Wednesday 16 September 2009

East Anglia, my East Anglia

Always a source of amazement to me, how some town planning committee can approve an architectural "thing" building such as the appartments shown above, in an ancient coastal town that has a fabulous old cinema right next door to them (the picture bottom right). I do understand what Bill Bryson meant when he wrote of the architectural vandalism committed all over this Country, in his book, "Notes From a Small Island". Still, at least the stainless steel Scallop on the beach shows what can be done - although I'm sure some purists will say it spoils a nice view. Hey ho. (Oh dear, I think I'm sounding like Prince Charles).

18 comments:

Old BE said...

The Moot Hall is a thing of wonder. It used to be in the centre of town, it's just that the rest of the town has long since fallen into the sea. That is how old it is!!

I rather like the scallop. I think the workpersonship is wonderful. My objection to it is based on the fact that as a tribute to a local person, it might have been more suitable to have had a species of sea life which is actually indigenous to the area...

Conan the Librarian™ said...

Scallop? More like an Anderson shelter that's taken a direct hit.

Sage said...

Isn't the sculpure at Aldburgh as a tribute to the composer Benjamin Britten?

If so it is impressive close up, and suits the other worldliness of this suffolk town.

Hogdayafternoon said...

Already we have a clash of art critics (or should that read, O`fart critics) How wonderful!!

PS: Actually, Conanm you're right, I've added another pic of the scallop from a different angle. Perhaps a little more `scallop-like`? or maybe just a direct hit on an Anderson, but from further away?? I love an arty argument....then I get bored :))

Hogdayafternoon said...

Yes Sage. You are quite correct. It's for Benny Boy!

Conan the Librarian™ said...

Looks much better that way Hogday...sort of.

Hogdayafternoon said...

Conan, I think it would go well outside that thingamybob opposite Holyrood House !

Kennyo said...

Beautiful pics, Sorry I missed u on the visit, ended up down in NY that week....
How was your trip?

Hogdayafternoon said...

KO - Holy crap! Welcome to the blog again.

Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival was a total blast - fantastic, talented musicians. Not just `folk` in the traditional sense, but blues, bluegrass, Canadian/Acadian/Celtic, Maori/Celtic, a real eclectic mix. I'll post up some info in due course.

anon said...

Just a dozen k. north of me someone has erected an 'affordable home' condo unit.
As they were building, it was shaping up pretty nicely, then when they started the exterior paint I thought they must have discovered some new sort of insulation that came in the most hideous colors imaginable, I thought it must be a really good product for people to be willing to splash it across something they were hoping to sell. Figured they'd be in a huge hurry to get the paint up to cover the eye-sores.

I soon realized that the hideous stuff actually was the paint.

Like, is their target market poor, or are they color blind?

I like structural art though, the scallop is nice : )

Anonymous said...

I remember my years living in Norwich and I can recall the horrible plastic, glass and aluminium structures breeding on the outskirts of town.

Removing a cancer is a risky and dangerous procedure, but with a possibility of great reward. Time to sharpen the scalpel.

Hogdayafternoon said...

PG: I wonder how these people dress? Do you think they look in a mirror before leaving the house? Or perhaps they just go to the dress/outfitters/painting and decorating shop and say, "Look, I just want you to make me look a total cnut"?

Nickie G: I knew there was something altered about you ;) East Anglia is the home of my forefathers. [Great Granpappy, circa 1850's, was a Wheelwright from Wickham Market, Suffolk. Granpappy followed him into the trade but then branched out into prizefighting and shit-shovelling - something still commonly seen on the streets of Norwich to this very day, lol].

Anonymous said...

Nice pics. What town were they taken in? You are right about the architectural blight - as is Bill Bryson (good book by the way).

Hogdayafternoon said...

Dave: Lighthouse, beach huts and square with the cannon are in Southwold (home of Adnams Brewery). The rest is Aldeburgh.

Conan the Librarian™ said...

Adnam's brewery eh? Do they do tours Hogday? I like their Broadside bottled beer at 6.3 ABV
Makes mangled Anderson shelters look good...

Old BE said...

Hogday I am proud to say that I went to three pubs this evening and even prouder to be able to say that they all sold Adnams!

Hogdayafternoon said...

Conan/Blue: You, sirs, are imbibers supreme. Conan, they do tours and also have an excellent shop http://adnams.co.uk/ "Broadside" is a veritable treat and one of my favourite beers. I even chose it on the Friday night nosh-out to accompany my locally line-caught Dover Sole and the owner of the eatery considered it an excellent choice, rivalling his best wines.

Old BE said...

the owner of the eatery considered it an excellent choice

I bet he said the same thing to the person at the next table who was drinking Diet Coke ;-)