Tag: Thursday Doors

Thursday doors

Doors 47 – Fowey

My sister and family have recently bought a farmhouse in Cornwall not too far south of Bodmin. This is excellent news for me, as there is a ready-made bolt-hole for short breaks with the family and dog. In fact I posted some Fowey doors a short while back on such a visit with my daughter in August. Even better than that is that it can serve as a new base for my annual fishing trips with my fishing partner of thirty years.

At the start of September, he and I went away for a few days and our primary task was to check out the coastline from St Austell to Plymouth. Now I am very familiar with Cornwall and spent pretty much every school holiday in Flushing, opposite Falmouth, staying with my grandparents, but this South East coastline of Cornwall has largely remained off my radar.

On our last day we decided to pop into Fowey for some breakfast before fishing on the other side of the estuary in Polruan. As it happened, we abandoned that idea and instead fished the most beautiful bay imaginable called Lantic Bay, a few miles East of Polruan.

Enough context setting – in short, I found myself back in Fowey, so here are some more doors from this recent fishing trip.

Basement door and thick walls, Fowey, Cornwall, September 2018
Basement door and thick walls, Fowey, Cornwall, September 2018
Basement door and thick walls, Fowey, Cornwall, September 2018
Basement door and thick walls, Fowey, Cornwall, September 2018
Boat builder's yard door, Fowey, Cornwall, September 2018
Boat builder’s yard door, Fowey, Cornwall, September 2018
Cottage door, Fowey, Cornwall, September 2018
Cottage door, Fowey, Cornwall, September 2018
Quay House door, Fowey, Cornwall, September 2018
Quay House door, Fowey, Cornwall, September 2018
Door, Fowey, Cornwall, September 2018
Door, Fowey, Cornwall, September 2018
Dangerous secret door, Fowey, Cornwall, September 2018
Dangerous secret door, Fowey, Cornwall, September 2018
Lantic Bay, a hidden jewel, Cornwall September 2018
Lantic Bay, a hidden jewel, Cornwall September 2018

And that’s it for this week.

by Scooj

More doors at: Thursday Doors – Norm 2.0

 

Thursday doors

Doors 46 – Citta di Castello – part 3

The final instalment of doors from Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy, where I (not so recently any more) spent a week with my family on our summer holiday. ‘Citta’ was the nearest city to where we were staying and is a place that we have visited many times over the years. This area of Italy is a particular favourite of ours, but this is the first time I have visited with a ‘door chip’ inserted. There is a little more to some of these doors than first meets the eye.

This door was the entrance to some apartments and played host to tons of small tags and graffiti. Most of the other doors on this main shopping street were not afforded the same attention.

Graffiti door, Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy, August 2018
Graffiti door, Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy, August 2018
Double door, Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy, August 2018
Double door, Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy, August 2018

There are many views and scenes in Italy that unsurprisingly remind you of some of the great Italian artists – the door below and the archway leading up to it and all the colours and shadows screamed Giorgio de Chirico to me.

'De Chirico' door, Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy, August 2018
‘De Chirico’ door, Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy, August 2018

I did a little research on the next door, because there was something about it that was rather special. It is in fact a door of the dead, and thanks this post on the fabulous website Experience Tuscany and Umbria, I can tell you a little more about it. The door dates back to medieval times and would usually be set to one side of the main dwelling entrance. It was only ever used for taking a deceased body out of the home in a coffin, after which the doorway was bricked up on the inside to prevent death from returning. I believe that many of these doors can be found in old Italian houses.

Door of the dead, Corso Cavour, Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy, August 2018
Door of the dead, Corso Cavour, Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy, August 2018

The final door is another rather peculiar one which was in the wall of the crypt of the Cathedral of St Florido and Amanzio by the exit. It was an iron gate, not very special in its own right but it was what lay behind it that was a bit creepy.

Cathedral of St Florido and Amanzio, Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy, August 2018
Cathedral of St Florido and Amanzio, Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy, August 2018

I have been to catacombs and many crypts and have seen many skeletons and relics and expect this kind of thing in Italy, but this display was simply weird. The cellar room had a scene reminiscent of Pinocchio, presumably something for children to look at, but in my view the stuff of nightmares. Interesting nonetheless.

Cathedral of St Florido and Amanzio, Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy, August 2018
Cathedral of St Florido and Amanzio, Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy, August 2018

And that’s it from Citta di Castello…more Italian doors soon.

by Scooj

More doors at: Thursday Doors – Norm 2.0

 

Thursday doors

Doors 44 – Citta di Castello – part 2

This is the second instalment of doors from Citta di Castello in Umbria and a nice reminder for me of our recent summer break  – I must try to hang on to that holiday feeling for as long as possible to see me through the winter. Some nice ones here, I hope you enjoy them.

OK, so it's a window pretending to be a door, Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy
OK, so it’s a window pretending to be a door, Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy
Graffiti and tags door, Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy
Graffiti and tags door, Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy
Door with plenty of character, Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy
Door with plenty of character, Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy
Double door, Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy
Double door, Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy
Double door, Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy
Double door, Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy
Main door of the Cathedral of St Florido and Amanzio, Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy
Main door of the Cathedral of St Florido and Amanzio, Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy

by Scooj

More doors at: Thursday Doors – Norm 2.0

Thursday doors

Doors 44 – Citta di Castello – part 1

I hadn’t realised that I had taken so many pictures of doors in Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy during a recent holiday there, so I have had to break down this post into manageable chunks. This is chunk 1. Enjoy.

Entrance to the Commune di Citta di Castello
Entrance to the Commune di Citta di Castello
Steps and door inside the Commune di Citta di Castello
Steps and door inside the Commune di Citta di Castello
Double door, Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy
Double door, Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy
Hosta in a pot and Double door, Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy
Hosta in a pot and Double door, Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy
Green double door, Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy
Green double door, Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy
Another green double door, Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy
Another green double door, Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy
Doors and door at the end of the street, Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy
Doors and door at the end of the street, Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy
Wall, Door. That's about it. Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy.
Wall, Door. That’s about it. Citta di Castello, Umbria, Italy.

by Scooj

More doors at: Thursday Doors – Norm 2.0

 

Thursday doors

Doors 43

This week I offer you another little gallery of doors from a recent trip to Umbria Italy. This set of doors are from a small hilltop town called Monte Santa Maria Tiberina, nestled between Arezzo to the west and Citta di Castello to the east.

We used to visit this area quite frequently in the 1980s and 1990s and I recall the town forever playing host to a couple of large cranes. These were lovingly (and slowly) restoring the whole town and some of its buildings. The cranes have gone now, thank goodness.

Some doors are the originals, but you might notice that the feature image, for example, is a faithful reproduction. I love the way this little town has retained its heritage without giving in to the trappings of modern urbanisation (apart from the rather unnecessarily ugly interpretation board below).

Door, Monte Santa Maria Tiberina, Umbria, August 2018
Door, Palazzo Marchesi Bourbon del Monte, Monte Santa Maria Tiberina, Umbria, August 2018
Door, Monte Santa Maria Tiberina, Umbria, August 2018
Door, Monte Santa Maria Tiberina, Umbria, August 2018
Door, Monte Santa Maria Tiberina, Umbria, August 2018
Door, Monte Santa Maria Tiberina, Umbria, August 2018
Door, Monte Santa Maria Tiberina, Umbria, August 2018
Door, Monte Santa Maria Tiberina, Umbria, August 2018

by Scooj

More doors at: Thursday Doors – Norm 2.0

Thursday doors

Doors 42

This week I have a rare treat for you…doors from Cortona. I spent last week on a family holiday to Umbria in Italy and this first set of doors is from a day trip we took to this Tuscan town set on a hill top in the province of Arezzo. Close your eyes and imagine the heat, sounds and the smells of this medieval town. Perfect.

Passageway off Via Nazionale, Cortona, Umbria, Italy
Passageway off Via Nazionale, Cortona, Tuscany, Italy
Door at the end of a passageway off Via Nazionale, Cortona, Umbria, Italy
Door at the end of a passageway off Via Nazionale, Cortona, Tuscany, Italy
Door in Cortona, Umbria, Italy
Door in Cortona, Tuscany, Italy
Door in Cortona, Umbria, Italy
Door in Cortona, Tuscany, Italy
Porta Colonia, Cortona, Umbria, Italy
Porta Colonia, Cortona, Tuscany, Italy
Interesting door, Via Dardano, Cortona, Umbria, Italy
Interesting door, Via Dardano, Cortona, Tuscany, Italy

by Scooj

More doors at: Thursday Doors – Norm 2.0

Thursday doors

Doors 41

This week a selection of doors from a recent sunny trip to Fowey in Cornwall. I’ll let the pictures do the talking.

Fower door, August 2018
Fower door, August 2018
Fowey door, August 2018
Fowey door, August 2018
Fowey door, August 2018
Fowey door, August 2018
Fancy Fowey doorway, August 2018
Fancy Fowey doorway, August 2018
Fowey door, August 2018 (for hobbits?)
Fowey door, August 2018 (for hobbits?)
Fowey door, August 2018
Fowey door, August 2018

by Scooj

More doors at: Thursday Doors – Norm 2.0

 

Thursday doors

Door 40

Door, Montpelier, Bristol
Door, Montpelier, Bristol

I saw this door yesterday, while on a short walkabout looking for (yes…predictably) street art. The door is situated at the bottom end of a walled garden belonging to a house called Field House – the words can just about be seen engraved into the keystone at the top of the arch. That was all I knew about the place, so I set to work…thank you Interweb.

Door, Montpelier, Bristol
Door, Montpelier, Bristol

The House, which is Grade II listed, was built in the early part of the 19th century, and when it was first built, there was not much in the way of other buildings in the immediate vacinity.

Field House, Montpelier 1828
Field House, Montpelier 1828

You can see Field House in the map above appearing as a square in the centre of the picture – the garden is still intact today.

Field House, Montpelier, 1855
Field House, Montpelier, 1855

Not an awful lot has changed by 1855, but the map is a little bit more detailed. There is a small outbuilding in the bottom corner of the garden.

Field House, Montpelier, 1880s
Field House, Montpelier, 1880s

By the 1880s there is a major change and many new houses have appeared, especially to the north of Field House. Urbanisation, population growth and the impacts of the industrial revolution will all have contributed to the spread of housing in the city.

Field House, Montpelier, 1900s
Field House, Montpelier, 1900s

By the 1900s the area had become swamped by the growth of the city, however, the walled garden has remained and is a small oasis and time capsule of how things were.

I took a peek through the door and the garden is no longer a grand garden with organised flowerbeds, but is laid out as a split level lawn…looking very yellow due to the lack of rain with one or two trees. The outbuilding is no longer there.

Great to understand a little more about what lies behind a door.

by Scooj

More doors at: Thursday Doors – Norm 2.0

 

Thursday doors

Door 39

Doors, Bristol
Doors, Bristol

This is the prefect double-take door. Something is so very wrong.

High door, Bristol
High door, Bristol

What I like most is that even though the steps have been removed, the decorations hanging from the doorknob are still there.

I guess this has happened to make space for a car. This space was probably needed because street parking in the road is particularly conjested. Parking is bad here because it is one road away from the controlled parking zone (where I live). What this means is that commuters into Bristol park in this road and leave their cars here all day. This is an unintended consequence for those residents who voted against residents parking (for which you have to pay to park outside your own home). I think the residents would give anything now to have a controlled parking zone. They might not have to convert their front gardens and remove steps to their front doors if there were one.

The domino effect.

by Scooj

More doors at: Thursday Doors – Norm 2.0

 

Thursday doors

Door 38

Cabot doors 002 29 June 2018

This week I thought I’d take you on a little tour to one of the very special places in Bristol, Cabot Tower on Brandon Hill. The Thursday door is a bit of an excuse really to share something that lies behind the door, so door specialists had better lower their expectations. To all those who are keen to know who discovered the coast of North America in 1497, read on…

Cabot doors 025 29 June 2018

Cabot Tower was built in 1897/98 to commemorate the fourth centenary of John Cabot’s (Giovanni Caboto) discovery of the coast of North America under the commission of Henry VII of England. John Cabot set out from Bristol on the 2 May 1497 on The Matthew with 18 crew members and made landfall in Newfoundland on 24 June that same yesy. What a voyage that must have been on this tiny ship.

Cabot doors 003 29 June 2018

There are several plaques on the outside of the tower that offer some historuical context.

Cabot doors 005 29 June 2018

This is the foundation stone.

Cabot doors 006 29 June 2018

Ok, so here are some doors… this is the rather underwhelming door immediately inside the tower – I expect it was once the kiosk, but now the tower is un-manned and permanently open to the public. The steep spiral staircase starts to the left.

Cabot doors 008 29 June 2018

Another door, this one without glass, opens out at the first stage with three balconies looking out to the South, West and East.

Cabot doors 010 29 June 2018

The reason for climbing the stairs is to take in the breathtaking views of Bristol. This is looking south and the building with the green roof immediately after the park is where I work.

Cabot doors 011 29 June 2018

Zooming in a little to the South West you can see I. K. Brunel’s SS Great Britain in its permanent dry dock. The little cottage just at the stern of the ship is the building that Brunel worked from.

Cabot doors 014 29 June 2018

Another of Brunel’s extraordinary landmarks, the Clifton Suspension Bridge, can be seen to the West and spans across the Avon Gorge, through which Cabot would have sailed all those centuries ago.

Cabot doors 020 29 June 2018

Serendipitously, the modern replica of Cabot’s Matthew was motoring around the floating Harbour, just as I reached the top of the tower. It is a very small boat to be crossing the Atlantic in.

Cabot doors 021 29 June 2018

Then to the door back down…

Cabot doors 023 29 June 2018

And the slightly tatty and scary stairwell.

 

by Scooj

More doors at: Thursday Doors – Norm 2.0