Ashcombe windmill is quite interesting, in that it was rebuilt in the last 20 or so years in order to generate its own electricity, hence the six sweeps instead of the usual four.

The Tel Aviv Light Rail , also known as Dankal is a mass transit system for the Tel Aviv metropolitan area in central Israel. The system will include different modes of mass transit, including rapid transit (metro), light rail transit (LRT), and bus rapid transit (BRT). Overseen by the government agency NTA, the project will complement the intercity and suburban rail network operated by Israel Railways.

As of 2023, two LRT lines are under construction and one available to the public. Work on the Red Line, the first in the project, started on September 21, 2011, following years of preparatory works, and was opened on August 18, 2023 after numerous delays. Construction of the Purple Line started in December 2018; work on the Green Line began in January 2019.

The E259 series (E259系) is a DC electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan since October 2009 on Narita Express limited express services to and from Narita International Airport.

The design of the trains was overseen by industrial designer Kenji Ekuan. Retracting gangway connections on the end cars allow two sets to be coupled together to form 12-car formations. Electrical and safety equipment is duplicated, as on the E233 series commuter trains, to improve safety and reliability. Active suspension on end cars and yaw dampers between all cars provide improved ride comfort. The MoHa E259-500 car is equipped with two single-arm pantographs, but one is reserved for emergency use.

Unlike the previous 253 series trains, the E259 series trains are not equipped with Automatic Train Control (ATC).

The E259 series trains are used almost exclusively on Narita Express limited express services linking Narita International Airport in Chiba Prefecture with Tokyo and other stations in the Greater Tokyo area. E259 series trains were also used occasionally on seasonal Marine Express Odoriko services between Tokyo and Izukyū-Shimoda. One set, Ne002, was assigned to these services, and carried a logo sticker on the front and sides.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Bhaktapur, Nepal

La madrasa Yusuf Yasovulbashi a été construite en 1906.

La construction a été supervisée par le maître Qalandar Kochum. La madrasa doit son nom à Yusuf Yasovulbashi, commandant de l'armée du khan, et ses fonds ont été consacrés à sa construction. Lors de la conquête du khanat de Khiva par l'Empire russe au début du XXe siècle, Yusuf Yasulbashi était responsable du contrôle des prisons et du maintien de la sécurité du khanat de Khiva. Il était chargé de traquer les documents secrets et de diriger une unité militaire composée de soldats recrutés parmi les tribus nomades.

The Yusuf Yasovulbashi Madrasa was built in 1906. Its construction was overseen by Master Qalandar Kochum. The madrasa is named after Yusuf Yasovulbashi, commander of the Khan's army, and his funds were used for its construction. During the Russian Empire's conquest of the Khiva Khanate in the early 20th century, Yusuf Yasovulbashi was responsible for controlling the prisons and maintaining the security of the Khiva Khanate. He was tasked with tracking down secret documents and leading a military unit composed of soldiers recruited from nomadic tribes.

Nestled in the garages at this years Goodwood Revival between the six Daytona Coupes was "39 PH", the AC Cobra that was entered into the 1963 Le Mans race, piloted by Peter Bolton and Ninian Sanderson and finished overall in 7th place.

This car was then overseen by John Willment Automobiles Ltd and entered into the 28th RAC International Tourist Trophy race at Goodwood on the 24th August 1963, but was disqualified over a clearance issue in the cars setup.

In 1964 the car was officially taken over by JWA Ltd and "Gentleman" Jack Sears became the principle driver of the AC Cobra.

Through some judicious experimentation with wheels / tyres, shock absorbers, spring rates and camber angles etc, 39 PH was tamed to the point that in Sears own words it became "a predictable kind of car with lots of power and I could drive it on the throttle. I loved it - it was terrific". (www.classic-auctions.com/Auctions/21-02-2006-TheCentaur-1...)

________________________________

Dave Adams Automotive Images

Rhuddlan Castle, Rhuddlan, North Wales.

Rhuddlan Castle Coordinates...53.2892° N, 3.4646° W

Rhuddlan Castle ) is a castle located in Rhuddlan, Denbighshire, Wales. It was erected by Edward I in 1277,

following the First Welsh War.

Much of the work was overseen by master mason James of Saint George. Rhuddlan, which was not completed until 1282, was built concurrently with Flint Castle, at a time when King Edward I of England was consolidating his conquest of Wales. It was temporarily his residence, and his daughter, Elizabeth, is presumed to have been born there.

Rhuddlan was planned as a concentric castle. It has a unique 'diamond' in layout as the gatehouses are positioned at the corners of the square baileys instead of along the sides like at Flint, Harlech or Beaumaris. Records of construction costs show that it was the major piece of building work being carried out by the English during the late 1270s.

Click the pic and explore!

At the other end St Paul's cathedral

From Wikipedia

The Millennium Bridge, officially known as the London Millennium Footbridge, is a steel suspension bridge for pedestrians crossing the River Thames in London, England, linking Bankside with the City of London. It is owned and maintained by Bridge House Estates, a charitable trust overseen by the City of London Corporation. Construction began in 1998, and it initially opened on 10 June 2000.

Londoners nicknamed it the "Wobbly Bridge" after pedestrians experienced an alarming swaying motion on its opening day. The bridge was closed later that day and, after two days of limited access, it was closed again for almost two years so that modifications and repairs could be made to keep the bridge stable and stop the swaying motion. It reopened in February 2002.

The bridge is located between Southwark Bridge and Blackfriars Railway Bridge. Its southern end is near the Globe Theatre, the Bankside Gallery, and Tate Modern, while its northern end is next to the City of London School below St Paul's Cathedral. The bridge's alignment is such that a clear view (i.e. a "terminating vista") of St Paul's south façade is presented from across the river, framed by the bridge supports.

Belton House, located in a few miles north of Grantham in Lincolnshire, is a quintessential example of a late 17th-century country estate, built in the Carolean (Restoration) style. It was home to the Brownlow and Cust families for nearly 300 years.

The house was primarily built between 1685 and 1688 for "Young" Sir John Brownlow and his wife Alice, who inherited a vast fortune from a great-uncle. They chose a fashionable yet comparatively modest design, drawing inspiration from Roger Pratt's demolished Clarendon House in London, rather than a grand Baroque palace. The design is generally attributed to architect William Winde, with construction overseen by master mason William Stanton.

The Brownlow family were a dynasty of wealthy lawyers who began acquiring land in the area in the late 16th century. Successive generations, including the Cust family who later inherited the estate and were created Baron and then Earl Brownlow, made alterations to the interiors and gardens to reflect changing tastes and social status, though the external appearance remained largely unchanged.

Following the wars, the family faced mounting financial difficulties and death duties, common challenges for wealthy English families at the time. After attempts to keep the estate viable, including opening it to the public, the 7th Baron Brownlow donated the house and most of its contents to the National Trust in 1984.

Southwark Bridge is an arch bridge for traffic linking Southwark and the City across the River Thames in London. It was designed by Ernest George and Basil Mott. It was built by Sir William Arrol & Co. and opened in 1921. The bridge is owned and maintained by the City Bridge Trust, a charitable trust overseen by the City of London.

The original Southwark Bridge:

What we see today is the second Southwark Bridge. The first opened in 1819 to relieve pressure on the nearby Blackfriars and London Bridges. Unlike its sister spans which were owned by the City of London, the new crossing was privately built by the Southwark Bridge Company. Their big dream was not to aid cross-river traffic, but to make wads of cash through tolls.

John Rennie’s elegant and ambitious cast-iron bridge was built between 1815 and 1819. The railway and civil engineer Robert Stephenson considered it unrivalled in its colossal proportions, architectural effect, general simplicity, and massive character of its details.

The three-span iron bridge the width of the Thames was a significant engineering achievement and much admired. Perhaps not as graceful as his design for Waterloo Bridge, it was nevertheless an engineering miracle of its time. The final cost, however, was £700,000, £200,000 over budget. The company was unable to afford a lavish ceremony, although the bridge was brilliantly illuminated by 30 oil lamps for the opening when the clock of St. Paul’s Cathedral struck midnight.

Southwark Bridge was not a financial success, and did not relieve London’s traffic congestion. It was not located on a through-route, was too close to the toll-free Blackfriars and London bridges, and its approaches were too steep for horse-drawn carriages. Traffic was lower than expected, especially after the opening of the new London Bridge in 1831.

Sources:

www.southwarkbridge.co.uk/history/old-southwark-bridge.htm

www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-original-southwark-bridge/

londonist.com/london/history/the-remarkable-and-grim-hist...

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100x: The 2024 Edition

93/100 London landmarks by night

National Trust Properties

Waddesdon Manor, Aylesbury, HP18 0LH, Buckinghamshire

Waddesdon Manor

Built between 1874 – 1889 in the Neo-renaissance style for Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild. Waddesdon Manor stayed within the family until 1957.

When the last owner died (James de Rothschild), it was passed over to the National Trust, the Manor and its contents and is now managed by the Rothschild Foundation.

Ferdinand de Rothschild wanted a beautiful building and had in mind a chateau familiar with those built in the Loire Valley. He chose the French architect Gabriel-Hippolyte Destailleur to do the work. Destailleur was already familiar with the type of work, as he had overseen many projects, including the Chateau de Mouchy. He also worked for another member of the De Rothschild family, namely Baron Albert de Rothschild on his Palais Rothschild in Vienna.

The wine cellars are interesting in that it contains the best of 15,000 bottles, some over 150 years old and come from the Chateau Lafite Rothschild and Chateau Mouton Rothschild estates. It is the largest collection in the world of Rothschild wines, it also has some very important labels created by artists such as Salvador Dali and Andy Warhol.

The works of art inside the house of the very best quality, artists such as, Gainsborough, Reynolds, Boucher, Cuyp, Van Dyck, Titan and many others. Sevres ceramics, Beauvais Tapestries, first quality English Silver, carpets, books the list unending.

the French Landscape Gardiner Elie Laine. Extensive levelling of the hill was carried out, the Gardens and parks were laid out and an attempt was made to grow full length trees using chloroform to decrease the shock of moving the trees and planting them, however there are many trees in the parks and gardens that were successfully planted. Trees such as Yews, cedar, redwoods and other conifers, chestnuts, limes and maples are all successfully well bedded in.

During the reign of James de Rothschild the gardens were not the most spectacular however from the 1990’s a more up to date, using computer software for many of the colour combinations and in the gardens are many lovely statues by such sculptors as, Italian Sculptors Giuliano Mozani and Filippo Parodi, French sculptor, Jean Raon, to name but a few.

In my opinion, a great House and Garden to visit, teas and a scone well worth the wait.

Finally there have been many films made there. Here are a few examples:

Never Say Never Again

Carry On “Don’t Lose Your Head”

Ladies in Lavender

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

In 2018 there were approx. 465,000 visitors to the Manor, and was the largest visitor attraction anywhere in all of the National Trust Properties.

The Transamerica building was commissioned by Transamerica CEO John (Jack) R. Beckett, with the claim that he wished to allow light in the street below. Built on the site of the historic Montgomery Block, it has a structural height of 853 ft (260 m) and has 48 floors of retail and office space.

Construction began in 1969 and finished in 1972, and was overseen by San Francisco-based contractor Dinwiddie Construction (now Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction Company). Transamerica moved its headquarters to the new building from across the street, where it had been based in another flatiron-shaped building now occupied by the Church of Scientology of San Francisco.

Although the tower is no longer Transamerica Corporation headquarters, it is still associated with the company and is depicted in the company's logo. The building is evocative of San Francisco and has become one of the many symbols of the city. Designed by architect William Pereira, it faced opposition during planning and construction and was sometimes referred to by detractors as "Pereira's Prick". John King of the San Francisco Chronicle summed up the improved opinion of the building in 2009 as "an architectural icon of the best sort - one that fits its location and gets better with age."

The Transamerica Pyramid was the tallest skyscraper west of Chicago from 1972 to 1974 surpassing the then Bank of America Center. It was surpassed by the Aon Center in Los Angeles.

The building is thought to have been the intended target of a foiled terrorist attack, involving the hijacking of airplanes as part of the Bojinka plot, which was foiled in 1995.

In 1999 Transamerica was acquired by Dutch insurance company Aegon. When the non-insurance operations of Transamerica were later sold to GE Capital, Aegon retained the building as an investment.

** Another post from my visit to Beaune in 2018 to see what is in my opinion one of the most beautiful secular buildings in France. The Hospices de Beaune were constructed in the mid fifteenth century. Apart from their historical interest these are truly beautiful buildings I guess the most eye catching features are the incredible tiled roofs. This is a feature that you see quite often in Burgundy .

A bit of history on the purpose of the Hospices

The Hospices de Beaune sometimes called the Hôtel-Dieu was founded on 4 August 1443, when Burgundy was ruled by Duke Philip the Good. The Hundred Years' War had recently been brought to a close by the signing of the Treaty of Arras in 1435. . Nicolas Rolin, the Duke's Chancellor, and his wife Guigone de Salins, responded by building a hospital and refuge for the poor. The majority of the population of Beaune were destitute, and the area had recently suffered an outbreak of plague. Having gained permission from Pope Eugene IV in 1441, the hospice was built and consecrated on 31 December 1452.

The building's design was probably overseen by the Flemish architect Jacques Wiscrère and it remained as a hospital until the late 1970s. There is a documentary record of a large range of Flemish and French masons, painters and glass cutters employed for its construction. The facade is today regarded as a superior example of Northern Renaissance civic architecture .The Hospices de Beaune consists of a pair of two-storied buildings arranged around a stone courtyard. The building wings are well-preserved today; they contain half-timber galleries and ornate rooftops with dormer windows. The hospital is arranged so that the wings served the office, kitchen and apothecary functions. The nuns and patients were housed nearer the chapel, towards the center of the complex.

The Hospices de Beaune received the first patient on 1 January 1452. Elderly, disabled and sick people, with orphans, women about to give birth and the destitute have all been uninterruptedly welcomed for treatment and refuge from the Middle Ages until today. This Catholic institution focused on healing both the body and spirit of its patients.

Over the centuries, the hospital radiated outwards, grouping with similar establishments in the surrounding villages of Pommard, Nolay, Meursault. Many donations - farms, property, woods, works of art and of course vineyards - were made to it, by grateful families and generous benefactors. The institution is one of the best and oldest examples of historical, philanthropic, and wine-producing heritage, and has become linked with the economic and cultural life of Burgundy.

THANKS FOR YOUR VISIT TO MY STREAM.

I WOULD BE VERY GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD NOT FAVE A PHOTO

WITHOUT ALSO LEAVING A COMMENT .

The Ferrari 250 GTO is a grand tourer produced by Ferrari from 1962 to 1964 for homologation into the FIA's Group 3 Grand Touring Car category. It was powered by Ferrari's Tipo 168/62 Colombo V12 engine. The "250" in its name denotes the displacement in cubic centimeters of each of its cylinders; "GTO" stands for Gran Turismo Omologato, Italian for "Grand Touring Homologated".

Just 36 of the 250 GTOs were manufactured between 1962 and 1964. This includes 33 cars with 1962–63 bodywork (Series I) and three with 1964 (Series II) bodywork similar to the Ferrari 250 LM. Four of the older 1962–1963 (Series I) cars were updated in 1964 with Series II bodies.

When new, the 250 GTO cost $18,000 in the United States, with buyers personally approved by Enzo Ferrari and his dealer for North America, Luigi Chinetti. This model has since become highly desired by automobile collectors and sales have repeatedly set price records. The current record for world's most expensive Ferrari was set in June 2018 when a 1963 250 GTO (chassis 4153GT) was sold in a private sale for $70 million.

In 2004, Sports Car International placed the 250 GTO eighth on a list of Top Sports Cars of the 1960s, and nominated it the top sports car of all time. Similarly, Motor Trend Classic placed the 250 GTO first on a list of the "Greatest Ferraris of All Time".

The 250 GTO was designed to compete in Group 3 GT racing, where its rivals would include the Shelby Cobra, Jaguar E-Type and Aston Martin DP214. The development of the 250 GTO was headed by chief engineer Giotto Bizzarrini. Although Bizzarrini is usually credited as the designer of the 250 GTO, he and most other Ferrari engineers were fired in 1962 due to a dispute with Enzo Ferrari. Further development of the 250 GTO was overseen by new engineer Mauro Forghieri, who worked with Scaglietti to continue development of the body. The design of the car was a collaborative effort and cannot be ascribed to a single person.

The mechanical aspects of 250 GTO were relatively conservative at the time of its introduction, using engine and chassis components that were proven in earlier competition cars. The chassis of the car was based on that of the 250 GT SWB, with minor differences in frame structure and geometry to reduce weight, stiffen and lower the chassis. The car was built around a hand-welded oval tube frame, incorporating A-arm front suspension, rear live-axle with Watt's linkage, disc brakes, and Borrani wire wheels. The engine was the race-proven Tipo 168/62 Comp. 3.0 L (2,953 cc) V12 as used in the 250 Testa Rossa Le Mans winner. An all-alloy design utilizing a dry sump and six 38DCN Weber carburetors, it produced approximately 300 PS (296 bhp; 221 kW) at 7500 rpm and 294 N⋅m; 217 lbf⋅ft (30 kg⋅m) at 5500 rpm of torque. The gearbox was a new 5-speed unit with Porsche-type synchromesh.

Bizzarrini focused his design effort on the car's aerodynamics in an attempt to improve top speed and stability. The body design was informed by wind tunnel testing at Pisa University as well as road and track testing with several prototypes.

Tower Bridge is a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London built between 1886 and 1894. The bridge crosses the River Thames close to the Tower of London and has become an iconic symbol of London. Because of this, Tower Bridge is sometimes confused with London Bridge, situated some 0.5 mi (0.80 km) upstream. Tower Bridge is one of five London bridges now owned and maintained by the Bridge House Estates, a charitable trust overseen by the City of London Corporation. It is the only one of the Trust's bridges not to connect the City of London directly to the Southwark bank, as its northern landfall is in Tower Hamlets.

National Trust Properties

Waddesdon Manor, Aylesbury, HP18 0LH, Buckinghamshire

Waddesdon Manor

Built between 1874 – 1889, in the Neo-renaissance style for Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild. Waddesdon Manor stayed within the family until 1957.

When the last owner died (James de Rothschild), it was passed over to the National Trust, the Manor and its contents and is now managed by the Rothschild Foundation.

Ferdinand de Rothschild wanted a beautiful building and had in mind a chateau familiar with those built in the Loire Valley. He chose the French architect Gabriel-Hippolyte Destailleur to do the work. Destailleur was already familiar with the type of work, as he had overseen many projects, including the Chateau de Mouchy. He also worked for another member of the De Rothschild family, namely Baron Albert de Rothschild on his Palais Rothschild in Vienna.

The wine cellars are interesting in that it contains the best of 15,000 bottles, some over 150 years old and come from the Chateau Lafite Rothschild and Chateau Mouton Rothschild estates. It is the largest collection in the world of Rothschild wines, it also has some very important labels created by artists such as Salvador Dali and Andy Warhol.

The works of art inside the house of the very best quality, artists such as, Gainsborough, Reynolds, Boucher, Cuyp, Van Dyck, Titan and many others. Sevres ceramics, Beauvais Tapestries, first quality English Silver, carpets, books the list unending.

The original garden was set out by the French Landscape Gardiner Elie Laine. Extensive levelling of the hill was carried out, the Gardens and parks were laid out and an attempt was made to grow full length trees using chloroform to decrease the shock of moving the trees and planting them, however there are many trees in the parks and gardens that were successfully planted. Trees such as Yews, cedar, redwoods and other conifers, chestnuts, limes and maples are all successfully well bedded in.

During the reign of James de Rothschild the gardens were not the most spectacular however from the 1990’s a more up to date, using computer software for many of the colour combinations and in the gardens are many lovely statues by such sculptors as, Italian Sculptors Giuliano Mozani and Filippo Parodi, French sculptor, Jean Raon, to name but a few.

In my opinion, a great House and Garden to visit, teas and a scone well worth the wait.

Finally there have been many films made there. Here are a few examples:

Never Say Never Again

Carry On “Don’t Lose Your Head”

Ladies in Lavender

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

In 2018 there were approx. 465,000 visitors to the Manor, and was the largest visitor attraction anywhere in all of the National Trust Properties.

The Millennium Bridge, officially known as the London Millennium Footbridge, is a steel suspension bridge for pedestrians crossing the River Thames in London, England, linking Bankside with the City of London. It is owned and maintained by Bridge House Estates, a charitable trust overseen by the City of London Corporation. Construction began in 1998, and it initially opened on 10 June 2000.

Londoners nicknamed it the "Wobbly Bridge" and even the "Wibbly Wobbly" after pedestrians experienced an alarming swaying motion on its opening day.[1][2] The bridge was closed later that day and, after two days of limited access, it was closed again for almost two years so that modifications and repairs could be made to keep the bridge stable and stop the swaying motion. It reopened in February 2002, after real-life safety tests were conducted by 700 staff from engineering consultancy Arup.[3]

The bridge is located between Southwark Bridge and Blackfriars Railway Bridge. Its southern end is near the Globe Theatre, the Bankside Gallery, and Tate Modern, while its northern end is next to the City of London School below St Paul's Cathedral. The bridge's alignment is such that a clear view (i.e. a "terminating vista") of St Paul's south façade is presented from across the river, framed by the bridge supports

© Leanne Boulton, All Rights Reserved

Street photography from Glasgow, Scotland.

Colour-graded re-edit of a shot from February 2014. This was only in my first full year of street photography with my old Canon 400D and kit lens. Still one of my favourite juxtapositions. Enjoy!

Belton House, located in a few miles north of Grantham in Lincolnshire, is a quintessential example of a late 17th-century country estate, built in the Carolean (Restoration) style. It was home to the Brownlow and Cust families for nearly 300 years.

The house was primarily built between 1685 and 1688 for "Young" Sir John Brownlow and his wife Alice, who inherited a vast fortune from a great-uncle. They chose a fashionable yet comparatively modest design, drawing inspiration from Roger Pratt's demolished Clarendon House in London, rather than a grand Baroque palace. The design is generally attributed to architect William Winde, with construction overseen by master mason William Stanton.

The Brownlow family were a dynasty of wealthy lawyers who began acquiring land in the area in the late 16th century. Successive generations, including the Cust family who later inherited the estate and were created Baron and then Earl Brownlow, made alterations to the interiors and gardens to reflect changing tastes and social status, though the external appearance remained largely unchanged.

Following the wars, the family faced mounting financial difficulties and death duties, common challenges for wealthy English families at the time. After attempts to keep the estate viable, including opening it to the public, the 7th Baron Brownlow donated the house and most of its contents to the National Trust in 1984.

The Hondecoeter Room

Belton House, located in a few miles north of Grantham in Lincolnshire, is a quintessential example of a late 17th-century country estate, built in the Carolean (Restoration) style. It was home to the Brownlow and Cust families for nearly 300 years.

The house was primarily built between 1685 and 1688 for "Young" Sir John Brownlow and his wife Alice, who inherited a vast fortune from a great-uncle. They chose a fashionable yet comparatively modest design, drawing inspiration from Roger Pratt's demolished Clarendon House in London, rather than a grand Baroque palace. The design is generally attributed to architect William Winde, with construction overseen by master mason William Stanton.

The Brownlow family were a dynasty of wealthy lawyers who began acquiring land in the area in the late 16th century. Successive generations, including the Cust family who later inherited the estate and were created Baron and then Earl Brownlow, made alterations to the interiors and gardens to reflect changing tastes and social status, though the external appearance remained largely unchanged.

Following the wars, the family faced mounting financial difficulties and death duties, common challenges for wealthy English families at the time. After attempts to keep the estate viable, including opening it to the public, the 7th Baron Brownlow donated the house and most of its contents to the National Trust in 1984.

The early history of the Hondecoeter room is unclear, at least until the early 19th century. In 1808 the room became the 1st Earl Browlow's library, the room remained a library until 1876 when the bookcases were moved upstairs to the current library. The room was then redecorated and turned into a state dining room. The room gets its name from the vast canvases on the walls by Mechior d'Hondecoeter

The United States Capitol, often called the Capitol or the Capitol Building, is the seat of the United States Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government. It is located on Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Although no longer at the geographic center of the national capital, the U.S. Capitol forms the origin point for the street-numbering system of the district as well as its four quadrants. Like the principal buildings of the executive and judicial branches, the Capitol is built in a neoclassical style and has a white exterior.

Central sections of the present building were completed in 1800, when the 6th U.S. Congress convened there on November 17, 1800, moving the national capital from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C.. The building was partly destroyed in the 1814 Burning of Washington by the British, then was fully restored within five years. The building was enlarged during the 19th century, by extending the wings for the chambers for the bicameral legislature as more states were admitted to the union, with the House of Representatives housed in the south wing and the Senate housed in the north wing. The massive dome was completed around 1866 just after the American Civil War. The east front portico was extended in 1958. The building's Visitors Center was opened in the early 21st century.

Both its east and west elevations are formally referred to as fronts, although only the east front was intended for the reception of visitors and dignitaries, while the west front is now used for presidential inauguration ceremonies. The building and grounds are overseen by the architect of the Capitol, who also oversees the surrounding Capitol Complex.

Die Tower Bridge ist eine Straßenbrücke über den Fluss Themse in London und benannt nach dem nahen Tower of London. Sie wurde 1894 eröffnet und verbindet den Stadtbezirk Tower Hamlets auf der Nordseite mit dem Stadtteil Southwark im Stadtbezirk London Borough of Southwark auf der Südseite.

de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_Bridge

Tower Bridge is a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London built between 1886 and 1894. The bridge crosses the River Thames close to the Tower of London and has become an iconic symbol of London, resulting in it sometimes being confused with London Bridge, situated some 0.5 mi (0.80 km) upstream. Tower Bridge is one of five London bridges now owned and maintained by the Bridge House Estates, a charitable trust overseen by the City of London Corporation.

Started in the 1860s as a defence for London this ninetieth-century fort provided a cross-river covering of shell fire. The construction was overseen by General Gordon. The top section on show is an addition built during the Second World War as defence and anti aircraft placement and was used in the battle

A battlefield, however hard it tries,

Will always be chaotic.

A battlefield is disorderly. a battlefield is death,

a battlefield is built by men.

A battle, however hard it tries,

Will always be protracted.

Now drawn-out is just the thing,

To get me wondering if the battle is prolonged.

Just like a bitter illness, is the dispute.

Does the dispute make you shiver?

does it?

A shot taken from the other side of Fourwents Pond looking back to where my " Take A Pew " shot was taken but now hidden by the island in the water . Talking of the water , as it is so muddy my thinking was a mono conversion to make the water look somewhat more like it should do .

This is Fourwents Pond out on Holmwood Common which is overseen by the National Trust .

I found Bruce Waynes Apartment . It is located in More London Nr.7, London, GB near the Cityhall. I used silver Efex with cyan toning to give it the cinematic look it deserves. It can be easily overseen because there are now high trees in front of the building, so you really need to go up to the entrance and use a wide angle. I still keep wondering myself if the architect had planned this design or if this is a pure coincidence. Anyway it is an eyecatcher - if you know where to look for...

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To view more of my images, of Waddesdon Manor, inside and out, including some of the most beautiful artwork, and furniture, please click "here" !

From the Achieves, reprocessed using Photoshop CC 2026.

I would be most grateful if you would refrain from inserting your own images, and/or group invites; thank you!

Waddesdon Manor is a country house in the village of Waddesdon, in Buckinghamshire, England. The house was built in the Neo-Renaissance style of a French château between 1874 and 1889 for Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild (1839–1898). Since this was the preferred style of the Rothschild's it became also known as the Goût Rothschild. The house, set in formal gardens and an English landscape park, was built on a barren hilltop overlooking Waddesdon village. The last member of the Rothschild family to own Waddesdon was James de Rothschild. He bequeathed the house and its contents to the National Trust in 1957. Today, following an extensive restoration, it is administered by a Rothschild charitable trust that is overseen by Jacob Rothschild, 4th Baron Rothschild. In 2007–08 it was the National Trust's second most visited paid-entry property, with 386,544 visitors. The Baron wanted a house in the style of the great Renaissance châteaux of the Loire Valley. The Baron, a member of the Viennese branch of the Rothschild banking dynasty, chose as his architect Gabriel-Hippolyte Destailleur. Destailleur was already experienced in working in this style, having overseen the restoration of many châteaux in that region, in particular that of the Château de Mouchy. Through Destailleur's vision, Waddesdon embodied an eclectic style based on the châteaux so admired by his patron, Baron Ferdinand. The towers at Waddesdon were based on those of the Château de Maintenon, and the twin staircase towers, on the north facade, were inspired by the staircase tower at the Château de Chambord. However, following the theme of unparalleled luxury at Waddesdon, the windows of the towers at Waddesdon were glazed, unlike those of the staircase at Chambord. They are also far more ornate. The structural design of Waddesdon, however, was not all retrospective. Hidden from view were the most modern innovations of the late 19th century including a steel frame, which took the strain of walls on the upper floors, which consequently permitted the layout of these floors to differ completely from the lower floors. The house also had hot and cold running water in its bathrooms, central heating, and an electric bell system to summon the numerous servants. The building contractor was Edward Conder & Son. The towers were modelled on the staircase towers of Château de Chambord. One of the twin staircase-towers inspired by those at the Château de Maintenon. Once his château was complete, Baron Ferdinand installed his extensive collections of French 18th-century tapestries, boiseries, furniture and ceramics, English and Dutch paintings and Renaissance works of art. Extensive landscaping was carried out and the gardens enhanced with statuary, pavilions and an aviary. The Proserpina fountain was brought to the manor at the end of the 19th Century from the Palace of the Dukes of Parma in northern Italy: the Ducal Palace of Colorno. The gardens and landscape park were laid out by the French landscape architect Elie Lainé. An attempt was made to transplant full-grown trees by chloroforming their roots, to limit the shock. While this novel idea was unsuccessful, many very large trees were successfully transplanted, causing the grounds to be such a wonder of their day that, in 1890, Queen Victoria invited herself to view them. The Queen was, however, more impressed by the electric lighting in the house than the wonders of the park. Fascinated by the invention she had not seen before, she is reported to have spent ten minutes switching a newly electrified 18th-century chandelier on and off. When Baron Ferdinand died in 1898, the house passed to his sister Alice de Rothschild, who further developed the collections. Baron Ferdinand's collection of Renaissance works and a collection of arms were both bequeathed to the British Museum as the "Waddesdon Bequest". During World War II, children under the age of five were evacuated from London and lived at Waddesdon Manor. Following Alice de Rothschild's death in 1922, the property and collections passed to her great-nephew James A. "Jimmy" de Rothschild of the French branch of the family, who further enriched it with objects from the collections of his late father Baron Edmond James de Rothschild of Paris. When James de Rothschild died in 1957, he bequeathed Waddesdon Manor, 200 acres (0.81 km2) of grounds and its contents to the National Trust, to be preserved for posterity. The Trust also received their largest ever endowment from him: £750,000 (£15,310,270 as of 2014).

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Chambord - Loir-et-Cher - France

The royal Château de Chambord at Chambord, Loir-et-Cher, France, is one of the most recognisable châteaux in the world because of its very distinctive French Renaissance architecture which blends traditional French medieval forms with classical Renaissance structures. The building, which was never completed, was constructed by King Francis I of France.

Chambord is the largest château in the Loire Valley; it was built to serve as a hunting lodge for Francis I, who maintained his royal residences at the châteaux of Blois and Amboise. The original design of the Château de Chambord is attributed, though with some doubt, to Domenico da Cortona; Leonardo da Vinci may also have been involved.

Chambord was altered considerably during the twenty-eight years of its construction (1519–1547), during which it was overseen on-site by Pierre Nepveu. With the château nearing completion, Francis showed off his enormous symbol of wealth and power by hosting his old archrival, Emperor Charles V, at Chambord.

In 1792, in the wake of the French Revolution, some of the furnishings were sold and timber removed. For a time the building was left abandoned, though in the 19th century some attempts were made at restoration. During the Second World War, art works from the collections of the Louvre and the Château de Compiègne were moved to the Château de Chambord. The château is now open to the public. (Wikipedia)

Tower Bridge is a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London, built between 1886 and 1894. The bridge crosses the River Thames close to the Tower of London and has become a world-famous symbol of London. As a result, it is sometimes confused with London Bridge, about 0.5 miles (0.80 km) upstream. Tower Bridge is one of five London bridges owned and maintained by the Bridge House Estates, a charitable trust overseen by the City of London Corporation. It is the only one of the trust's bridges not to connect the City of London directly to the Southwark bank, as its northern landfall is in Tower Hamlets.

.... overseen by two bald eagles on Whaler Island (2001)

Sporting a desert camouflage scheme, this Spitfire is a Mk IX, serial LZ842 and giving its first public display. This aircraft was built in 1943 and saw service in Malta and Italy.

This shot shows off the Spitfire's famous elliptical wings designed by Canadian aerodynamicist, Beverley Shenstone (a man, despite the name!), one of the lesser sung heroes of the Spitfire story.

The design of the Spitfire was famously led by Reginald Mitchell, but Mitchell died from illness in 1937, and Shenstone had left Supermarine by 1938. The successful development throughout the war of the many Spitfire versions, was overseen by the rarely mentioned Joseph Smith, arguably the true hero of the Spitfire story.

The Grade II Listed remains of the 19th Century The Black Mill in Westwood, Beverley, East Yorkshire.

The town has one of the best areas of common land in the country, with the Westwood among several areas of land granted to locals by the Lord of the Manor way back in 1380, and today residents still hold rights to graze cattle and sheep in a practice overseen by so-called pasture makers.

According to East Ridings Museums, at the peak of agriculture in around 1850 Westwood had six working mills, five corn mills and one whiting mill. But the remains of only two of the windmills survive today.

Originally the exterior of the Black Mill was whitewashed but it was eventually tarred, leading to its new moniker. It was damaged by a fire in 1868 and eventually all the timber parts and working gear were dismantled. The mill was used as a dwelling until 1934 but now remains as a monument and something of a local landmark.

According to an East Ridings Museums exhibition on the Westwood, the site held a particular place in the hearts of local cricketers during the 19th Century.

“During the mid-Victorian times, cricket was an incredibly popular sport. The mills provided a meeting place, the most common being Black Mill. The miller would make it his responsibility to entertain and cater for the spectators. Pictures from the period often include social activity surrounding the mill.”

Most locals know the old windmill tower as Black Mill but its real name was Far Mill or Baitson’s Mill after Gilbert Baitson rebuilt it in 1803. A windmill has stood on this site since the 1650’s.

Pasture makers who manage the land around the mill are traditionally Freemen of Beverley but in 2010 with their numbers dwindling, new legislation was passed to allow more people to qualify as Freemen and help keep the Pasture Maker tradition alive.

Centuries have gone by since the area was first classified as common land, but as other aspects of life has changed drastically, this corner of Yorkshire has remained reassuringly resistant.

Information Sources:

www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5456671

britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101310087-the-black-mill-bev...

www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/heritage/fasci...

Oxford University Tennis Club’s court in Merton Street is the home of real tennis in Oxford. This is the original tennis, played in an indoor court with sloping surfaces, galleries, and other unusual features.

Although generally referred to as Oxford University Tennis Club (OUTC) or the club, the Merton Street premises are shared by two organisations: the OUTC itself to which members of Oxford University can belong, and the Oxford Senior Tennis Club which is open to others. In practice students and others combine as one entity to enjoy the game together. There is play at all levels with junior, student and senior members playing all the year round, overseen by two full time professionals

A creative iconic scene in HDR and a neutral auto chrome filter used.

The Millennium Bridge, officially known as the London Millennium Footbridge, is a steel suspension bridge for pedestrians crossing the River Thames in London, linking Bankside with the City of London. It is located between Southwark Bridge and Blackfriars Railway Bridge. It is owned and maintained by Bridge House Estates, a charitable trust overseen by the City of London Corporation. Construction began in 1998, and it initially opened in June 2000.

Londoners nicknamed the bridge the "Wobbly Bridge" after pedestrians felt unexpected swaying motion. The bridge was closed later on opening day, and after two days of limited access, it was closed for almost two years while modifications were made to eliminate the motion. It reopened in 2002.

The southern end of the bridge is near the Globe theatre, the Bankside Gallery, and Tate Modern, while the northern end of the bridge is next to the City of London School below St Paul's Cathedral. The bridge alignment is such that a clear view (i.e. a "terminating vista") of St Paul's south façade is presented from across the river, framed by the bridge supports.

The Tel Aviv Light Rail , also known as Dankal is a mass transit system for the Tel Aviv metropolitan area in central Israel. The system will include different modes of mass transit, including rapid transit (metro), light rail transit (LRT), and bus rapid transit (BRT). Overseen by the government agency NTA, the project will complement the intercity and suburban rail network operated by Israel Railways.

As of 2023, two LRT lines are under construction and one available to the public. Work on the Red Line, the first in the project, started on September 21, 2011, following years of preparatory works, and was opened on August 18, 2023 after numerous delays. Construction of the Purple Line started in December 2018; work on the Green Line began in January 2019.

Wide angle view from the Parterre Garden on the imposing beauty of Waddesdon Manor, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England, in the United Kingdom.

Waddesdon Manor was built in the Neo-Renaissance style of a French château between 1874 and 1889 for Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild (1839–1898). Since this was the preferred style of the Rothschilds it became also known as the Goût Rothschild. The house, set in formal gardens and an English landscape park, was built on a barren hilltop overlooking Waddesdon village. The last member of the Rothschild family to own Waddesdon was James de Rothschild. He bequeathed the house and its contents to the National Trust in 1957. Today, following an extensive restoration, it is administered by a Rothschild charitable trust that is overseen by Jacob Rothschild, 4th Baron Rothschild.

Old Quebec City

Canada

City Mural holds the distinction of being the largest and most historically significant trompe l'oeil artwork in the historic Old Quebec area. It's nestled in the iconic Petit Champlain district.

Unveiled to the public in 1999, this monumental mural vividly narrates the rich history of Quebec City, spanning over 400 years, and showcases key historical figures integral to its story. The creation of this colossal masterpiece required the collaborative effort of twelve artists hailing from France and Canada. Their work was closely overseen by experts, including historians, geographers, and others well-versed in the city's heritage.

Fort Hill was built between 100 B.C. and 500 A.D. by the Hopewell Indians. The fort is situated on a hill top, having a circumference of 1 1/2 miles and 33 gateways. The fort is believed to have been used for ceremonial purposes. The 1495 acre Nature Preserve is owned by the Ohio Historical Society and overseen by The Arch of Appalachia. Eleven miles of hiking trails traverse the preserve. Located in southern Highland County in Ohio, it adjoins Pike State Forest. The fort is surrounded by an old growth forest and steep hillsides.

Tower Bridge is a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London built in 1886–1894. The bridge crosses the River Thames close to the Tower of London and has become an iconic symbol of London. Tower Bridge is one of five London bridges now owned and maintained by the Bridge House Estates, a charitable trust overseen by the City of London Corporation. It is the only one of the Trust's bridges not to connect the City of London directly to the Southwark bank, as its northern landfall is in Tower Hamlets.

IMG_3725r1

Southwark Bridge is an arch bridge in London, for traffic linking the district of Southwark and the City across the River Thames. Besides when others are closed for temporary repairs, it has the least traffic of the Thames bridges in London.

It was designed by Ernest George and Basil Mottbuilt and built by Sir William Arrol & Co. and opened on 6 June 1921. The bridge provides access to Upper Thames Street on the north bank and, due to the ring of steel, there is no further road access to the city and the north. The bridge is owned and maintained by Bridge House Estates; a charitable trust overseen by the City of London Corporation. The current bridge was given Grade II listed structure status in 1995.

A previous bridge, designed by John Rennie the Elder, opened on the site in 1819. On the 1818 Cary map of London, it was labelled as Queen Street Bridge. All subsequent maps label it as Southwark Bridge. The bridge consisted of three large cast-iron spans supported by granite piers. The bridge was notable for having the longest cast iron span, 240 feet (73 m), ever made. Unsurprisingly, it became known colloquially as "The Iron Bridge" as mentioned inter alia in Charles Dickens' "Little Dorrit". The iron spans were cast in Masborough, Rotherham. It was a commercial tolled operation which was trying to compete with the toll-free Blackfriars and London bridges nearby, but the company became bankrupt, and its interests were acquired by the Bridge House Estates which then made it toll free in 1864.

The Shard, a 72-storey skyscraper, standing 309.6 metres (1,016 feet) high, the tallest building in the United Kingdom, and Tower Bridge also seen in the cityscape.

This (juvenile) Bald Eagle left its perch to head over to a Mute Swan that was being, well, overseen by a Northern Harrier.

Lots of action on the frozen lake these days:)

...............................................................................

Ce pygargue à tête blanche (juvénile) a quitté son perchoir pour se diriger vers un cygne tuberculé qui était, bien, supervisé par un busard Saint-Martin.

Beaucoup d’action sur le lac gelé ces jours-ci :)

Die Tower Bridge ist eine Straßenbrücke über den Fluss Themse in London und benannt nach dem nahen Tower of London. Sie wurde 1894 eröffnet und verbindet den Stadtbezirk Tower Hamlets auf der Nordseite mit dem Stadtteil Southwark im Stadtbezirk London Borough of Southwark auf der Südseite.

de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_Bridge

Tower Bridge is a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London built between 1886 and 1894. The bridge crosses the River Thames close to the Tower of London and has become an iconic symbol of London, resulting in it sometimes being confused with London Bridge, situated some 0.5 mi (0.80 km) upstream. Tower Bridge is one of five London bridges now owned and maintained by the Bridge House Estates, a charitable trust overseen by the City of London Corporation.

The Grade II Listed remains of the 19th Century The Black Mill in Westwood, Beverley, East Yorkshire.

The town has one of the best areas of common land in the country, with the Westwood among several areas of land granted to locals by the Lord of the Manor way back in 1380, and today residents still hold rights to graze cattle and sheep in a practice overseen by so-called pasture makers.

According to East Ridings Museums, at the peak of agriculture in around 1850 Westwood had six working mills, five corn mills and one whiting mill. But the remains of only two of the windmills survive today.

Originally the exterior of the Black Mill was whitewashed but it was eventually tarred, leading to its new moniker. It was damaged by a fire in 1868 and eventually all the timber parts and working gear were dismantled. The mill was used as a dwelling until 1934 but now remains as a monument and something of a local landmark.

According to an East Ridings Museums exhibition on the Westwood, the site held a particular place in the hearts of local cricketers during the 19th Century.

“During the mid-Victorian times, cricket was an incredibly popular sport. The mills provided a meeting place, the most common being Black Mill. The miller would make it his responsibility to entertain and cater for the spectators. Pictures from the period often include social activity surrounding the mill.”

Most locals know the old windmill tower as Black Mill but its real name was Far Mill or Baitson’s Mill after Gilbert Baitson rebuilt it in 1803. A windmill has stood on this site since the 1650’s.

Pasture makers who manage the land around the mill are traditionally Freemen of Beverley but in 2010 with their numbers dwindling, new legislation was passed to allow more people to qualify as Freemen and help keep the Pasture Maker tradition alive.

Centuries have gone by since the area was first classified as common land, but as other aspects of life has changed drastically, this corner of Yorkshire has remained reassuringly resistant.

Information Sources:

www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5456671

britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101310087-the-black-mill-bev...

www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/heritage/fasci...

Attended a Lime Rock Show yesterday, and was mostly disappointed with the subject matter. I'll probably have a few shots to post but one car immediately grabbed my attention and literally stopped me in my tracks. I was clueless as to what it was, but it was a real beauty. And it was until I returned home and did some online research when I found out more about this little gem...like it's 1/2 mullion dollar plus price, among other things. It's a limited production, custom bodied car built by an Italian company, Kimera, and it features the same underpinnings as the original Lancia EVO37, a 500hp+, both supercharged and turbocharged inline 2.1L 4 cylinder powerplant. The following will provide the interested reader with more details:

Following the launch of its original Lancia 037 restomod in 2021, Italian outfit Kimera Automobili has revealed a new limited-run take, inspired by Martini Racing’s iconic Group B racer. Developed in collaboration with two-time World Rally Champion Miki Biasion and Martini, just 37 examples will be produced, with prices expected to exceed the £415,000 of its original car.

Kimera’s EVO37 is not built from one of the few, and very special originals, but built from scratch in a similar construction method with modern materials and techniques. The chassis itself is a bespoke monocoque built from tube steel, with subframes directly welded to it on either side. The steel structure is then clothed in bespoke carbonfibre panels, replacing the original kevlar composite units.

While it features the same underpinnings as the original EVO37, the Martini 7 adopts a new carbonfibre aerodynamics package, applying a new front splitter, side skirts, more aggressive in-built canards and NACA ducts aft of the doors and on the rear haunches. The use of more carbonfibre and carbonkevlar in the Martini 7 is said to drop weight to 1100kg.

Continuing the motorsport theme, the rear has received a complete overhaul, with new carbonfibre air vents framing a transparent engine cover to reveal its rally-inspired power plant. The rear bumper is also now equipped with a quick disconnect mechanism, allowing buyers to display the gearbox casing and ceramic coated exhaust system in all its glory, just like the Group B 037.

As in the homologation car, the forged double wishbone suspension has a long-travel design, with dual Ohlins dampers flanking the separated spring at the rear and a more compact coilover design on the front end.

Like the structure, the engine is also referenced by the original, running a new-build 2.1-litre four-cylinder engine that is both turbo and supercharged. Unlike the original, however, the supercharger will be electrically driven, so as not to bleed power away from the engine itself as all purely mechanical units do.

The engine’s development has been overseen by one of Lancia’s original powertrain engineers Claudio Lombardi, and thanks to the advances in engine technology is said to produce 542bhp in Martini 7 trim, up 49bhp on the original EVO37. The engine will power the rear wheels via either a six-speed manual, or six-speed sequential transmission, the latter operable via electro-mechanically actuated paddles behind the steering wheel – in-line with its motorsport connection, ratios are shortened in Martini 7-trim.

The overall design remains similar to the original restomod, reworking the Lancia 037’s iconic design with the aid of modern, high-tech carbonfibre manufacturing techniques. Details, like the front and rear lighting, mesh inserts and wheels are also new, the latter being of a much larger 18- and 19-inch staggered design to clear the modern brake package. The Martini 7 receives new wheels inspired by those originally featured on the Delta Evoluzione, created with weight-saving in mind and incorporating the yellow/black carbon-kevlar of Delta group A cars.

Inside, Kimera has opted for a tasteful dry carbonfibre and blue Alcantara theme, with the dials coming with the same orange backlight as the racer. A unique limited-edition plaque, enamel Miki Biasion/Martini dashboard logo and Martini Racing harnesses also feature, with the main control panel labelled exactly how it was in the race car. Being a modern recreation, Kimera has also incorporated a second control panel in the centre console for fine tuning of the ABS and traction control.

A total of 37 Kimera EVO37 Martini 7s will be produced, joining 37 of the original recreation.

By: Sam Jenkins

Take it for a spin through the gears here: www.google.com/search?q=kimera+evo37&oq=kimera&gs...

Sunderland.The Northern Spire Bridge is a bridge over the River Wear in Sunderland, Tyne & Wear. The crossing opened on 28 August 2018. A three-span cable-stayed structure, construction began in May 2015, overseen by Farrans Construction and Victor Buyck Steel Construction. Wikipedia.

National Trust Properties

Waddesdon Manor, Aylesbury, HP18 0LH, Buckinghamshire

Waddesdon Manor

Built between 1874 – 1889, in the Neo-renaissance style for Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild. Waddesdon Manor stayed within the family until 1957.

When the last owner died (James de Rothschild), it was passed over to the National Trust, the Manor and its contents and is now managed by the Rothschild Foundation.

Ferdinand de Rothschild wanted a beautiful building and had in mind a chateau familiar with those built in the Loire Valley. He chose the French architect Gabriel-Hippolyte Destailleur to do the work. Destailleur was already familiar with the type of work, as he had overseen many projects, including the Chateau de Mouchy. He also worked for another member of the De Rothschild family, namely Baron Albert de Rothschild on his Palais Rothschild in Vienna.

The wine cellars are interesting in that it contains the best of 15,000 bottles, some over 150 years old and come from the Chateau Lafite Rothschild and Chateau Mouton Rothschild estates. It is the largest collection in the world of Rothschild wines, it also has some very important labels created by artists such as Salvador Dali and Andy Warhol.

The works of art inside the house of the very best quality, artists such as, Gainsborough, Reynolds, Boucher, Cuyp, Van Dyck, Titan and many others. Sevres ceramics, Beauvais Tapestries, first quality English Silver, carpets, books the list unending.

The original garden was set out by the French Landscape Gardiner Elie Laine. Extensive levelling of the hill was carried out, the Gardens and parks were laid out and an attempt was made to grow full length trees using chloroform to decrease the shock of moving the trees and planting them, however there are many trees in the parks and gardens that were successfully planted. Trees such as Yews, cedar, redwoods and other conifers, chestnuts, limes and maples are all successfully well bedded in.

During the reign of James de Rothschild the gardens were not the most spectacular however from the 1990’s a more up to date, using computer software for many of the colour combinations and in the gardens are many lovely statues by such sculptors as, Italian Sculptors Giuliano Mozani and Filippo Parodi, French sculptor, Jean Raon, to name but a few.

In my opinion, a great House and Garden to visit, teas and a scone well worth the wait.

Finally there have been many films made there. Here are a few examples:

Never Say Never Again

Carry On “Don’t Lose Your Head”

Ladies in Lavender

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

In 2018 there were approx. 465,000 visitors to the Manor, and was the largest visitor attraction anywhere in all of the National Trust Properties.

Attended a Lime Rock Show yesterday, and was mostly disappointed with the subject matter. I'll probably have a few shots to post but one car immediately grabbed my attention and literally stopped me in my tracks. I was clueless as to what it was, but it was a real beauty. And it was until I returned home and did some online research when I found out more about this little gem...like it's 1/2 mullion dollar plus price, among other things. It's a limited production, custom bodied car built by an Italian company, Kimera, and it features the same underpinnings as the original Lancia EVO37, a 500hp+, both supercharged and turbocharged inline 2.1L 4 cylinder powerplant. The following will provide the interested reader with more details:

Following the launch of its original Lancia 037 restomod in 2021, Italian outfit Kimera Automobili has revealed a new limited-run take, inspired by Martini Racing’s iconic Group B racer. Developed in collaboration with two-time World Rally Champion Miki Biasion and Martini, just 37 examples will be produced, with prices expected to exceed the £415,000 of its original car.

Kimera’s EVO37 is not built from one of the few, and very special originals, but built from scratch in a similar construction method with modern materials and techniques. The chassis itself is a bespoke monocoque built from tube steel, with subframes directly welded to it on either side. The steel structure is then clothed in bespoke carbonfibre panels, replacing the original kevlar composite units.

While it features the same underpinnings as the original EVO37, the Martini 7 adopts a new carbonfibre aerodynamics package, applying a new front splitter, side skirts, more aggressive in-built canards and NACA ducts aft of the doors and on the rear haunches. The use of more carbonfibre and carbonkevlar in the Martini 7 is said to drop weight to 1100kg.

Continuing the motorsport theme, the rear has received a complete overhaul, with new carbonfibre air vents framing a transparent engine cover to reveal its rally-inspired power plant. The rear bumper is also now equipped with a quick disconnect mechanism, allowing buyers to display the gearbox casing and ceramic coated exhaust system in all its glory, just like the Group B 037.

As in the homologation car, the forged double wishbone suspension has a long-travel design, with dual Ohlins dampers flanking the separated spring at the rear and a more compact coilover design on the front end.

Like the structure, the engine is also referenced by the original, running a new-build 2.1-litre four-cylinder engine that is both turbo and supercharged. Unlike the original, however, the supercharger will be electrically driven, so as not to bleed power away from the engine itself as all purely mechanical units do.

The engine’s development has been overseen by one of Lancia’s original powertrain engineers Claudio Lombardi, and thanks to the advances in engine technology is said to produce 542bhp in Martini 7 trim, up 49bhp on the original EVO37. The engine will power the rear wheels via either a six-speed manual, or six-speed sequential transmission, the latter operable via electro-mechanically actuated paddles behind the steering wheel – in-line with its motorsport connection, ratios are shortened in Martini 7-trim.

The overall design remains similar to the original restomod, reworking the Lancia 037’s iconic design with the aid of modern, high-tech carbonfibre manufacturing techniques. Details, like the front and rear lighting, mesh inserts and wheels are also new, the latter being of a much larger 18- and 19-inch staggered design to clear the modern brake package. The Martini 7 receives new wheels inspired by those originally featured on the Delta Evoluzione, created with weight-saving in mind and incorporating the yellow/black carbon-kevlar of Delta group A cars.

Inside, Kimera has opted for a tasteful dry carbonfibre and blue Alcantara theme, with the dials coming with the same orange backlight as the racer. A unique limited-edition plaque, enamel Miki Biasion/Martini dashboard logo and Martini Racing harnesses also feature, with the main control panel labelled exactly how it was in the race car. Being a modern recreation, Kimera has also incorporated a second control panel in the centre console for fine tuning of the ABS and traction control.

A total of 37 Kimera EVO37 Martini 7s will be produced, joining 37 of the original recreation.

By: Sam Jenkins

Take it for a spin through the gears here: www.google.com/search?q=kimera+evo37&oq=kimera&gs...

National Trust Properties

Waddesdon Manor, Aylesbury, HP18 0LH, Buckinghamshire

Waddesdon Manor

Built between 1874 – 1889 in the Neo-renaissance style for Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild. Waddesdon Manor stayed within the family until 1957.

When the last owner died (James de Rothschild), it was passed over to the National Trust, the Manor and its contents and is now managed by the Rothschild Foundation.

Ferdinand de Rothschild wanted a beautiful building and had in mind a chateau familiar with those built in the Loire Valley. He chose the French architect Gabriel-Hippolyte Destailleur to do the work. Destailleur was already familiar with the type of work, as he had overseen many projects, including the Chateau de Mouchy. He also worked for another member of the De Rothschild family, namely Baron Albert de Rothschild on his Palais Rothschild in Vienna.

The wine cellars are interesting in that it contains the best of 15,000 bottles, some over 150 years old and come from the Chateau Lafite Rothschild and Chateau Mouton Rothschild estates. It is the largest collection in the world of Rothschild wines, it also has some very important labels created by artists such as Salvador Dali and Andy Warhol.

The works of art inside the house of the very best quality, artists such as, Gainsborough, Reynolds, Boucher, Cuyp, Van Dyck, Titan and many others. Sevres ceramics, Beauvais Tapestries, first quality English Silver, carpets, books the list unending.

the French Landscape Gardiner Elie Laine. Extensive levelling of the hill was carried out, the Gardens and parks were laid out and an attempt was made to grow full length trees using chloroform to decrease the shock of moving the trees and planting them, however there are many trees in the parks and gardens that were successfully planted. Trees such as Yews, cedar, redwoods and other conifers, chestnuts, limes and maples are all successfully well bedded in.

During the reign of James de Rothschild the gardens were not the most spectacular however from the 1990’s a more up to date, using computer software for many of the colour combinations and in the gardens are many lovely statues by such sculptors as, Italian Sculptors Giuliano Mozani and Filippo Parodi, French sculptor, Jean Raon, to name but a few.

In my opinion, a great House and Garden to visit, teas and a scone well worth the wait.

Finally there have been many films made there. Here are a few examples:

Never Say Never Again

Carry On “Don’t Lose Your Head”

Ladies in Lavender

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

In 2018 there were approx. 465,000 visitors to the Manor, and was the largest visitor attraction anywhere in all of the National Trust Properties.

From Wikipedia:- "Chee Dale is a steep-sided gorge on the River Wye near Buxton, Derbyshire, in the Peak District of England. The Wye valley continues upstream towards Buxton as Wye Dale, while downstream are Miller's Dale village and valley. Chee Dale has a protected nature reserve, which is overseen by the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust"

The Grade II Listed remains of the 19th Century The Black Mill in Westwood, Beverley, East Yorkshire.

The town has one of the best areas of common land in the country, with the Westwood among several areas of land granted to locals by the Lord of the Manor way back in 1380, and today residents still hold rights to graze cattle and sheep in a practice overseen by so-called pasture makers.

According to East Ridings Museums, at the peak of agriculture in around 1850 Westwood had six working mills, five corn mills and one whiting mill. But the remains of only two of the windmills survive today.

Originally the exterior of the Black Mill was whitewashed but it was eventually tarred, leading to its new moniker. It was damaged by a fire in 1868 and eventually all the timber parts and working gear were dismantled. The mill was used as a dwelling until 1934 but now remains as a monument and something of a local landmark.

According to an East Ridings Museums exhibition on the Westwood, the site held a particular place in the hearts of local cricketers during the 19th Century.

“During the mid-Victorian times, cricket was an incredibly popular sport. The mills provided a meeting place, the most common being Black Mill. The miller would make it his responsibility to entertain and cater for the spectators. Pictures from the period often include social activity surrounding the mill.”

Most locals know the old windmill tower as Black Mill but its real name was Far Mill or Baitson’s Mill after Gilbert Baitson rebuilt it in 1803. A windmill has stood on this site since the 1650’s.

Pasture makers who manage the land around the mill are traditionally Freemen of Beverley but in 2010 with their numbers dwindling, new legislation was passed to allow more people to qualify as Freemen and help keep the Pasture Maker tradition alive.

Centuries have gone by since the area was first classified as common land, but as other aspects of life has changed drastically, this corner of Yorkshire has remained reassuringly resistant.

Information Sources:

www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5456671

britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101310087-the-black-mill-bev...

www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/heritage/fasci...