Further afield!



Tithe barn at Bradford-on-Avon



 Living in Bath I feel I may be a bit spoilt on the heritage front, I mean I have everything on my doorstep. From Romans to Victorians to Georgians, From Jane Austen to William Beckford to Beau Nash Bath has it all. Why then would I need to go anywhere else?

I was surprised therefore to find myself one day last week in the small Town of Bradford-on-Avon. and whilst it wasn't a one Starbucks town (There wasn't one anywhere in sight, not even a Nero's) it was still a good place to go for some heritage.



Saxon church at Bradford-on-Avon

 

 The Tithe barn was amazing to view and the Saxon church was both spiritual and cute, (if I'm allowed to say so). I could really imagine myself in the small congregation.

And keeping with my New year resolutions there were some awesome walking to be done with some of the best views.

However I would advise anyone venturing to this picturesque town to do so on a sunny day and not a rainy one. I was also disappointed to find out that the day I went the one museum was closed for the winter.
If you are planning a trip it re-opens on the 15th January and is free.

Well once everything to be seen had been seen and with the rain still coming down I naturally had to console myself with some shopping. Although I did relieve myself of some cash it didn't take long and was soon back on the train to Bath. Lovely lovely Bath, oh why did I ever leave you, you have everything I need and want including high street shops and coffee houses.


The Tithe ghost?

 On a totally separate note I believe I've invented the tale of the tithe barn ghost. This image appeared on my camera whilst i was taking photos of the barn and to me it looks like an old-fashioned farmer in his straw hat carrying a pitchfork. Is he of to work not knowing time has passed him by or is he there to scare away any visitors from his domain?

Do you see what I see? or maybe you have your own story of the barn ghost?

Victorian Bath exhibition



Life in Victorian Bath exhibition

The Victoria Art Gallery

With my new focused attitude to improving my mind I thought today would be a good day to view the current exhibition at the Victoria Art Gallery in Bath.

Considering the gallery was built (despite public opposition) during the Victorian era I believe it's a great exhibition for the gallery to show.

I was not disappointed, the exhibition was extremely interesting and thought provoking. The Victorian era was one of immense importance to the structure of Bath today, as it was in 1878 that they discovered and began to excavate the Roman Baths, making way for all the tourists that visit the city today.

Also on show at the Gallery is an exhibition of the Landscape artist David Tress. Sorry David but I wasn't impressed, Sebastian Pether's Moonlight Scene is more to my taste.

The Victorian exhibition is on till 2nd February and Tress is showing till 6th February so there's still time to go view for yourself. Even if you've been before it's still worth checking out the upper gallery to see what's new, and there's a great portrait of Harry Patch "The last fighting Tommy" by Dan Llewelyn Hall.

http://www.victoriagal.org.uk/

All things new!

New Gallery extension at the Holbourne Museum

A new year, a new me? With the kids finally back at school I thought it was high time I got some fresh air and walked of a few Christmas calories. So with the aim of a fitter body and a new focused attitude to work I thought I'd stroll along Great Pultney Street, staying as far away from the temptations of the January sales, and sneak a peak at the new gallery extension at the Holbourne Museum before it re-opens on the 14th May.

I'm not totally against the idea of combining the new with the old, after all isn't that what I do every year when I recycle my new year resolutions, however in the heritage industry this should be done with as much sensitivity as possible. In my humble opinion I feel that this has not been achieved with the Holbourne.

My first impression was building site, well not surprising really as technically that is what it is. I was not impressed with what I saw, the new building looks garish, quite like a badly constructed office block and does not fit with the beautiful surroundings of Sydney Gardens. What really lets the whole building down is the glass. I think the building could have looked fantastic if they had used glass that did not resemble dirty windows.

Oh well perhaps I should have stuck to old habits today and done a little shopping maybe waiting till May for my little excursion when the whole project will be completed.

New Gallery extension at the Holbourne Museum

It will be interesting to see what others including you think of the new gallery extension.

The Future of Heritage.....................

This is the future of Heritage.

 It is now in the hands of these fine students from Bath Spa University.

Now in their second and final year of a foundation degree in heritage management students and tutor got together for a christmas drink before going home for the festive seasons to eat, drink and work hard on their assignments.

Watch out heritage sector as graduation day looms for these hard working students who will soon be let loose in the field.

Will they come knocking on the door of your institution begging for employment? Will the Heritage of our nation be safe in their caring hands?
Will they leave the pub long enough to complete the course?

The future will tell!

The Forum





 

  Cinema open again!

  

Good news for fans of cinema or heritage! Forty years after closing it's doors the Forum opens once again as a cinema. For four days only this December you can experience the Forum as it once was. From the 20th to the 23rd the Forum will be showing 3 christmas films, Home Alone, Elf and Miracle on 34th street. So ok the first two films maybe a bit pants, but the last one happens to be my all time favourite christmas movie, (I Believe..) Anyway who cares what they're showing it's still a fantastic opportunity. http://www.bathforum.co.uk/1/history.html

Is this Heritage?

My first blog entry maybe a little controversial and I hope stir up some debate. As a long term resident of Bath I love the old gas works, I think it's part of our industrial heritage and Bath's sky line would not be complete without it. However I know not everyone would agree believing it to be an eyesore. I'd like to know what others think?