Thursday doors – 9 April 2020

Doors 101 – More Montpelier doors.

The new world in which we all find ourselves is taking a little getting used to. I have managed to get out and walk the dog every day (the dog I never really wanted, but wouldn’t be without now) and have found something of a routine, which helps to maintain some kind of sanity. Recently, Montpelier and St Werburghs have been destinations of choice, not least because of the rich seam of doors to be found there.

This selection from a couple of weeks ago are typical of the Montpelier area. Montpelier is an interesting district and is at the heart of middle/working class alternative thinking and alternative lifestyles sometimes rather romantically depressed up as a Bohemian hub. Certainly the area is artistic and there is a real mix of housing from rather grand to not so grand. For door lovers this eclectic mix provides so much opportunity. Expect more doorscursions from me in Montpelier in the coming crazy weeks ahead.

No more chit chat (relief all round). Some doors:

Worn and weathered garage door, Montpelier, Bristol, March 2020
Worn and weathered garage door, Montpelier, Bristol, March 2020
Garden gate, Montpelier, Bristol, March 2020
Garden gate, Montpelier, Bristol, March 2020
Garden gate, Montpelier, Bristol, March 2020
Garden gate, Montpelier, Bristol, March 2020
Door within a sliding door, Montpelier, Bristol, March 2020
Door within a sliding door, Montpelier, Bristol, March 2020

This garage/workshop door really is my kind of door. It has everything… character, door within a door, function, age, neglect all round interest. My pick of the week.

A pair of doors with beautiful stained glass widows above, Montpelier, Bristol, March 2020
A pair of doors with beautiful stained glass widows above, Montpelier, Bristol, March 2020
Door with beautiful stained glass widows above, Montpelier, Bristol, March 2020
Door with beautiful stained glass widows above, Montpelier, Bristol, March 2020

The last two pictures of doors were included not so much for the doors themselves, but more for the very stylish stained glass triptych above. I can feel myself thinking ‘they just don’t make ‘em like they used to’ when I see door architecture like this. Modern design and materials are all well and good, but cost has compromised so much in the way of decoration.

That’s your lot for another week – there will be more next time. May I take this opportunity to wish you all a happy Easter and happy Passover

If you have made it this far, you probably like doors and you ought to take a look at the Norm 2.0 blog – the originator of Thursday Doors where there are links to yet more doors in the comments section at the end.

by Scooj

 

 

Thursday doors – 2 April 2020

Doors 100 – Montpelier doors

I become a centenarian with this post – have I really done a hundred of these? With an average of about five doors per post, that is some five hundred doors I have shared on Natural Adventures. I hope you have enjoyed them as much as I have.

This week’s collection is from a dog walk over the weekend which took me into the depths of Montpelier, a Bohemian district of Bristol sandwiched between St Paul’s, St Andrews and Stokes Croft.

The dog has become my ticket (him and the allotment) out of the house for my daily exercise fix and because I take fairly random routes for my walks I am exposed to a whole ton of new door opportunities. I guess you might call these dog-doorscursions.

Enough chit chat, here is this week’s selection:

Artistic/badly painted door, Montpelier, Bristol, March 2020
Artistic/badly painted door, Montpelier, Bristol, March 2020
Old-style door with awning, Montpelier, Bristol, March 2020
Old-style door with awning, Montpelier, Bristol, March 2020
Pink door with a stained glass sun, Montpelier, Bristol, March 2020
Pink door with a stained glass sun, Montpelier, Bristol, March 2020
How to make a secure entrance look cheerful, Montpelier, Bristol, March 2020
How to make a secure entrance look cheerful, Montpelier, Bristol, March 2020
Utility door, Montpelier, Bristol, March 2020
Utility door, Montpelier, Bristol, March 2020

I hope that I can bring you more doors next week.

If you have made it this far, you probably like doors and you ought to take a look at the Norm 2.0 blog – the originator of Thursday Doors where there are links to yet more doors in the comments section at the end.

 

by Scooj

Thursday doors – 26 March 2020

Doors 99 – Dog walk doors

What a week. This is my first Thursday doors post since the lock down was imposed in the UK, and it is a very unsettling and confusing time for us all. Under our rules we are allowed one outing a day for personal exercise, provided we follow all the social distancing rules.

I am alternating my exercise of choice between working on the allotment and walking the dog (in my wildest dreams I never thought that the dog would offer me the means of temporary escape from ‘house arrest’). Yesterday we took a walk down to Stokes Croft and Montpelier and, never one to pass up an opportunity, I photographed some doors.

Just in case you thought this might be irresponsible, I kept my distance from the few people that were out (mostly, like me, exercising in some way), and carried out all the necessary hand washes before leaving and on return home. One observation was that I saw more homeless people on the streets than I saw homed people… I worry about their fate, a group already likely to be more prone to sickness and with nowhere to go to keep clean.

So here are some doors from my exercise dog walk:

Green gates, Montpelier, Bristol, March 2020
Green gates, Montpelier, Bristol, March 2020
Pink door, Montpelier, Bristol, March 2020
Pink door, Montpelier, Bristol, March 2020
Two doors and a tiled entrance, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, March 2020
Two doors and a tiled entrance, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, March 2020
Garden gate, Ashley Road, Bristol, March 2020
Garden gate, Ashley Road, Bristol, March 2020
Solicitor's door, Stokes Croft, Bristol, March 2020
Solicitor’s door, Stokes Croft, Bristol, March 2020

 

Well that’s it for this extraordinary week during an extraordinary period in all our lives.

If you have made it this far, you probably like doors and you ought to take a look at the Norm 2.0 blog – the originator of Thursday Doors where there are links to yet more doors in the comments section at the end.

by Scooj

Thursday doors – 19 March 2020

Doors 98 – a couple of Bristol doors

It has been almost exactly a month since I last posted a Thursday doors entry on Natural Adventures. It has been busy at work lately and I have felt the squeeze a little.

These are two doors I recently photographed. Neither of them particulsrly attractive, but they more than make up for it in Character.

The first door is on the side of the amazing Mickleburgh musical instruments shop in Stokes Croft – we actually bought our piano there and it is an incredible place, almost Dickensian in its demeanour.

Where is the chicken? Flat door, Stokes Croft, Bristol, March 2020
Where is the chicken? Flat door, Stokes Croft, Bristol, March 2020

The door has been tagged, bombed and slapped (with stickers). I can make out a tag by 2HOT and a slap from Ryder. I’m not too sure who the face and ‘ou est le poulet’ is by but the whole thing adds up to a cornucopia of street graffiti so commonj in this area.

Restaurant kitchen door, off Park Street, Bristol, March 2020
Restaurant kitchen door, off Park Street, Bristol, March 2020

The second door is a little different and looks like it has seen a whole ton of action over the years. Much used but not much loved. It appears to have a thick layer of grease or something dripped on it, but the thing that really makes stand out for me is the extractor fan… the door would not be complete without it.

More doors coming soon.

If you have made it this far, you probably like doors and you ought to take a look at the Norm 2.0 blog – the originator of Thursday Doors where there are links to yet more doors in the comments section at the end.

 

by Scooj

Thursday doors – 20 February 2020

Doors 97 – Some small cellar doors in Bristol

In some of the older commercial buildings in the city there are cellars, and the quickest access to these cellars was from the roadside via doors that opened directly onto the pavement. Perhaps we are most familiar with these cellar doors outside pubs, where the barrels of beer are still delivered through them.

This is just a little selection of these doors, and another little door thrown in for good measure… a little extra if you like.

Here we go:

Cellar doors with the addition of a metal strip and a tag by tagger Pi who seems to have tagged every street in Bristol, November 2019
Cellar doors with the addition of a metal strip and a tag by tagger Pi who seems to have tagged every street in Bristol, November 2019

This first door is the same one as the feature image, photographed a few months afterwards. Spot the difference?

When old meets new cellar doors, Bristol, December 2019
When old meets new cellar doors, Bristol, December 2019
No getting away from 'street furniture'. Cellar doors nicely keyed-in with the stone pavement, Bristol, December 2019
No getting away from ‘street furniture’. Cellar doors nicely keyed-in with the stone pavement, Bristol, December 2019
Cellar doors including pavement doors for deliveries, Bristol, December 2019
Cellar doors including pavement doors for deliveries, Bristol, December 2019
Heavy-duty cellar doors, Bristol, July 2019
Heavy-duty cellar doors, Bristol, July 2019
Old wooden and less old metal cellar doors, Bristol, December 2019
Old wooden and less old metal cellar doors, Bristol, December 2019
Old and probably no longer used cellar doors, Bristol, December 2019
Old and probably no longer used cellar doors, Bristol, December 2019

And finally a little bonus door, with the emphasis on little.

Small door to under stairs store, Bristol, December 2019
Small door to under stairs store, Bristol, December 2019

So my friendly doorsters, that’s it for another week. Have a great weekend whatever you get up to.

If you have made it this far, you probably like doors and you ought to take a look at the Norm 2.0 blog – the originator of Thursday Doors where there are links to yet more doors in the comments section at the end.

 

by Scooj

Thursday doors – 13 February 2020

Doors 96 – A selection of doors from the Orchard Street/Lane area of Bristol

Just a quick one this week. A few doors that I photographed back in December just round the back of the Bristol Hippodrome. The houses around here survived the Blitz, unlike many others in the centre of town.

Green door with a boot scraper, Bristol, December 2019
Green door with a boot scraper, Bristol, December 2019
Door with a boot scraper, Bristol, December 2019
Door with a boot scraper, Bristol, December 2019
Arched garden door with a boot scraper, Bristol, December 2019
Arched garden door with a boot scraper, Bristol, December 2019
Fine door with a gorgeous awning, Bristol, December 2019
Fine door with a gorgeous awning, Bristol, December 2019
Door, Bristol, December 2019
Door, Bristol, December 2019
Unusual panelled door, Bristol, December 2019
Unusual panelled door, Bristol, December 2019

So, a set of period doors all of which I rather like in one of the older bits of the centre of Bristol.

If you have made it this far, you probably like doors and you ought to take a look at the Norm 2.0 blog – the originator of Thursday Doors where there are links to yet more doors in the comments section at the end.

Have a lovely week.

by Scooj

Thursday doors – 6 February 2020

Doors 95 – Charley Box

I was wandering around Montpelier (Bristol) recently hunting down a specific piece of street art that I wanted to photograph (it’s actually on the right hand end wall of this building). My eye was drawn to this rather lovely door and then to the plaque above it. The cell behind the door is known as Charley’s box.

Charley Box plaque, Montpelier, Bristol, February 2020
Charley Box plaque, Montpelier, Bristol, February 2020

Before 1836 there was no police force in Bristol, so until some kind of law and order was formally established Montpelier employed its own nightwatchman called Charley (I’m not sure I believe this). Charley had the powers of arrest and would grab unruly citizens and chuck them into this cell overnight until a sobering trip to the magistrates the following morning. I believe the building is now privately owned but the original door appears to still be there, which is lucky for this post.

Charley Box door, Montpelier, Bristol, February 2020
Charley Box door, Montpelier, Bristol, February 2020

So only the one door this week – I have been rather busy I’m afraid.

If you like doors, you ought to take a look at the Norm 2.0 blog – the originator of Thursday Doors where there are links to yet more doors in the comments section at the end.

by Scooj

Thursday doors – 30 January 2020

Doors 94 – #followmyrabbits doors

I’m afraid that this week I have cheated a little, because I am using previously posted photographs, although they have been associated with my street art posts rather than my Thursday Doors ones so many of you will not have seen them before.

Since about 2017 or so, rabbits started to appear on walls all around Bristol. At first they were confined to well known graffiti hotspots but after a while they spread out until no part of the city was spared from the rabbit invasion. The charming rabbits are the work of #followmyrabbits AKA Nevergiveup and other names he paints under. The artist, I believe has moved away from Bristol, but you wouldn’t know it because new ones are turning up weekly.

Most of the bunnys are not on doors, but these ones are, so I thought I’d share them with you. There are mixed views on these cheerful decorations ranging from the ‘vandalism’ end of the scale right through to the tourist attraction, bringing in rabbit hunters to the city. Of course I love them and see them as a humerous and harmless way of brightening up the place. What do you think?

Nevergiveup, River Avon, Bristol, January 2020
Nevergiveup, River Avon, Bristol, January 2020
Nevergiveup, Hotwell Road, Bristol, July 2019
Nevergiveup, Hotwell Road, Bristol, July 2019
Nevergiveup, North Street Green, Bristol, July 2019
Nevergiveup, North Street Green, Bristol, July 2019
Nevergiveup, Bedminster, Bristol, April 2019
Nevergiveup, Bedminster, Bristol, April 2019
Nevergiveup, Nelson Street, Bristol, April 2019
Nevergiveup, Nelson Street, Bristol, April 2019
Nevergiveup, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2018
Nevergiveup, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2018
Nevergiveup, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2018
Nevergiveup, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2018
Nevergiveup, Moon Street, Bristol, June 2018
Nevergiveup, Moon Street, Bristol, June 2018
NEVERGIVEUP, East Street, Bristol, April 2018
NEVERGIVEUP, East Street, Bristol, April 2018
NEVERGIVEUP, Moon Street, Bristol, April 2018
NEVERGIVEUP, Moon Street, Bristol, April 2018

 

Apologies for my absence over the last couple of weeks but I have been way too busy and neglected my door stories.

If you like doors, you ought to take a look at the Norm 2.0 blog – the originator of Thursday Doors where there are links to yet more doors in the comments section at the end.

 

by Scooj

Thursday doors – 9 January 2020

Doors 93 – The Bristol Hippodrome

The Bristol Hippodrome is part of the cultural ‘beating heart’ of the city and has been so since December 1912 when it was first opened. The history of the theatre is well worth reading about, but because this is a post about doors (and I am notoriously lazy) I would direct you to this magnificent specialist theatre history site – Arthur Lloyd.co.uk.

I have seen many great performances here including several operas by the Welsh National Opera, plays and of course pantomimes when the children were younger.

Another link I have with the old place is my mother performed here with the Sadler’s Wells National Opera in the 1950s as a principal dancer with the company. She has fond memories of the theatre and the city.

On to the doors. The feature photograph, also repeated below for those who look at these posts on smart phones, shows the main entrance to the Hippodrome. What you don’t see here is that every night after the theatre closes, several homeless people sleep in front of the doors where it is safe and dry – theatre staff tend to gently move them on in the morning as I walk past on my way to work. This is the 5th wealthiest nation in the world, something is very wrong!

Front entrance to the Bristol Hippodrome, Doors, December 2019
Front entrance to the Bristol Hippodrome, Doors, December 2019
Side doors (in need of a little TLC), Bristol Hippodrome, December 2019
Side doors (in need of a little TLC), Bristol Hippodrome, December 2019
Access entrance doors, Bristol Hippodrome, Decmber 2019
Access entrance doors, Bristol Hippodrome, Decmber 2019
Fire exit doors, Bristol Hippodrome, December 2019
Fire exit doors, Bristol Hippodrome, December 2019
Fire exit doors and quick exit after a performance, Bristol Hippodrome, December 2019
Fire exit doors and quick exit after a performance, Bristol Hippodrome, December 2019
The all important Stage Door for cast, musicians, tecnicians and groupies, Bristol Hippodrome, December 2019
The all important Stage Door for cast, musicians, tecnicians and groupies, Bristol Hippodrome, December 2019
Ever wondered how they get the scenery in? Barn Doors, Bristol Hippodrome, December 2019
Ever wondered how they get the scenery in? Barn Doors, Bristol Hippodrome, December 2019

 

So there it is, my first door post of the new decade. May I wish you all a very happy 2020.

If you like doors, you ought to take a look at the Norm 2.0 blog – the originator of Thursday Doors where there are links to yet more doors in the comments section at the end.

 

by Scooj

Thursday doors – 19 December 2019

Doors 92 – My top ten doors of the year

Norm has been encouraging people like us (Doorbies? Door fanciers? Doorists? Dooristas? – what are we called?) to use this last Door week of the year to look back and post some of our favourites from 2019 – this is a bit of a win-win for lazy/busy people like me because the hardest bit of this post is deciding what to include/exclude.

Here goes – the numbers don’t necessarily relate to my ranking

    1. Doors used to prevent graffiti or an artistic expression? (posted this year)
Doors on a wall embellished by Ryder sitting over a Mr Klue piece, Bristol, January 2017
Doors on a wall embellished by Ryder sitting over a Mr Klue piece, Bristol, January 2017

2. Door within a door – always works for me

Perfect door within a door, Lanhydrock House, Cornwall, August 2019
Perfect door within a door, Lanhydrock House, Cornwall, August 2019

3. A beautiful door pair

Great doors, great shutters, great colours, Fournier Street, London, April 2019
Great doors, great shutters, great colours, Fournier Street, London, April 2019

4. Train wagon door

Thursday Doors, Bristol Harbour Railway, January 2019
Thursday Doors, Bristol Harbour Railway, January 2019

5. A quirky old door

Old red door, Wareham, Dorset, October 2019
Old red door, Wareham, Dorset, October 2019

6. A door no more

One of those doors that was a door but is no longer a door, Kingsdown, Bristol, March 2019
One of those doors that was a door but is no longer a door, Kingsdown, Bristol, March 2019

7. Blending in

Door, North Street, Bristol, Artist: Paul Monsters, February 2019
Door, North Street, Bristol, Artist: Paul Monsters, February 2019

8. They don’t make them like this any more door

Alms house door, Bristol, March 2019
Alms house door, Bristol, March 2019

9. A favourite with visitors to Natural Adventures

Main front door to the house dating back to the 17th century, Lanhydrock House, Cornwall, August 2019
Main front door to the house dating back to the 17th century, Lanhydrock House, Cornwall, August 2019

10. Door in need of a little TLC

Somewhere there is a door, the Harbourside, Bristol, November 2019
Somewhere there is a door, the Harbourside, Bristol, November 2019

Of course there are so many other doors I would have liked to have included and this was not an easy job. Hope you liked this selection though and I look forward to a doortastic 2020.

I’ll follow Norm’s example and take a couple of weeks off, so have a fabulous Christmas all and see you next year.

You might like to take a look at the Norm 2.0 blog – the originator of Thursday Doors where there are links to yet more doors in the comments section at the end.

 

by Scooj