Architectural Styles – Page 20

A Lingering Look at The Round Market

This weekly challenge is hosted by Dawn from ‘The Day After’ who invites participants to post pictures of any windows that they find curious, inviting, photogenic, or in some way tell a story. Visit her blog to see more windows and/or to join in with the challenge.

When visiting Tenbury (Wells) we grabbed a Tenbury Heritage Trail map from the tourist office and set off to admire the buildings from Tenbury’s past. After looking around the Pump Rooms (last week’s post) we carried on into Market Street, which leads into Market Square and where we discovered another unusual building that was also built by James Cranston.

The Round Market (which is actually oval) was built to enable the farmers’ wives to sell their butter and poultry inside, with walls to keep out the wind and rain. Market Days are still held on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.

But as usual I was drawn to the wonderful windows – just look at the shapes above the gateway! And the trefoils and quatrefoils at the top of each window (click image to enlarge). Divine.

(source of information from Tenbury Tourist Information Centre )

J for Jawab

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The Taj Mahal, still one of the Seven Wonders of the World, attracts millions of visitors each year. The traditional southern view of the white domed mausoleum doesn’t always demonstrate the sheer scale of the building, nor take into affect the remainder of the integrated structures on the complex and its harmonious proportions.

Jawab - facing west — Jawab – facing west

At the far end of the complex, there are two grand red sandstone buildings that are open to the sides of the tomb. These identical buildings flank the main tomb effectively and help to present the white marble monument in an aesthetic setting and form an integral part of the Taj design.

At the western side is the mosque (masjid) facing east, reported to have been built by Isa Muhammed 1631-1648. More about this when we reach M. On the eastern side is the Jawab (literally “answer”; a building mirroring the mosque) and providing aesthetic balance to the site. At the time of my visit the Jawab was covered in scaffolding, so I wasn’t able to go inside.

One of the most beautiful structural compositions in the world, the Taj Mahal was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983.

A Lingering Look at The Pump Rooms

This unusual building is the ‘Pump Rooms’ in Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire, built and designed by William Cranston of Birmingham in 1861.

It was built in oriental Chinese Gothic style (oh really?) and is one of the earliest examples of prefabrication. The metal prefabricated sheets were made in Birmingham and assembled on site.

It was built to promote Tenbury Wells as a spa town after a saline spring was found in the grounds of the Crow Inn. The 58 ft well is situated below the octagonal tower. It was aimed for middle and working classes, but never attracted the clientèle. The building fell into disrepair and in 1939 the well was filled in. It was later restored by the district councils of Leominster and Malvern Hills with the help of English Heritage. It is now used as an administrative office, by the community for events and also for weddings.

(click to enlarge)

Door finger plate

Lovely tiled flooring

(source of information from Tenbury Tourist Information Centre and information plaque)

A Lingering Look at Broad Street

This weekly challenge is hosted by Dawn from ‘The Day After’ who invites participants to post pictures of any windows that they find curious, inviting, photogenic, or in some way tell a story. Visit her blog to see more windows and/or to join in with the challenge.

Broad Street (header photo) in Ludlow is renowned for its Georgian façades with lovely Georgian sash windows lining both sides of this wide street leading from the Buttercross down to the only surviving gate in the town walls – Broad Street Gate – a narrow medieval gate-passage.

From the north side you can see the Gothic crenellations and details probably by T F Pritchard, an architect from Shrewsbury, (better known for his involvement in the Iron bridge project.)

(Note the multi-paned sash windows all have twelve panes: 3 x 4 in varying sizes except for the central window top right which for some reason has twenty four panes: 4 x 6)

Built in the 13th century the gate was an important entrance into the town from the Ludford Bridge crossing. It is now partially encased by a large Georgian House.

(Note the lovely Regency gothic bay windows on the left of the gate)

From the south side you can see the Gate arch and twin round towers typical of Edwardian castle building. The west tower is hidden behind the house added in 1824 -1829.

A Lingering Look at Windows: # 8

Ludlow has a lot of wonderful old houses from Medieval to Georgian, though very few from the Victorian age. There are exceptions though and this house at No 1 Dinham is one of them.

A truly amazing eclectic Victorian Gothic style with imported fiery red bricks and mechanical stonework contrasting with local materials and craftsmanship.

and here is another one, though not as eclectic, still has those wonderful Gothic windows and a rather spectacular twisted chimney pot! They may not be in the best of taste, but they are certainly buildings with character.