tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228081722487474323.post6273766501062161511..comments2024-03-25T15:10:13.792+00:00Comments on English Buildings: St Martin's Lane and Trafalgar Square, LondonPhilip Wilkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04893714514416441572noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228081722487474323.post-78603622178637791692011-08-11T13:05:35.010+01:002011-08-11T13:05:35.010+01:00The Dutch Reformed Mother Church at Cradock, Easte...The Dutch Reformed Mother Church at Cradock, Eastern Cape, South Africa is based on SMF. Google images has several pictures. It certainly caused me to do a double-take!Gawainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03187287590748938980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228081722487474323.post-3060377661422966052011-08-07T12:31:06.397+01:002011-08-07T12:31:06.397+01:00Always feel humble when I see the marvellous memor...Always feel humble when I see the marvellous memorial to Edith Cavell just up from that exquisite church. Such impossible bravery.Ron Combohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05270358674385406494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228081722487474323.post-28368856247576363992011-08-05T11:06:53.718+01:002011-08-05T11:06:53.718+01:00Peter: Oh, I don't mind a red bus - but I pref...Peter: Oh, I don't mind a red bus - but I prefer it if it's not obscuring the building. And of course it would have been even better to have seen a Routemaster there. Many were the moving Routemasters I leaped off in my salad days, before elf and safety were thought of.Philip Wilkinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04893714514416441572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228081722487474323.post-36618182534430282272011-08-05T11:03:56.302+01:002011-08-05T11:03:56.302+01:00Yes, Chris. It was very different round there when...Yes, Chris. It was very different round there when Gibbs's church was first built. And of course no one had the advantage of the National Gallery steps until c. 1838.Philip Wilkinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04893714514416441572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228081722487474323.post-30039052775206328902011-08-05T10:00:43.465+01:002011-08-05T10:00:43.465+01:00In London, I don't think you need worry about ...In London, I don't think you need worry about a bus or two in shots, as your admirable photograph demonstrates. The thing is they're red, and as much part of the scene as cabs. Red and black, London's trademark colours. It's a pity they're not Routemasters particularly, and I draw the line at the wretched bendy buses, but at least they're not that bilious blue green of 'Arriva'. And oh yes, I love this church too.Peter Ashleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00027878122724846472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228081722487474323.post-59529879615284595112011-08-05T08:30:22.631+01:002011-08-05T08:30:22.631+01:00Gibbs himself would never have seen this view, of ...Gibbs himself would never have seen this view, of course - there were buildings down both sides of St Martin's Lane until Trafalgar Square was cleared by Nash in the 1820s.Chris Partridgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14883064324795042491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228081722487474323.post-23180278351633839392011-08-05T07:30:06.972+01:002011-08-05T07:30:06.972+01:00Bazza: I know. The persistent invisibility of the ...Bazza: I know. The persistent invisibility of the familiar is something I campaign against, as it were, but everyone is affected by it, including me. Only yesterday I noticed for the first time a bit of stucco decoration on a building in Cheltenham that I must have walked passed thousands of times.Philip Wilkinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04893714514416441572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228081722487474323.post-30235507758161205532011-08-04T21:54:08.087+01:002011-08-04T21:54:08.087+01:00It's strange how something one is very familia...It's strange how something one is very familiar with becomes 'invisible'. I have always felt pleasure at seeing St Martins but never really 'saw' it - how odd!<br />Incidently, I believe that the first German bomb to fall on the east end of London in WW11 destroyed the German church!<br /><a href="http://todiscoverice.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"> Click here for Bazza’s Blog ‘To Discover Ice’</a>bazzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14794010156639774028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228081722487474323.post-13145999745033251772011-08-04T09:23:11.257+01:002011-08-04T09:23:11.257+01:00VK: Indeed we are. There was a bomb that dropped t...VK: Indeed we are. There was a bomb that dropped to one side of the church, which caused a bit of damage in the basement, but I think that was it. I have a fascinating, sad book, J M Richards, <i>Bombed Buildings of Britain</i> (1942) which catalogues some of the damage with extraordinary haunting photographs.Philip Wilkinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04893714514416441572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228081722487474323.post-79620492927794604962011-08-04T09:07:11.080+01:002011-08-04T09:07:11.080+01:00We're lucky that this beautiful church wasn...We're lucky that this beautiful church wasn't lost to the effects of the WWII blitz, unlike so many other historic buildings in the city.The Vintage Knitterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03479653990888198151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228081722487474323.post-25592597832261928962011-08-04T08:19:08.376+01:002011-08-04T08:19:08.376+01:00VG and Hels: Thanks for your comments from USA and...VG and Hels: Thanks for your comments from USA and Aus. There are certainly churches modelled on St Martin's in the United States - maybe in Australia too?Philip Wilkinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04893714514416441572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228081722487474323.post-42278179679876800072011-08-04T05:38:36.320+01:002011-08-04T05:38:36.320+01:00*nod* Those two elements, the Classical temple loo...*nod* Those two elements, the Classical temple look and the English medieval tower look, do not belong together! And it probably wouldn't have mattered what Gibbs might have tried to do, to combine the two incompatible parts.<br /><br />However it was still in the first generation or generation and a half after the Great Fire, and I suppose people wanted the rebuilding programme to be finished. I think Gibbs was both lucky in his timing and clever in his architecture.Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4228081722487474323.post-16734291309855334922011-08-04T05:00:44.823+01:002011-08-04T05:00:44.823+01:00It certainly does work.
Great camera angle.It certainly does work. <br />Great camera angle.Vinogirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10145696108646897751noreply@blogger.com