GOTHIC ON THAMES

Three days working right by the banks of the Thames.  

By the Thames again! 

This week a swirling swollen river, grey and brown by turn. 

January River.

Oakley Court. Now a hotel, built in 1859.

Right next to Bray Studios, Oakley Court was a film set.

Hammer horror films, including The Reptile (1966) 

and The Brides of Dracula (1962) were made here.

THE ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF MARMALADE

The Seville Oranges were again in stock in Waitrose store and so a good quatity was purchased. The big cauldron was brought in from the garage and a year’s worth of glass jars were washed again and readied for occupation!

It was time to make marmalade: 

Marmalade was invented in Scotland, Dundee in the late 18th century when a local James Keiller discovered a cargo of oranges being sold cheaply. Thinking he could sell it for profit in his shop, he bought the whole lot only to discover they were bitter and so unsellable.

His wife however thought the oranges might make a jam and took them home. The result was hugely successful and was named Marmalade after Marmelos, a Portuguese word for a quince paste like Mrs Keiller’s orange spread.

(Marmalade is still produced today by the Keiller Company in Dundee and by us in Beaconsfield)

A CATHEDRAL IN COVENT GARDEN

I joined one of artist-tutor Ilga Leimanis’ excellent drawing excursions.

We met up at the Stage Door of the Royal Opera House,

Through one of our party, Alison, we had special access to draw

Rehearsal stage 2 and then behind in the Build Area.

Rehearsal Stage 2, all set up for MANON rehearsals.

The directors’ tables out front, music stand is a sentinel.

The set for Act 1 (The courtyard of an inn at Amiens)

It soars above us in the bright lighting like some great minster.

All is hush as we put our marks down on paper.

We move on to another huge open space,

The Build Area.

Trucks, electrical equipment, tools, fittings and paint in each corner and against each wall. Props complete the sense of theatre construction.

In one corner part of this is more Manon,

The set for Act 3.

Again the wood and steel rise up high as we sit down to draw.

All reverence for this place and the chance to draw there.

Ilga Leimanis’ Drawing Groups are friendly, productive creative occasions - find out more here www.ilgaleimanis.com

TRADING A RIVER FOR A CANAL

We were supposed to finish our Thames Reise at the end of last month. Sadly Dave had injured him self in some impossible feat of DIY, given Mike and I had blocked the day for wholesome company and exercise he suggested a cycle along the Regents Canal.

A beautiful day, duck-egg blue sky and sunshine, we gained the Canal on the northern back opposite Regent’s Park.

This waterway is some eight miles long. It was built during the early 1800’s part of architect John Nash’s master plan for the Prince Regent to redevelop a large area of central north London; the canal, running for part of its distance along the northern edge of Regent's Park, was included in Nash’s cunning plan.

Since it’s opening and until the Second World War coal, steel, grain, the raw materials for HP sauce, leather waste, and cresylic acid used making disinfectants, solvents and zinc ashes have been carried along this waterway by barge and boat.

Canary Wharf rears up to the east

On through to tourist Camden, Islington, trendy Hackney, and Kingsland; onwards, eastwards; we arrive at Limehouse Basin where the canal meets the river.

The towpath, in places, rattles under our wheels; I since discovered that in 1979 the Central Electricity Generating Board installed underground cables in a trough (covered with concrete slabs) below the towpath. These 400 kV cables now form part of the National Grid; pumped canal water keeps the cables cool.

Returning westwards from Limehouse we enjoyed hot soup and quiche at the Pump House Café next to the City Road Lock. Another trip in the summer perhaps? when more eating places will be open along this lovely London Water Path.

(The Thames journey is planned to conclude in January 2014)

THE FONT AND THE TEA COSY

THE FONT AND THE TEA COSY

Another covert visit,

An opportunity between the Christingle Service and Evensong,

To practise my reading for the Carol Service next week.

My rehearsal done, attention and pen are turned to the Font,

By the South Door.

The door, entrance to the Church,

The Font, admittance to Father God.

St Mary’s Font a simple Romanesque

Atop a cover of Gothic soaring up,

This impossible and quite lovely tea cosy.

Now, behind me the Sidesmen arrive,

Croupier-like they shuffle Prayer books and Service sheets.

I cap my pen and scuttle away.

The Font and The Tea Cosy is part of an occasional series exploring details in St Mary’s Beaconsfield. God is in The Detail.