After a week away from Thursday doors, I return to last summer and a trip to the beautiful area of Umbria in Italy. This week, and for the next few weeks I will share doors from Montefalco, a sun-drenched hilltop town, close to where we were staying. The view of the town (see the feature image) is from the fields surrounding the villa which we called home for a week. This first set of doors were on the street in the north of the town that led up to the town square.
Doors with brick surround, Montefalco, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Modern arched door, Montefalco, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Arched door with stonework motif above, Montefalco, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Fine door with ironwork fan, Montefalco, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Outstanding door and doorway, Montefalco, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Archway with a door inside, Montefalco, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Door in the town square, Montefalco, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Close up of a door in the town square, Montefalco, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
I will bring you another selection of doors from this sleepy arid town next week. Until then, may I wish you a very pleasant 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.
Today I mark my 250th Thursday doors post with the third and final part of photographs of doors from a wonderful National Trust property in East Cornwall, called Cotehele. Incidentally my first Thursday doors post (12 October 2017) was short and sweet – perhaps I need to ‘talk less, smile more’.
This last collection of doors from Cotehele is as eclectic as the last set, with the common thread being that all the doors are reasonably old, some very old, and all of unpainted wood. I think that the house has evolved over centuries, and so the doors and doorways are scattered around the property without any real sense of planning, which adds to the character of this rambling eccentric property. I recommend a trip very highly if you should ever find yourself in the area.
Here we go:
Main hall door adorned with a whalebone? arch, Cotehele, Cornwall, August 2023Fabulous glass panelled door, Cotehele, Cornwall, August 2023Stunning writing desk with multiple drawers and doors, Cotehele, Cornwall, August 2023Door into a very narrow bedroom, Cotehele, Cornwall, August 2023Panelled door into a bedroom, Cotehele, Cornwall, August 2023Well worn panelled door, Cotehele, Cornwall, August 2023Ornate wooden door, Cotehele, Cornwall, August 2023Landing door with curious frame and well worn keyhole and handle, Cotehele, Cornwall, August 2023Cotehele, Cornwall, August 2023
That’s it from East Cornwall for now. I will not be posting Thursday doors next week, instead I will be enjoying the slopes of the SW Alps. See you in a couple of weeks.
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.
I am in London today running a workshop, so prepared this post in haste (post haste – geddit?) last night, hence the brevity.
These doors are a part II from a visit my family made to Cotehele, a National Trust property just outside Plymouth, back in August last year. This week we go from outside the property to look at some of the interior doors, which represent the most eclectic collection of doors I have found anywhere in one place. There will be more to follow next time.
One of many entrance doors on the building, Cotehele, Cornwall, August 2023Studded door with interesting door fittings (and fire extinguisher), Cotehele, Cornwall, August 2023Solid old door (and fire extinguisher), Cotehele, Cornwall, August 2023Internal archway, Cotehele, Cornwall, August 2023Old door to the wine cellar, Cotehele, Cornwall, August 2023Entrance door, hidden tapestry door and exit door, Cotehele, Cornwall, August 2023Three wooden doors, Cotehele, Cornwall, August 2023Door to the ‘smallest room’, Cotehele, Cornwall, August 2023Archway and doors. Cotehele, Cornwall, August 2023
If you should ever find yourself in the Plymouth area, then I would thoroughly recommend a trip to this incredible place. More interior doors to come next time, until then, may I wish you a great 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.
This will be a bit of a short one – today is my 60th birthday, so I have written this post last night to allow myself a bit of a well-earned lie in.
On our way home to Bristol from a short summer break last August visiting my sister and brother-in-law in Cornwall near Liskeard, we broke our journey by stopping at a National Trust property ‘Cotehele‘ perched high above the banks of the River Tamar. It was, of course, the perfect place to photograph doors and doorways of a Tudor house, with some parts dating back to medieval times.
While my wife walked the dog in the grounds, getting terribly lost in the process, my daughter and I wandered around the house and gardens, absorbing the deep sense of history of the place, on a gorgeous summer’s day.
The first part of this post focuses on the exterior doors of the property. I hope you enjoy it.
Doors and entrance arch, Cotehele, Calstock, Cornwall, August 2023Out-building modern door in an old stone archway, Cotehele, Calstock, Cornwall, August 2023Out-building modern door in an old stone archway, Cotehele, Calstock, Cornwall, August 2023Carved stone archway entrance, Cotehele, Calstock, Cornwall, August 2023Office door, Cotehele, Calstock, Cornwall, August 2023Ancient studded door within a door, Cotehele, Calstock, Cornwall, August 2023A pair of old studded doors, Cotehele, Calstock, Cornwall, August 2023Main entrance doorway, Cotehele, Calstock, Cornwall, August 2023
Next time I’ll post some of the magnificent and quirky doors from inside this remarkable place. Until then, may I wish you a very happy week.
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 247 – a selection of my favourite doors that I have posted on Thursday doors in 2023
This post does what it says on the tin, so all I need to add is to wish you a very happy festive season and Christmas. One door from each month of the year when I posted them. Here they are:
January
Door and shutter, Zaton, Croatia, August 2022
February
Door in Krka National Park, Croatia, August 2022
March
Yellow door with a dodo and planters on the cornice, Greenbank, Bristol, February 2023
April
Black door and very grand portico, Bristol, May 2022
May
Plenty of doors on this Network Rail rail grinder, Weston-super-Mare, May 2023
June
Recessed turquoise door with steps and tiles, York, June 2023
July
Tudor doorway and more recent door, York, June 2023
August
Three doors on the west entrance to Lincoln Cathedral, Lincoln City, July 2023
September
Three black doors on an old stone building and incredible windows, Lincoln, July 2023
October
Three black doors, Jews Court, Lincoln, July 2023
November
Marzia gate and door, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
December
Stunning studded door and stylish stone surround, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
So that’s it for 2023, and a very enjoyable door year at that. I look forward to seeing you all again in the New Year.
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.
I am a little behind with posting this week’s Thursday doors, so this is likely to be a short one. The doors and archways in this post are the final selection from Perugia, photographed during a family holiday to Umbria last July. Some architectural features to enjoy as well as doors – I hope you enjoy them.
Layers of history, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Some cheeky incidental doors, but it was the archway I was photographing, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023More cheeky doors in this alleyway with structural arch braces, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Plain door to the thinnest house? Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023I’m not sure if his window had once been a door, the frame might suggest so, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Church door and impressive stone work, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Double doors within doors and an impressive stone archway. Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Stunning studded door and stylish stone surround, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Wonderful old door perched on a wall with a wreath crest, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
So that is really it from Perugia. I have many more Umbrian doors to share, although I will take a break from Italy for a while and next time will post doors from an as yet undetermined city location in England, something for me to think about between now and next time. May I wish you a very happy weekend. Arrivederci!
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.
Now I am full swing into sharing doors from Perugia and I don’t need to write too much by way of background. I hope you enjoy this week’s selection.
Church doors, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Inside church doors and fresco, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Plain door with a fancy stone surround (plus beer bottle), Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Old door with rivets and fine stonework, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Plain door – plane arch, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Studded old door and modern concrete frame, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Well used door and rendered brick surround, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Lovely old wooden door, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Fine wooden door and parched colours of an Italian dusty summer, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
I have one last set of doors from Perugia for next time, but think I will take a break from Italy after that and share some doors from English towns and cities for a bit before returning to Italy, probably in the New Year. Have a great weekend, and for those in the Northern Hemisphere… time to button up.
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.
Having emerged from the tunnels beneath Perugia, we (and by that I mean me and my son, this was a dad and lad day out) were treated to a bustling city, which happened to be hosting a Jazz Festival, filled with music and visitors. Certainly there was a lively buzz over and above the white noise of regular tourists (like us).
These doors are presented pretty much in chronological order, mapping our route through the streets and squares. This was a slightly cooler day, the only one during our week-long trip, and a perfect one for exploring. Let’s cut to the chase… here are some doors:
Door with wooden frame, window and bell, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Six panelled door, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Door and balcony above, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Beautiful arched doorway and carved wooden doors, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Ancient stonework surrounds a modern door, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Grand entrance, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Palazzo dei Priori with several doors and entrances, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Our trip to Italy feels like it was several years ago, so it is great to refresh my memories, digging out these doors for this post. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. Another selection from Perugia next week… probably.
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.
One of the ways to enter the hilltop City of Perugia is via an underground escalator which begins at a car park at the bottom of the hill upon which Perugia is perched. I hadn’t really done much homework about the city and was utterly blown away by what we saw at the top of the series of escalators. You don’t emerge into the blinding light of the Umbrian sunshine, but instead enter a subterranean city, upon which Perugia is built.
I won’t give you the full history as to how this came about, but there is quite a useful quick guide on the Invitation to Tuscany and Beyond website. In short the original 16th century streets were augmented with high vaulted ceilings, on top of which a fortress was built – Rocca Paolina. The fortress was subsequently destroyed following the unification of Italy in 1860, but some of the streets below were left untouched, and this week’s doors, or rather doorways and ghost doors, are to be found in this extraordinary, dimly-lit underground place. Something a little different this week, which I hope you enjoy.
Subterranean archways, gates and ghost doors, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Archways, a ghost door, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Vaulted ceiling, archways and doorways, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Two ghost doors, one inside the other, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Archways and doorways, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Towards the gate, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Marzia gate and door, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
More to come from the ‘above ground’ city of Perugia next time. May I wish you a pleasant 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.
This week I bring you the last few doors, and one or two other interesting features, from our visit to Todi in Umbria last summer. Although we only spent a few hours in the town, we managed to cover a lot of ground and see some wonderful things. The temperature was searingly hot, although only a prelude to the heatwave that was to come the following week, and in true ‘mad dogs and Englishmen’ style we arrived just before midday.
Todi is one of several stunning Umbrian hilltop towns, offering everything you’d expect to find in terms of historic environment and culture. The door pictures are only a representative microcosm of the magnificence of the place – I hope you enjoy them.
Fine double doors and hefty stone work, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023What the heck is going on behind these doors? Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Confessional doors, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Fragment of ancient wall, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Grand carved wooden panelled door, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023Symmetry of wooden door, plants and steps, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023A classic urban Umbrian view, complete with a door through the arches, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
That’s it for another week – Next time I move on to Perugia and some more Umbrian magic.
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.