Doors 283 – Doors from Exeter, Devon – Part I, October 2023
Regulars may have picked up that I am currently on my annual fishing trip in with a great friend, Andy. We have been doing this since 1986 or so, and only missed two years. Once I was away in the Falkland Islands and the other was Covid lockdowns. Although this year’s trip has been delayed, we are here now.
On the way home from last year’s trip we stopped off in Exeter, because Andy’s daughter is a student there and her digs needed a bit of pest control. While Andy spent a couple of hours with his daughter I went for a stroll around the city and these are some of the doors I photographed. I hope you enjoy them:
Tudor House and door, Stepcote Hill, Exeter, October 2023Front door and low window, Stepcote Hill, Exeter, October 2023Black door with glass panels and old bay window, Exeter, October 2023Modern door with a nautical feel, Exeter, October 2023
A rather boring door with a nautical theme.
Relocated Merchant House, Exeter, October 2023
This Tudor house was moved from its original position in Exeter to this spot. In the process it lost two gables windows in the roof.
Ancient door, Tiddy House (1630s), Exeter, October 2023Ancient door, Tiddy House (1630s), Exeter, October 2023Old cellar door, Tiddy House, Exeter, October 2023
That’s it for this week, I need to get ready for fishing later on today. More from Exeter next time.
If you have made it this far, you probably like doors, and you really ought to take a look at the No Facilities blog by Dan Anton who has taken over the hosting of Thursday Doors from Norm 2.0 blog. Links to more doorscursions can be found in the comments section of Dan Anton’s Thursday Doors post.
Doors 282 – Doors of Central London – Part III – March 2024
This is the last selection of doors from a visit to Central London back in March this year. It is an especially poignant and nostalgic collection for me because it takes me to the front door of my home where I lived with my parents in the early 1980s. I was the last of my siblings to leave home and when my parents moved to the fashionable address of 1A Montague Place, WC1E, I was starting at Newcastle University, but this was my home out of term-time, and for a little while after I left University, before I moved out properly. To be living in the heart of Bloomsbury and a heartbeat away from Soho and the West End was pure heaven for a twentysomething.
Breaking from tradition, I will write a little bit of commentary beneath some of these doors.
British Museum back door, Montague Place, London, March 2024
Our immediate next door neighbour was the British Museum, where my father would visit on a very regular basis, I only wish I had made more of the opportunity, but as is always the case when something is so readily available, my mind was elsewhere. My father had a ‘dinner party’ joke, which was to say that “on a clear day we can see the Elgin Marbles” – I can hear him saying it now, and chuckling.
My old home, 1A Montague Place, London, March 2024
Our little maisonette was dwarfed by the surrounding buildings, but it was rather cosy. The large and rather imposing gates were the delivery entrance for the museum, and I guess exhibits would come and go through these gates.
My old home, 1A Montague Place, London, March 2024
So here it is, a place where I have some very happy memories spending time with my parents (without having to share them with my siblings – an advantage of being the youngest). It feels a little strange looking at it now… it was a lifetime ago.
Black front door of my old home, 1A Montague Place, London, March 2024
The front door was nothing to write home about, but it was a decent black front door, and I don’t think it has changed at all except perhaps for a lick of paint.
Bedford Square Gardens gate, London, March 2024
As residents of the immediate area, we had the keys to the private Bedford Square Gardens, much to the envy of locals and visitors alike. It was a fabulous place to picnic and drink in the heart of the city without the gathering crowds.
Senate House, University of London, London, March 2024
Nearby is the famous London University Senate House, built in the Art Deco style of a New York high-rise. It is a stunning building which looks much taller than it is by clever positioning of smaller windows the higher the building goes, and the stepped ‘wedding-cake’ arrangement. I never made it into the Senate House, but I’ll bet it has some wicked doors, fixtures and fittings of the period.
Art Deco doors of the Senate House, University of London, London, March 2024
It also has some glorious Art Deco doors
The wine bars and coffee houses of Soho were my ‘go to’ watering holes, and my friends, most of whom lived in North London, would come in to town on our evenings out. I discovered where all the late night drinking places were, such as the Beaujolais wine bar, The 100 Club, and a funny little basement flamenco club just off Tottenham Court Road.
Underwhelming door on a beautiful shopfront, Soho, London, March 2024Beautiful sculpture above the doors of The Resident Hotel, Soho, London, March 2024Gardener’s hut (1925) and black door, Soho Square, London, March 2024
In Soho Square itself, there is a funny little hut, which I always thought was ancient, but was actually built in 1925 (so I found out today) as an access portal for an electricity sub-station. Who knew?
I hope you enjoyed this little tour of a part of London that will forever be very special to me, and I feel privileged to be able to share it with you via Thursday Doors.
If you have made it this far, you probably like doors, and you really ought to take a look at the No Facilities blog by Dan Anton who has taken over the hosting of Thursday Doors from Norm 2.0 blog. Links to more doorscursions can be found in the comments section of Dan Anton’s Thursday Doors post.
Doors 281 – Doors of Central London – Part II – March 2024
I got my knickers in a twist last week with Thursday doors, and published my post on Friday, which was perhaps a reflection of my physical state at the time, suffering from what I didn’t know then was Covid. I feel a whole lot better today, and I am making a good recovery. Fortunately I have been able to postpone my much-awaited fishing trip to Cornwall for a couple of weeks, so all in all, things have worked out ok.
This is the second set of doors from a trip I made to London in March this year, photographed on a walk after a workshop I was facilitating from Holborn to Bloomsbury. The doors reflect a reasonably affluent part of town, and I hope you enjoy them.
Multiple doors and shop frontage, Staple Inn, High Holborn, London, March 2024Grand three-door entrance with boot scrapers on either side, London, March 2024Hazardous ‘floating’ door, London, March 2024Stunning entrance with tiles, iron gates and red stone and modest black door, London, March 2024Strong black double doors with large fanlight and some great tiles, London, March 2024Black double doors and distinctive granite pillars, London, March 2024Large black door with a fine white surround and fan light, Lord Eldon (Lord Chancellor) lived here, London, March 2024
I think that there will be one more post from this particular collection next time, and then I’ll move on to something else. May I wish you all a happy weekend, and my thoughts are with those suffering storms and those suffering conflicts. Keep safe.
If you have made it this far, you probably like doors, and you really ought to take a look at the No Facilities blog by Dan Anton who has taken over the hosting of Thursday Doors from Norm 2.0 blog. Links to more doorscursions can be found in the comments section of Dan Anton’s Thursday Doors post.
Doors 280 – Doors of Central London – Part I – March 2024
As ever I continue to find myself pressed for time, and today is no exception. I am heading down to Cornwall later this morning on my annual fishing break with my long-suffering best mate. There may be an impact on next week’s Thursday Doors, as I return on Wednesday and will have a lot of catching up to do at work on Thursday. We’ll see.
These photographs were taken on a walk from a workshop I was running near Southampton Row in London back in March to the house where I lived with my parents after I left school and during my University years – more of that place in a couple of weeks. I love being able to combine my work trips/meetings/workshops/events with urban walks sniffing out doors and graffiti. On to the doors… I’m in a hurry remember?
Double set of next-door doors with attractive fanlights, Central London, March 2024Beautiful door and porch and photobombing pigeon, Central London, March 2024Steps – door – portico, Central London, March 2024Steps – door – portico, Central London, March 2024Steps – door – portico, Central London, March 2024Benjamin Disraeli lived in this house, Central London, March 2024Austere doors with stone image of Mercury, Central London, March 2024
That’s yer lot this week. More from the same walk next time. Until then toodle pip.
If you have made it this far, you probably like doors, and you really ought to take a look at the No Facilities blog by Dan Anton who has taken over the hosting of Thursday Doors from Norm 2.0 blog. Links to more doorscursions can be found in the comments section of Dan Anton’s Thursday Doors post.
Doors 279 – Street art and graffiti doors of Bristol – July to October 2023
It has been a little while since I last posted street art and graffiti doors, so before I resume with doors from towns and cities I have visited, I will dwell on my home city (and Exeter) with some photographs of decorated doors. All of these doors have appeared on Natural Adventures before, but in graffiti and street art posts – the photographs were taken between July and October last year. I hope you like them:
Inkie, Cheltenham Paint Festival, Cheltenham, July 2023Andy Council, East Street, Bristol, August 2023Aspire, Queen’s Road, Bristol, August 2023Taboo, East Street, Bristol, August 2023Rose Popay, Queen’s Road, Bristol, August 2023Cheba, Queen’s Road, Bristol, August 2023None Here, Exeter, October 2023Martin D’Acy, Queen’s Road, Bristol, August 2023Stivs and Vane, Mina Road, Bristol, August 2023
I will return to more conventional doors next time, but haven’t yet decided which of my folders to unlock – a surprise for you. May I wish you a happy weekend.
If you have made it this far, you probably like doors, and you really ought to take a look at the No Facilities blog by Dan Anton who has taken over the hosting of Thursday Doors from Norm 2.0 blog. Links to more doorscursions can be found in the comments section of Dan Anton’s Thursday Doors post.
Doors 278 – Doors of Nottingham (Part III), UK, March 2024
Good morning. This is the final selection – the leftovers, if you like – of doors from a visit to Nottingham back in March this year. There is no theme, just doors which took my fancy. All of the doors photographed in this series were captured during a one hour stroll from my hotel to the office where we were holding a team meeting. One of the reasons that I don’t mind travelling around the country for meetings is that sometimes I get to stay over and get a chance to photograph doors and street art, making the best of things.
I’m off to London on Monday, but I’m not sure I will get time to take any pictures, I have quite a tight schedule. Anyhoo, I hope you enjoy this last selection from Nottingham. Next time another city, another set of doors.
Castle Rock offices blue door, Nottingham, March 2024Castle Rock door within a gate, Nottingham, March 2024Station gates, Nottingham, March 2024Double door entrance, Nottingham, March 2024County Hall, Ionic columns either side of an arched door, Nottingham, March 2024Ghost door in a brick wall, Nottingham, March 2024Green door and building in need of some TLC, Nottingham, March 2024
That’s all for another week. I wish you a happy weekend.
If you have made it this far, you probably like doors, and you really ought to take a look at the No Facilities blog by Dan Anton who has taken over the hosting of Thursday Doors from Norm 2.0 blog. Links to more doorscursions can be found in the comments section of Dan Anton’s Thursday Doors post.
Doors 277 – Doors of Nottingham (Part II), UK, March 2024
Last week’s doors of Nottingham seemed to go down rather well. What I like about visiting urban centres in the UK, is there seems to be a lack of uniformity of architecture. Some ancient buildings survived the bombing of the second world war and these are often found cheek by jowl with buildings of multiple periods right up to the modern day. It makes for an eclectic collection of doors (and doorways – as some of the doors have been replaced) through history.
This is an un-themed random set of doors that I encountered in Nottingham back in March this year presented in the order in which I found them. I hope you enjoy them.
I realise that I haven’t been reading and commenting on other people’s blog posts for a couple of weeks, which is a bit rude of me and for which I apologise. I have been ultra-busy, but hope to get back into a rhythm before too long.
Mills Buildings doors and gate (reproduction Ant Nouveau?) Nottingham, March 2024Big door, little door, Nottingham, March 2024Grey door and steps, Nottingham, March 2024Black door with solid ‘statement’ surround, Nottingham, March 2024Red door with ornate panelling and stonework, Nottingham, March 2024Black door with awning and incorporated window, Nottingham, March 2024Old wooden door with studs in a brick wall, Nottingham, March 2024
So that’s it from Nottingham this week. There is one more selection from Nottingham which I will post next time. Wishing you a happy weekend.
If you have made it this far, you probably like doors, and you really ought to take a look at the No Facilities blog by Dan Anton who has taken over the hosting of Thursday Doors from Norm 2.0 blog. Links to more doorscursions can be found in the comments section of Dan Anton’s Thursday Doors post.
Doors 276 – Doors of Nottingham (Part I), UK, March 2024
I missed last week’s Thursday doors, there was simply too much going on, and I ran out of time. I am feeling similarly ragged this morning, so this is going to be a quick one. Many of my Thursday doors collections happen to be tied in with work meetings around the country, when I have to do an ‘over-nighter’. On the day of the meeting I tend to get up early from my hotel, wander around the town or city for an hour or so before joining my colleagues, and it is during this stroll that I get to take photographs. This week I bring you the first of three selections from Nottingham captured in March this year, I hope you enjoy them.
Gray & Bull opticians door, Nottingham, March 2024Notts Bank Chambers doors, Nottingham, March 2024Neighbours with rather different doors, Nottingham, March 2024Yellow door behind a gate, Nottingham, March 2024Carlton Buildings (flats 1-9) door, Nottingham, March 2024Black door and barber’s pole, Nottingham, March 2024Stunning Gothic architecture and green doors, Nottingham, March 2024
I would love to expand on some of these doors, and buildings, but am a little pressed for time.
I hope to be a little more organised next time, until then… cheerio.
If you have made it this far, you probably like doors, and you really ought to take a look at the No Facilities blog by Dan Anton who has taken over the hosting of Thursday Doors from Norm 2.0 blog. Links to more doorscursions can be found in the comments section of Dan Anton’s Thursday Doors post.
Doors 275 – Doors of Birmingham, UK, November 2023
Back in November, I had a meeting in Birmingham. I think it was a large team meeting, and because we have colleagues located all around the country, Birmingham was chosen as the venue because it is pretty central, and reduces travel costs and time for most people.
These pictures were taken between the station and the meeting venue, which would appear to be the heart of the law district in Birmingham, with plenty of chambers and the Birmingham Law Library. There are some surprisingly interesting doors in the selection, which were photographed in a bit of a hurry during the ten-minute walk.
Trocadero and Albert Chambers doors, Birmingham, November 2023
Anticipating Christmas doors, Birmingham, November 2023
Fire exit door and fine masonry, Birmingham, November 2023
Austere Temple Buildings doors, Birmingham, November 2023
Birmingham Law Library doors, Birmingham, November 2023
Black doors and fancy stone faces, Birmingham, November 2023
Double set of doors at Newton Chambers, Birmingham, November 2023
So that’s it from me this week, and from Birmingham for the time being. I’ll have to root around in my folders to decide what to post next time. May I wish you a great weekend ahead.
If you have made it this far, you probably like doors, and you really ought to take a look at the No Facilities blog by Dan Anton who has taken over the hosting of Thursday Doors from Norm 2.0 blog. Links to more doorscursions can be found in the comments section of Dan Anton’s Thursday Doors post.
Doors 274 – Doors of Manchester, UK, November 2023 (Part III)
A quick one from me this week. I have a meeting in London today and had to prepare this post last night, along with several other posts. This is the third and final instalment of doors from my November trip to Manchester last year with my daughter.
As with last time, nothing too out of the ordinary, just doors that I saw on my ramblings. I particularly like the four-story building, not for its nor its neighbour’s doors, but because I’d love to know more about the merchant who originally had it built, showing off their wealth with four whole floors compared with the two-story buildings either side.
I hope you enjoy.
Old wholesale fish market entrance gateway, Manchester, November 2023
Old wholesale fish market entrance gateway, Manchester, November 2023
Stuart Little’s house in reverse, Manchester, November 2023
Just an ordinary black door with little awning, Manchester, November 2023
Grand doorway, security gate and black door with notice panels, Manchester, November 2023
Take a rest, as a friend – modest grandeur for this pub door, Manchester, November 2023
Fancy stonework and ironwork around a fairly utilitarian door, Manchester, November 2023
LS Banksy (Lowry) door shutter, Manchester, November 2023
Well that’s all folks for another week. I’m not too sure what I’ll be posting next time. Prepare for a surprise (for me as much as for you).
If you have made it this far, you probably like doors, and you really ought to take a look at the No Facilities blog by Dan Anton who has taken over the hosting of Thursday Doors from Norm 2.0 blog. Links to more doorscursions can be found in the comments section of Dan Anton’s Thursday Doors post.
Natural adventures 