angel of the North I was reminded of when I looked at "Tommy", and I wonder whether it was made at the same foundry. Maybe you remember that George Pickles, Ripon Hornblower for many years, was a friend of mine. One of his daughters is manager at that foundry.
DeleteA ragbag of wonderful photos to study. I was going to say it can't be Lego but it is ;)
ReplyDeleteAre there any working telephone boots left in England? I don't think there are any here, now I come to think of it... Although here too one might still come across occasional old ones left as museum pieces. - Impressive Lego construction, and I like little details like that door knocker.
ReplyDeleteAnother place we should explore.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos, from the knocker to the Drone warnings!!
ReplyDeleteHistory on the move.
Lego is EVERYWHERE!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful photo walk!
ReplyDeleteI like the wonderful variety of photos you have shared with us, Neil. Well done.
ReplyDelete"Everlasting name in lands to him unknown". It got me thinking about how he would never know what was to become of his descendants!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos.
ReplyDeleteHave you read Cuddy by Benjamin Myers?
Your picture of the phone box makes me wonder why Britain painted their phone boxes (and mail boxes) red. Could it be because they stand out so well in the wintry landscape?
ReplyDeleteInteresting about the drones and the prison. I recall a story about people flying contraband over the walls of Pentonville prison using drones. I'm sure it's happened in other places too.
Tommy is MUCH bigger than he looks in the photo!
Well, things like phone and mail boxes should always stand out to those who are looking for one, even on a busy high street. In Germany, the chosen colour employed by our mail service is yellow. Funnily enough, apart from the UK and Germany, I don't know what colours other countries give their mail and phone boxes. Of course Denmark now does not have any left, and Sweden probably not many, as they are also on the brink of abolishing mail service for people.
DeleteBrilliant photos, I love the door knocker/ornament. Think I'd love one of those on my door.
ReplyDelete