View allAll Photos Tagged subscription
We recently hit 10k subscribers on YouTube! Check out our Fotodiox YouTube channel now to watch our Subscriber Thank You video, plus a little behind the scenes look at how we shoot our videos.
SIGN UP FOR A FREE BLOG SUBSCRIPTION AT: feeds.feedburner.com/zoriah/Rtel
Receive new stories and images for free by email or rss reader
This image and the full story are posted on www.zoriah.net
This image was taken in the fall of 2007 in northeastern Afghanistan near the Pakistani border. I was spending my days going out on patrols with the Afghan National Army, crossing over the border into Pakistan in search of militants and rebel fighters.
At night, I was in a small combat outpost that was split between U.S. and Afghan forces. Myself and a German photojournalist arrived on the same day, and much to our dismay, did not receive the warmest of welcomes. Apparently there was some miscommunication between the Army public affairs officers and the commanders on the base, because no one had any idea who we were or why we were there. As you might imagine, showing up at a military base in a war when no one is expecting you is a bit awkward for all parties involved.
We ended up being housed on the far side of the American half of the base, in an area that was still under construction and, unfortunately for us, was not close to being done. We were shown to a small, concrete building with a partially finished roof and told that this would be where we would sleep.
Inside the building there were several green Army-issue cots that we assumed were surplus from either world World War II or possibly even World War I (that is to say they were not the most pleasant devices to sleep on...or assemble!). The recessed floor was filled with water, which required a fair amount of acrobatics to protect our equipment from getting wet. All of this was further complicated by the fact that there was no electricity and we had to illuminate the room with flashlights. The bugs that dropped from the ceiling onto our faces as we slept are another story for another day.
On our second or third day, we were sitting in our dark room complaining about how miserable we were when an explosion blew our metal room door off of its hinges and wide open. We jumped up and ran outside in our socks, soaking our feet in the lake we called our floor.
Outside our room we saw a several other groups of soldiers exiting their barracks. We ran up to them and were told that they had just received a new artillery cannon that packed an unbelievable punch. The German photographer went immediately to photograph the happenings and I set myself up with the night shift to photograph later that evening.
It is hard to describe the nights in Afghanistan, but they're about as dark as you could possibly imagine. I forgot my flashlight one night when I went to the chow hall and had to crawl back to my living quarters on my hands and knees—something that the soldiers on base watch wearing night vision goggles must still be laughing about. This utterblackness can provide incredible challenges for a photographer, as that which is hard to see is even harder to photograph.
That night I arrived to the location of the artillery crew as they were cleaning and preparing the cannon. I used a wide angle lens and propped the camera up on some rocks on the ground and attached a remote shutter release to avoid jarring the camera during the long exposures I would need to get the shots to come out.
The soldiers were using red flashlights to illuminate their work, common in the military because red is easier for your eyes to adjust to in dark conditions and also makes you less of a target if an enemy happens to be trying to attack you. This image shows the trails of the red lights as the crew cleaned the barrel of the cannon and adjusted the firing settings. One LED light provides the purplish glow toward the back of the cannon. A close look at the sky, especially to the right of the image, lower to the horizon, the stars appear blurry due to the long shutter speed, which capturedthe rotation of the Earth.
Technical: This image was shot with the shutter open for 30 seconds at f/6.3. I kept the ISO at 400 to avoid noise in the blacks. I spend very little time reviewing images like this as I shoot them and focus on getting as many exposures as possible in a limited amount of time, giving me the ability to choose the best frame later on, in better conditions.
A History of Kelso Town Hall
In 1806, a public subscription was organised to raise funds for a new town hall to replace the old tollbooth which had been demolished in or around 1798. The Duke of Roxburghe made significant donations both in money as well as in land. The fund raising took ten years.
In the late 18th Century the Tolbooth was described as old and ruinous. A painting of that period shows a three storeyed hip-roofed building with an arcaded ground floor & a tall steeple projecting from the front.
Finally in 1816 the foundation stone was laid and building work began.
The new building probably incorporated much of the stonework from the old tollbooth, although the town hall's present appearance is due to remodeling work carried out between 1902 and 1908. The two-storeyed building is rectangular on plan and had an arcaded ground floor, opened on market days for stall holders to sell grain and other farm produce. Like the old tollbooth, the floor above was entirely filled by a hall where the burgh court met. The town's trade incorporations also used the town hall for their meetings. The curfew bell, housed within an octagonal cupola was rung at the town hall at 8pm each evening.
Around 1841 a clock was inserted into the cupola, gifted by Alexander Purvis a native of Kelso. Some repair and restoration work was carried out in 1854.
During 1898 his Grace the Duke of Roxburgh indicated that he was willing to make over the Town Hall to the Burgh by means of a Feu Charter. The Feu Duty would be nominal and the only restrictions would be in favour of these Public Bodies who now have a right to use the Hall and whose interests would be preserved.
The following were said to have claims to use the Town Hall: The County Council of Roxburgh for Sheriff, Small Debt Courts and Justice of the Peace Courts. The Kelso District Committee of the County Council as representing the former Turnpike Road Trustees and Statute Labour Trustees; The Lord Lieutenant of the County for meetings regarding Lieutenancy business; The Kelso St John’s Lodge of Freemasons and the Kelso Gas Company for their Annual Meetings all on payment of rates set forth in a letter of 13th March 1893.
The Council now resolved by special order to acquire the building and to repair, alter and fit it up as a Public Hall and Court Room with Burgh Office and Council Chamber on the ground floor.
The lower part which was in the form of a Piazza had originally been used for selling grain and other farm produce on market days. However conditions had changed and latterly it seemed only to be used as a refuge on rainy days for “loafers and hangers on”. This was now to be filled in to form two Public Rooms.
Arrangements were finalised in 1902 for the taking over of the Town Hall. The renovating work was put in hand and continued for the next 6 years.
The Town Hall which is built of finely wrought ashlar is of a rectangular plan and having two storeys with twin hipped and slated roofs. The main front has a three bay pedimented centrepiece surmounted by an octagonal clock tower. The fenestration is regular and the round-headed ground-floor windows are recessed within the arches of the original open arcade.
The building’s present ornamented character with Gibbs surrounds around the first floor windows and an elaborate pedimented entrance-doorway is largely the result of work carried out by J.D. Swanston of Kirkcaldy in 1904-6.
At first-floor level the detached Ionic columns of the centrepiece were replaced by attached columns raised on pedestals linked by a balustrade. The wellhead balustrade was removed, and Gibbs surrounds were added to the round headed openings of the clock tower. The interior was also extensively remodelled and most of the original fittings were replaced. The first floor, reached by a staircase to the rear, incorporated the Council Chamber.
Delays in the restoration and refurbishment meant that the Town Hall was not reoccupied until 1908. The first meeting in the renovated Town Hall took place in January 1908. The Council now found themselves in a very comfortable and convenient meeting place, an amenity which they had not experienced before.
The Provost, James Melrose, said he had known the old Town Hall and could remember how uncomfortable it was.
The cost of the improvements amounted to £3000.
During the next 80 or so years the changes in local government administration resulted in several alterations to the interior of the building to the detriment of the appearance of the building. Finally in the late 1980’s a decision was taken once more to extensively restore and refurbish both the interior and exterior of the building.
Architects Aitken and Turnbull, Galashiels were appointed with the restoration work being carried out by J. Laidlaw and Son Jedburgh. The Council Chamber on the upper floor was completely restored and fitted out in the original manner. It is now used in the main by the Community Council for meetings.
The Burgh Room on the ground floor has been occupied by Visit Scotland since 1996 with the former Court Room being occupied by the Registrar. This later room retains the original oak panelling and fireplace from the 1904 refurbishment. [www.kelsoconnections.co.uk]
I received this note from Flickr explaining that the price for my Pro subscription would increase. I'm a bit torn on what to do. I like Flickr a lot and in the grand scheme of things £60 isn't a huge amount for unlimited storage of photos and videos. I'll probably reluctantly renew and give them one more year. He's the thing though, there have been no useful improvements to the web interface or the mobile app. There are a number of bugs still outstanding which are all well documented. This is especially disappointing as the Smugmug team have had over a year to implement these fixes. New features such as printing don't really benefit me in the slightest. The much promised improvements to communities haven't materialised. It's a shame that they couldn't give more over the past year to really get me excited about the future. I know Sumgmug have a philosophy of not taking on capital and having the finances in top shape, but sometimes this hurts innovation. Burning cash is no problem with a solid business case for growth. I worry that the lack of investment that is badly needed will be the death nail of Flickr.
With over 190GB on my account, I'm under no illusion I'm a 'heavy' Flickr user. I get that bills need to be paid, and I can afford to support Flickr. However I think I will decline and review in a year or two. I can always re-upload all my photos if I decide to come back. I'm not fussed about the views and favourite counts. While I appreciate them, all that is, is a historical number.
I'm not web developer, but I am a marketer. I also have a huge amount of experience in digital consumer subscriptions (toot toot!). Price increases like this without any incremental value are proven to increase churn and reduce average customer lifetime value. The cost of acquiring a new paid subscriber is so much more than keeping the existing, so screwing another $10 a year of out the existing user base might look good on paper, but when or if they churn from Flickr (and all the photos above 1k are deleted) it's going to cost a hell of a lot more to incentives them to come back.
That's my situation. If I don't renew, I'm probably gone for good.
Cheers and all the best
Can you help? We'd like to spread the word about Regather.
Regather is the Sheffield trading co-op. Did you know we organise The Folk
Forest, Regather Fruit & Veg Box, Regather Brewery, Lead The Change
Enterprise Support, Green Homes Sheffield Low Carbon Living, Pop Up Park
Parties and much more....
We've just opened the Regather Works. It's a social action centre by day
and intimate events venue by night. Help us spread the word!
Scroll down to read the November events programme...
Want to stay in touch? Click here to subscribe to the Regather mailing list
...
The Regather Works, 57-59 Club Garden Road, Sheffield, S11 8BU.
November Event Programme
Full detail available on our new 'Whats On' section of our website:
.
*7.00pm, Wed, 4th November*
*Vegather*
Did you know November is World Vegan Month? To celebrate Regather is
delighted to be launching Vegather - our new monthly vegan supper club
showcasing the best in Sheffield vegan food, drink, cooking and community.
£15/£17.5/£20. More info: goo.gl/PK1GB9
*7.00pm Thurs, 5th November*
*Regather Film Night feat: V for Vendetta*
Join us for a topical classic at the weekly Regather Film Night. Based
graphic novel written by Alan Moore, Following world war, London is a
police state occupied by a fascist government, and a vigilante known only
as V (Hugo Weaving) uses terrorist tactics to fight the oppressors of the
world in which he now lives. £5. More info: goo.gl/7bAeU0
*7.30pm Fri, 6th November*
*The Lamplight Club feat. Mike Hughes + Support*
An intimate evening of music from the best UK acoustic acts. £5. More info:
[image: Mike Hughes Video Link]
*6.00pm Mon, 9th November*
*Asian Youth Movement - radical histories talk*
Mouthpiece and Freeclarity present the first in a series of talks to
re-connect communities with their radical histories. Plus lite snacks
available.
Free Entry. (£2 Suggested Donation). More info: goo.gl/wmVb1O
*7.00pm, Wed, 11th November*
*Forgotten Cuts*
The 2nd supper club in a monthly series showcasing forgotten, under-used
and under-rated cuts of meat and their cooking techniques. £15/£17.5/£20.
More info: goo.gl/avVDM3
*7.00pm, Thurs, 12th November*
*Regather Film Night An evening with Archive Sheffield*
The team from local documentary photography and film making collective
Archive Sheffield join us to curate a night of insightful and fascinating
films about the city around us. £5. More Info: goo.gl/4KE1pg
*7.30pm, Fri, 13th November*
*The Lamplight Club feat. Amelia Curran + Support*
An intimate evening of music from the best UK acoustic acts. Amelia is
Canada's multi award winning contemporary songstress, and we're lucky
enough to secure a date the UK leg of her world tour. £7. More Info:
*7.00pm, Wed, 18th November*
*Eating Seasonally*
A 4 course vegetarian supper packed full of local, seasonal and organic
produce grown by Sheffield and Yorkshire market gardeners and cooked by our
guest chefs. £15/£17.5/£20. More info: www.regather.net/whats-on
*7.00pm, Thurs, 19th November*
*Regather Film Night ShAff: Storm Surfers*
Sheffield adventure film festival takeover the weekly Regather Film night,
showcasing the best of adventure films, including this surfing classic. £5.
More info: goo.gl/yaGiiH
*7.30pm, Fri, 20th November*
*The Folk Forest Presents..... Musical Museum*
The Folk Forest teams up with Museums Sheffield to re-imagine your gallery
experience with 10+ 'live exhibits' performing at the same time in the
beautiful Graves Gallery. More info: goo.gl/pHvIXv
*Venue: Graves Gallery, Surrey St, Sheffield, S1 2LH*
£8 from www.museums-sheffield.org.uk / 0114 278 2655
*7.00pm, Wed, 25th November*
*Beer Night*
Exploring the different brews from the Regather Brewery, feat. guest
Brewers for Q & A and a showcase of their beers and other different types
of beers. Food to accompany. £8/£10. More info:
*7.00pm, Thurs, 26th November*
*Regather Film Night An evening with Rob Speranza and SYFN*
Join well-known producer Rob Speranza tonight as he shares some of the best
short films he's come across over years of programming 'Showroom Shorts' at
the Showroom Cinema. £5. More Info: goo.gl/jXpSD5
*7.30pm, Fri, 27th November*
*The Lamplight Club feat. Dan Haywood + Support*
An intimate evening of music from the best UK acoustic acts. Dan Haywood's
reputation as a UK songwriter/storyteller/performer of the highest
distinction is gathering steam. "Epic... fervent and profound" - The Fly.
£5. More info: goo.gl/Z44KWI
*7.30pm, Sat, 5th December*
*Regather Comedy Club feat. Phil Kay & Liam Pickford*
Regather is proud to launch a news series of stand up comedy at the
Regather Works. We've assembled a rather special line up to get things
kicked off! £7. More info: goo.gl/bBj7Ys
*Interested? Subscribe to our mailing list.[image: Mailing List
Subscription] *
Thanks
The Regather Team
Regather Works, 57 - 59, Club Garden Road, Sheffield, S11 8BU
www.regather.net // 0114 273 1258
Sorry Wrong Numbers™: Tampa Bay Times Charges More For Longer Term Subscriptions - IMRAN™
Call me old fashioned, but I always thought buying more or subscribing for longer terms meant paying less, not more. In this case, Tampa Bay Times charges $7 per month (so $42 for 6 months, half a year).... but wait, if you subscribe for the full six months with a single larger payment, they charge you more, $44.20!
That tags this as a post in two of my long running labels... "Sorry Wrong Number(s)" AND "Customer Experience User Experience Are Not Rocket Science". Share any examples of strange pricing you have seen too!
© 2023 IMRAN™
#advertising, #CustomerExperience, #discounts, #humor, #IMRAN, #ImranAnwar, #iPhone, #marketing, #mathematics, #newspapers, #numbers, #SorryWrongNumbers, #strange, #subscriptions, #TampaBay, #TampaBayTimes, #UrUXSux, #pricing,
This blog is brought to you by subSCRIPTion, Ainte., and HAUS nails. The outfit will be featured in the We Love To Roleplay Event this month, and HAUS Nails will be featured in The Smokefest Event. All links and info will be posted below.
Outfit: Ainte. Lirio Dress (Light Pink)
* Elevate your wardrobe with this chic outfit featuring a beautifully designed top and coordinating bottoms. Experience the versatility of a color and metal-changing HUD that allows you to customize your look effortlessly. Plus, indulge in even more vibrant options available in the fat pack. Transform your style and make a statement!
Body Jewelry: RAWR Divine Jewelry Set (Gold)
Hair: No Match No Spirit (Blonde)
Flowers and pose: subSCRIPTion Gorean Chore Hud Female version.
* Introducing the one-of-a-kind Gorean Chore HUD, designed to elevate your role-playing experience to new heights! This exceptional HUD features captivating poses and an array of props that bring authenticity to your interactions. Immerse yourself in a world of possibility as you engage in enchanting activities like sweeping, gathering vibrant herbs and flowers, washing and hanging clothes to dry, cleaning fresh vegetables, scrubbing surfaces, and dusting. Transform your role-playing adventures into truly memorable experiences!
Nails: HAUS// Spotlight Nails // Square
* Discover our stunning square nails, featuring a captivating animated design in a single, elegant color. Perfectly crafted to fit Maitreya, Reborn, Legacy, and Slink bodies, these nails will elevate your style and add a touch of flair to any look.
Urban Archangel made this background for me. He is a great blogger and a fantastic artist. Thank you so much, Amor.
========================
.Ainte.
Primfeed - www.primfeed.com/aitne
Facebook- www.facebook.com/Aitne.sl
Instagram - www.instagram.com/aitne.store.sl/
Flickr - www.flickr.com/photos/aitne/
Group - secondlife:///app/group/eed218e9-8fd2-9c1a-bd81-0606e90926b2/about
Landmark:
maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Pegasus%20Cove/59/58/1056
========================
HAUS
LM: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LavishLuxuries/12/44/2499
MP: marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/254636
IG: www.instagram.com/hausofposh.sl/
Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/194452411@N03/
========================
subSCRIPTion
Flickr: www.flickr.com/groups/14833198@N21/
IW: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SkyBeam%20Stowaway/11/143/22
SS: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Woobin/110/138/1001
MP: marketplace.secondlife.com/en-US/stores/226198
========================
We Love to Roleplay Event
LM: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/We%20Love%20RolePlay/128/1...
WS: weloveroleplay.weebly.com/november-2024.html
Shop spot: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/We%20Love%20RolePlay/94/18...
Flickr: www.flickr.com/groups/weloveroleplay/
========================
Smokefest Event
Smokefest: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SMOKEFEST%20Gorge/88/70/67
Mainstore:
The Hospital, which is the oldest in Bath, was founded by Act of Parliament and opened in May 1742. Funds were raised largely through the activity of Richard (Beau) Nash. He was Treasurer and opened a subscription list in 1737 which raised £2,300 (now about £175,000). His statue in the Pump Room shows him holding a plan of the `General Hospital'. Many well-known names appear on this list: Dr Oliver (the first Physician), Ralph Allen, John Wood the elder (the architect for the Hospital), Lord Palmerston, General Wade (MP for Bath at the time), William Hoare (artist) and Jeremiah Peirce (the first Surgeon). The foundation stone was laid in July 1738 by the Rt. Hon. William Pulteney. All the stone for the Hospital was given by Ralph Allen from his quarries on the outskirts of the city.
The object of this Hospital, which had first been proposed by Lady Elizabeth Hastings and Henry Hoare, the banker, in 1716, was to provide access to treatment in the thermal waters of Bath for the `Sick Poor from Britain and Ireland'. A secondary object was to deal with the problem of the `Beggars of Bath'. In the 18th century the fashionable watering-place of Bath attracted swarms of beggars and the Hospital was also intended to get those who were genuinely ill off the streets. Residents of Bath were not allowed to become patients, probably because they had a right of access to the hot springs which dated back to Queen Elizabeth I. This rule remained in force until 1835. In order to cover the cost of sending patients home when their treatment was finished, providing necessary clothing, or burying them if they died, a sum of money (caution money) had to be deposited with the Registrar on admission. Originally £l.50 if the patient was from England and £3 if from Scotland or Ireland; this later became £3 and £5 respectively for nearly 200 years. The money was provided by the patients themselves, or by Benefactors or Boards of Guardians. The burial ground is the small piece of ground opposite the Hospital outside the old City Wall. The first Matron, Mrs. Whitlock, was appointed in 1742 at a salary of £20 p.a. and her keep.
The original Hospital consisted of the basement, ground floor and first floor of the building at the corner of what is now Union Street (at that time a narrow lane called Cock Lane) and Upper Borough Walls; the top floor was added in 1793 at a cost of £900, the architect being Thomas Ba1dwin, then the City Architect. The West Block, which now includes the main entrance to the Hospital, was completed in 1861. A large piece of Roman pavement was uncovered when the foundations were being dug. This can be seen in its original position.
At first the patients were taken to and from the Corporation Baths for treatment. They wore brass badges (a number of which are still in existence at the Hospital) giving their ward and the number of their bed. These badges were a `ticket of admission' to the Corporation Baths. They were also to prevent patients entering public houses and coming back the worse for drink. The Inn Keepers were instructed not to serve patients and risked losing their licence if they did.
In 1830 an Act of Parliament empowered the Hospital Governors to construct baths on the premises, and to lay pipes for the conveyance of Mineral water from the King's Bath. It is possible to get from the Hospital to the Pump Room through the culvert in which the pipe runs, though it is a very tight squeeze in places. Hydrotherapy, using various modern techniques, remains an important part of the treatment programme today. There is also a Physiotherapy Department containing all the modern types of apparatus for treating Rheumatic Diseases and an Occupational Therapy Department.
The Hospital has always specialised in rheumatology, but has sometimes treated other diseases. The large picture in the main staircase (painted by William Hoare) shows Dr Oliver and Mr Pierce examining three patients suffering respectively from `paralysis, rheumatism and leprosy'. The leprosy is not what we mean by this term. During the 18th century and into Victorian times the term `leprosy or a leprous affliction' was used for scabby, scaly skin diseases, such as psoriasis, impetigo, or scabies. The `paralysis' was probably the result of lead poisoning, often from pewter drinking vessels. Two of the patients in this picture can be seen wearing the brass badges mentioned above. In the background of the picture is the plan of the Hospital, engraved in 1738. A copy is still in the possession of the Hospital. The registers of the diagnosis and duration of the stay of each patient, which was often very long (100-200 days), have been kept for the period 1742 - 1949 but, unfortunately, in 1940 the detailed medical records of the period from 1742 were declared `unwanted' and destroyed.
During five Wars _ the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745, the Crimean War, the South African War and World Wars I and II _ the Hospital treated casualties. During the last War the Hospital was itself a casualty. In 1942 the wing which included the old Board Room received a direct hit. Although 200 people were sheltering in the basement next to the damaged wing there were no injuries. The Chapel was also badly damaged, but received `First Aid' repairs, and was used as an Occupational Therapy Department for some time afterwards. The Chapel had several stained glass windows appropriate to the Hospital. One in the nave illustrated the story of the Good Samaritan, while seven windows in the apse illustrated incidents in the Bible dealing with the power of water.
From its foundation the Hospital has been under Royal Patronage, and has had seven Royal Presidents, the first being Frederick, Prince of Wales, in 1745, and the last, Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, until the 5th of June 1948, when the Hospital became part of the National Health Service. Several members of the Royal Family have visited the Hospital, including Queen Mary. In 1988, the Duchess of Gloucester visited as Patron of the 250th anniversary of the foundation of the Hospital. To mark this anniversary the Hospital was granted a full achievement of arms incorporating a large number of relevant `devices' - hot springs, bones, crowns (for the royal foundation), foxgloves and a bronze mortar, the original of which is still in the possession of the Hospital from 1742.
St Albans Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban, is a Church of England cathedral church within St Albans, England. At 84 metres (276 ft), its nave is the longest of any cathedral in England. With much of its present architecture dating from Norman times, it was formerly known as St Albans Abbey before it became a cathedral in 1877. It is the second longest cathedral in the United Kingdom (after Winchester). Local residents often call it "the abbey", although the present cathedral represents only the church of the old Benedictine abbey.
The abbey church, although legally a cathedral church, differs in certain particulars from most of the other cathedrals in England: it is also used as a parish church, of which the dean is rector. He has the same powers, responsibilities and duties as the rector of any other parish.
Alban was a pagan living in the Roman city of Verulamium, now Verulamium Park, in St Albans, in Hertfordshire, England, about 22 miles (35 km) north of London along Watling Street. Before Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, local Christians were being persecuted by the Romans. Alban sheltered their priest, Saint Amphibalus, in his home and was converted to the Christian faith by him. When the soldiers came to Alban's house looking for the priest, Alban exchanged cloaks with the priest and let himself be arrested in his place. Alban was taken before the magistrate, where he avowed his new Christian faith and was condemned for it. He was beheaded, according to legend, on the spot where the cathedral named after him now stands. The site is on a steep hill and legend has it that his head rolled down the hill after being cut off and that a well sprang up at the point where it stopped.
A well certainly exists today and the road up to the cathedral is named Holywell Hill. However the current well structure is no older than the late 19th century and it is thought that the name of the street derives from the "Halywell" river and "Halywell Bridge", not from the well.
The date of Alban's execution is a matter of some debate and is generally given as "circa 250"—scholars generally suggest dates of 209, 254 or 304.
History of the abbey and cathedral
A memoria over the execution point and holding the remains of Alban existed at the site from the mid-4th century (possibly earlier); Bedementions a church and Gildas a shrine. Bishop Germanus of Auxerre visited in 429 and took a portion of the apparently still bloody earth away. The style of this structure is unknown; the 13th century chronicler Matthew Paris (see below) claimed that the Saxons destroyed the building in 586.
Saxon buildings
Offa II of Mercia, who ruled in the 8th century, is said to have founded the Benedictine abbey and monastery at St Albans. All later religious structures are dated from the foundation of Offa's abbey in 793. The abbey was built on Holmhurst Hill—now Holywell Hill—across the River Ver from the ruins of Verulamium. Again there is no information to the form of the first abbey. The abbey was probably sacked by the Danes around 890 and, despite Paris's claims, the office of abbot remained empty from around 920 until the 970s when the efforts of Dunstanreached the town.
There was an intention to rebuild the abbey in 1005 when Abbot Ealdred was licensed to remove building material from Verulamium. With the town resting on clay and chalk the only tough stone is flint. This was used with a lime mortar and then either plastered over or left bare. With the great quantities of brick, tile and other stone in Verulamium the Roman site became a prime source of building material for the abbeys, and other projects in the area, up to the 18th century. Sections demanding worked stone used Lincolnshire limestone (Barnack stone) from Verulamium, later worked stones include Totternhoe freestone from Bedfordshire, Purbeck marble, and different limestones (Ancaster, Chilmark, Clipsham, etc.).
Renewed Viking raids from 1016 stalled the Saxon efforts and very little from the Saxon abbey was incorporated in the later forms.
The nave. The north wall (left) features a mix of Norman arches dating back to 1077 and arches in the Early English style of 1200.
Norman abbey
Much of the current layout and proportions of the structure date from the first Norman abbot, Paul of Caen (1077–1093). The 14th abbot, he was appointed by the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Lanfranc.
Building work started in the year of Abbot Paul's arrival. The design and construction was overseen by the Norman Robert the Mason. The plan has very limited Anglo-Saxon elements and is clearly influenced by the French work at Cluny, Bernay, and Caen and shares a similar floor plan to Saint-Étienne and Lanfranc's Canterbury—although the poorer quality building material was a new challenge for Robert and he clearly borrowed some Roman techniques, learned while gathering material in Verulamium. To take maximum use of the hilltop the abbey was oriented to the south-east. The cruciform abbey was the largest built in England at that time, it had a chancel of four bays, a transept containing seven apses, and a nave of ten bays—fifteen bays long overall. Robert gave particular attention to solid foundations, running a continuous wall of layered bricks, flints and mortar below and pushing the foundations down to twelve feet to hit bedrock. Below the crossing tower special large stones were used.
The tower was a particular triumph—it is the only 11th century great crossing tower still standing in England. Robert began with special thick supporting walls and four massive brick piers. The four-level tower tapers at each stage with clasping buttresses on the three lower levels and circular buttresses on the fourth stage. The entire structure masses 5,000 tons and is 144 feet high. The tower was probably topped with a Norman pyramidal roof; the current roof is flat. The original ringing chamber had five bells—two paid for by the Abbot, two by a wealthy townsman, and one donated by the rector of Hoddesdon. None of these bells has survived.
There was a widespread belief that the abbey had two additional, smaller towers at the west end. No remains have been found.
The monastic abbey was completed in 1089 but not consecrated until Holy Innocents' Day, 1115, (28 Dec) by the Archbishop of Rouen. King Henry I attended as did many bishops and nobles.
A nunnery (Sopwell Priory) was founded nearby in 1140.
Internally the abbey was bare of sculpture, almost stark. The plaster walls were coloured and patterned in parts, with extensive tapestries adding colour. Sculptural decoration was added, mainly ornaments, as it became more fashionable in the 12th century—especially after the Gothic style arrived in England around 1170.
In the current structure the original Norman arches survive principally under the central tower and on the north side of the nave. The arches in the rest of the building are Gothic, following medieval rebuilding and extensions, and Victorian era restoration.
The abbey was extended in the 1190s by Abbot John de Cella (also known as John of Wallingford) (1195–1214); as the number of monks grew from fifty to over a hundred, the abbey was extended westwards with three bays added to the nave. The severe Norman west front was also rebuilt by Hugh de Goldclif—although how is uncertain, it was very costly but its 'rapid' weathering and later alterations have erased all but fragments. A more prominent shrine and altar to Saint Amphibalus were also added. The work was very slow under de Cella and was not completed until the time of Abbot William de Trumpington (1214–35). The low Norman tower roof was demolished and a new, much higher, broached spire was raised, sheathed in lead.
The St Albans Psalter (ca. 1130–45) is the best known of a number of important Romanesque illuminated manuscripts produced in the Abbey scriptorium. Later, Matthew Paris, a monk at St Albans from 1217 until his death in 1259, was important both as a chronicler and an artist. Eighteen of his manuscripts survive and are a rich source of contemporary information for historians.
Nicholas Breakspear was born near St Albans and applied to be admitted to the abbey as a novice, but he was turned down. He eventually managed to be accepted into an abbey in France. In 1154 he was elected Pope Adrian IV, the only English Pope there has ever been. The head of the abbey was confirmed as the premier abbot in England also in 1154.
13th to 15th centuries
An earthquake shook the abbey in 1250 and damaged the eastern end of the church. In 1257 the dangerously cracked sections were knocked down—three apses and two bays. The thick Presbytery wall supporting the tower was left. The rebuilding and updating was completed during the rule of Abbot Roger de Norton (1263–90).
On 10 October 1323 two piers on the south side of the nave collapsed dragging down much of the roof and wrecking five bays. Mason Henry Wy undertook the rebuilding, matching the Early English style of the rest of the bays but adding distinctly 14th century detailing and ornaments. The shrine to St Amphibalus had also been damaged and was remade.
Abbey Gateway, now part of St. Albans School.
Richard of Wallingford, abbot from 1297 to 1336 and a mathematician and astronomer, designed a celebrated clock, which was completed by William of Walsham after his death, but apparently destroyed during the reformation.
A new gateway, now called the Abbey Gateway, was built to the abbey grounds in 1365, which was the only part of the monastery buildings (besides the church) to survive the dissolution, later being used as a prison and now part of St Albans School. The other monastic buildings were located to the south of the gateway and church.
In the 15th century a large west window of nine main lights and a deep traced head was commissioned by John of Wheathampstead. The spire was reduced to a 'Hertfordshire spike', the roof pitch greatly reduced and battlements liberally added. Further new windows, at £50 each, were put in the transept by Abbot Wallingford (also known as William of Wallingford), who also had a new high altar screen made.
Dissolution and after
After the death of Abbot Ramryge in 1521 the abbey fell into debt and slow decay under three weak abbots. At the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries and its surrender on 5 December 1539 the income was £2,100 annually. The abbot and remaining forty monks were pensioned off and then the buildings were looted. All gold, silver and gilt objects were carted away with all other valuables; stonework was broken and defaced and graves opened to burn the contents.
The abbey became part of the diocese of Lincoln in 1542 and was moved to the diocese of London in 1550. The buildings suffered—neglect, second-rate repairs, even active damage. Richard Lee purchased all the buildings, except the church and chapel and some other Crown premises, in 1550. Lee then began the systematic demolition for building material to improve Lee Hall at Sopwell. In 1551, with the stone removed, Lee returned the land to the abbot. The area was named Abbey Ruins for the next 200 years or so.
In 1553 the Lady chapel became a school, the Great Gatehouse a town jail, some other buildings passed to the Crown, and the Abbey Church was sold to the town for £400 in 1553 by King Edward VI to be the church of the parish.
The cost of upkeep fell upon the town, although in 1596 and at irregular intervals later the Archdeacon was allowed to collect money for repairs by Brief in the diocese. After James I visited in 1612 he authorised another Brief, which collected around £2,000—most of which went on roof repairs. The English Civil War slashed the monies spent on repairs, while the abbey was used to hold prisoners of war and suffered from their vandalism, as well as that of their guards. Most of the metal objects that had survived the Dissolution were also removed and other ornamental parts were damaged in Puritan sternness. Another round of fund-raising in 1681–84 was again spent on the roof, repairing the Presbytery vault. A royal grant from William and Mary in 1689 went on general maintenance, 'repairs' to conceal some of the unfashionable Gothic features, and on new internal fittings. There was a second royal grant from William in 1698.
By the end of the 17th century the dilapidation was sufficient for a number of writers to comment upon it.
In 1703, from 26 November to 1 December, the Great Storm raged across southern England; the abbey lost the south transept window which was replaced in wood at a cost of £40. The window was clear glass with five lights and three transoms in an early Gothic Revival style by John Hawgood. Other windows, although not damaged in the storm, were a constant drain on the abbey budget in the 18th century.
A brief in 1723–24, seeking £5,775, notes a great crack in the south wall, that the north wall was eighteen inches from vertical, and that the roof timbers were decayed to the point of danger. The money raised was spent on the nave roof over ten bays.
Another brief was not issued until 1764. Again the roof was rotting, as was the south transept window, walls were cracked or shattered in part and the south wall had subsided and now leant outwards. Despite a target of £2,500 a mere £600 was raised.
In the 1770s the abbey came close to demolition; the expense of repairs meant a scheme to destroy the abbey and erect a smaller church almost succeeded.
A storm in 1797 caused some subsidence, cracking open graves, scattering pavement tiles, flooding the church interior and leaving a few more arches off-vertical.
19th century
The Wallingford Screen of c. 1480—the statues are Victorian replacements (1884–89) of the originals, destroyed in the Dissolution of the Monasteries, when the screen itself was also damaged. Statues of St Alban and St Amphibalus stand on either side of the altar.
This century was marked with a number of repair schemes. The abbey received some money from the 1818 "Million Act", and in 1820 £450 was raised to buy an organ—a second-hand example made in 1670.
The major efforts to revive the abbey church came under four men—L. N. Cottingham, Rector H. J. B. Nicholson, and, especially, George Gilbert Scott and Edmund Beckett, first Baron Grimthorpe.
In February 1832 a portion of the clerestory wall fell through the roof of the south aisle, leaving a hole almost thirty feet long. With the need for serious repair work evident the architect Lewis Nockalls Cottingham was called in to survey the building. His Survey was presented in 1832 and was worrying reading: everywhere mortar was in a wretched condition and wooden beams were rotting and twisting. Cottingham recommended new beams throughout the roof and a new steeper pitch, removal of the spire and new timbers in the tower, new paving, ironwork to hold the west transept wall up, a new stone south transept window, new buttresses, a new drainage system for the roof, new ironwork on almost all the windows, and on and on. He estimated a cost of £14,000. A public subscription of £4,000 was raised, of which £1,700 vanished in expenses. With the limited funds the clerestory wall was rebuilt, the nave roof re-leaded, the tower spike removed, some forty blocked windows reopened and glazed, and the south window remade in stone.
Henry Nicholson, rector from 1835 to 1866, was also active in repairing the abbey church—as far as he could, and in uncovering lost or neglected Gothic features.
In 1856 repair efforts began again; £4,000 was raised and slow moves started to gain the abbey the status of cathedral. George Gilbert Scottwas appointed the project architect and oversaw a number of works from 1860 until his death in 1878.
Scott began by having the medieval floor restored, necessitating the removal of tons of earth, and fixing the north aisle roof. From 1872–77 the restored floors were re-tiled in matching stone and copies of old tile designs. A further 2,000 tons of earth were shifted in 1863 during work on the foundation and a new drainage system. In 1870 the tower piers were found to be badly weakened with many cracks and cavities. Huge timbers were inserted and the arches filled with brick as an emergency measure. Repair work took until May 1871 and cost over £2,000. The south wall of the nave was now far from straight; Scott reinforced the north wall and put in scaffolding to take the weight of the roof off the wall, then had it jacked straight in under three hours. The wall was then buttressed with five huge new masses and set right. Scott was lauded as "saviour of the Abbey." From 1870–75 around £20,000 was spent on the abbey.
In 1845 St Albans was transferred from the Diocese of Lincoln to the Diocese of Rochester. Then, in 1875, the Bishopric of St Albans Act was passed and on 30 April 1877 the See of St Albans was created, which comprises about 300 churches in the counties of Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. The then Bishop of Rochester, the Right Revd Dr Thomas Legh Claughton, elected to take the northern division of his old diocese and on 12 June 1877 was enthroned first Bishop of St Albans, a position he held until 1890. He is buried in the churchyard on the north side of the nave.
George Gilbert Scott was working on the nave roof, vaulting and west bay when he died on 27 March 1878. His plans were partially completed by his son, John Oldrid Scott, but the remaining work fell into the hands of Lord Grimthorpe, whose efforts have attracted much controversy—Nikolaus Pevsner calling him a "pompous, righteous bully." However, he donated much of the immense sum of £130,000 the work cost.
Whereas Scott's work had clearly been in sympathy with the existing building, Grimthorpe's plans reflected the Victorian ideal. Indeed, he spent considerable time dismissing and criticising the work of Scott and the efforts of his son.
Grimthorpe first reinstated the original pitch of the roof, although the battlements added for the lower roof were retained. Completed in 1879, the roof was leaded, following on Scott's desires.
1805 engraving of the west front of the abbey showing the lost Wheathampstead window.
His second major project was the most controversial. The west front, with the great Wheathampstead window, was cracked and leaning, and Grimthorpe, never more than an amateur architect, designed the new front himself—attacked as dense, misproportioned and unsympathetic: "His impoverishment as a designer ... [is] evident"; "this man, so practical and ingenious, was utterly devoid of taste ... his great qualities were marred by arrogance ... and a lack of historic sense". Counter proposals were deliberately substituted by Grimthorpe for poorly drawn versions and Grimthorpe's design was accepted?. During building it was considerably reworked in order to fit the actual frontage and is not improved by the poor quality sculpture. Work began in 1880 and was completed in April 1883, having cost £20,000.
The Lady Chapel at the east end of the cathedral.
Grimthorpe was noted for his aversion to the Perpendicular—to the extent that he would have sections he disliked demolished as "too rotten" rather than remade. In his reconstruction, especially of windows, he commonly mixed architectural styles carelessly (see the south aisle, the south choir screen and vaulting). He spent £50,000 remaking the nave. Elsewhere he completely rebuilt the south wall cloisters, with new heavy buttresses, and removed the arcading of the east cloisters during rebuilding the south transept walls. In the south transept he completely remade the south face, completed in 1885, including the huge lancet window group—his proudest achievement—and the flanking turrets; a weighty new tiled roof was also made. In the north transept Grimthorpe had the Perpendicular window demolished and his design inserted—a rose window of circles, cusped circles and lozenges arrayed in five rings around the central light, sixty-four lights in total, each circle with a different glazing pattern.
Grimthorpe continued through the Presbytery in his own style, adapting the antechapel for Consistory Courts, and into the Lady Chapel. After a pointed lawsuit with Henry Hucks Gibbs, first Baron Aldenham over who should direct the restoration, Grimthorpe had the vault remade and reproportioned in stone, made the floor in black and white marble (1893), and had new Victorian arcading and sculpture put below the canopy work. Externally the buttresses were expanded to support the new roof, and the walls were refaced.
As early as 1897, Grimthorpe was having to return to previously renovated sections to make repairs. His use of over-strong cement led to cracking, while his fondness for ironwork in windows led to corrosion and damage to the surrounding stone.
Grimthorpe died in 1905 and was interred in the churchyard. He left a bequest for continuing work on the buildings.
During this century the name St Albans Abbey was given to one of the town's railway stations.
20th century
John Oldrid Scott (died 1913) (George Gilbert Scott's son), despite frequent clashes with Grimthorpe, had continued working within the cathedral. Scott was a steadfast supporter of the Gothic revival and designed the tomb of the first bishop; he had a new bishop's throne built (1903), together with commemorative stalls for Bishop Festing and two Archdeacons, and new choir stalls. He also repositioned and rebuilt the organ (1907). Further work was interrupted by the war.
A number of memorials to the war were added to the cathedral, notably the painting The Passing of Eleanor by Frank Salisbury (stolen 1973) and the reglazing of the main west window, dedicated in 1925.
Following the Enabling Act of 1919 control of the buildings passed to a Parochial Church Council (replaced by the Cathedral Council in 1968), who appointed the woodwork specialist John Rogers as Architect and Surveyor of the Fabric. He uncovered extensive death watch beetledamage in the presbytery vault and oversaw the repair (1930–31). He had four tons of rubbish removed from the crossing tower and the main timbers reinforced (1931–32), and invested in the extensive use of insecticide throughout the wood structures. In 1934, the eight bells were overhauled and four new bells added to be used in the celebration of George V's jubilee.
Cecil Brown was architect and surveyor from 1939 to 1962. At first he merely oversaw the lowering of the bells for the war and established a fire watch, with the pump in the slype. After the war, in the 1950s, the organ was removed, rebuilt and reinstalled and new pews added. His major work was on the crossing tower. Grimthorpe's cement was found to be damaging the Roman bricks: every brick in the tower was replaced as needed and reset in proper mortar by one man, Walter Barrett. The tower ceiling was renovated as were the nave murals. Brown established the Muniments Room to gather and hold all the church documents.
In 1972, to encourage a closer link between celebrant and congregation, the massive nine-ton pulpit along with the choir stalls and permanent pews was dismantled and removed. The altar space was enlarged and improved. New 'lighter' wood (limed oak) choir stalls were put in, and chairs replaced the pews. A new wooden pulpit was acquired from a Norfolk church and installed in 1974. External floodlighting was added in 1975.
A major survey in 1974 revealed new leaks, decay and other deterioration, and a ten-year restoration plan was agreed. Again the roofing required much work. The nave and clerestory roofs were repaired in four stages with new leading. The nave project was completed in 1984 at a total cost of £1.75 million. The clerestory windows were repaired with the corroded iron replaced with delta bronze and other Grimthorpe work on the clerestory was replaced. Seventy-two new heads for the corbel table were made. Grimthorpe's west front was cracking, again due to the use originally of too strong a mortar, and was repaired.
A new visitors' centre was proposed in 1970. Planning permission was sought in 1973; there was a public inquiry and approval was granted in 1977. Constructed to the south side of the cathedral close to the site of the original chapter house of the abbey, the new 'Chapter House' cost around £1 million and was officially opened on 8 June 1982 by Queen Elizabeth. The main building material was 500,000 replica Roman bricks.
Other late 20th-century works include the restoration of Alban's shrine, with a new embroidered canopy, and the stained glass designed by Alan Younger for Grimthorpe's north transept rose window, unveiled in 1989 by Diana, Princess of Wales.
Modern times
The Bishop is the Right Reverend Alan Smith, installed in September 2009. The Venerable Jonathan Smith is Archdeacon of St Albans, installed in October 2008. On 2 July 2004, the Very Reverend Canon Dr Jeffrey John became the ninth Dean of the Cathedral.
Robert Runcie, later Archbishop of Canterbury, was bishop of St Albans from 1970 to 1980 and returned to live in the city after his retirement; he is commemorated by a gargoyle on the Cathedral as well as being buried in the graveyard. Colin Slee, former Dean of Southwark Cathedral, was sub-dean at St Albans under Runcie and then Dean, Peter Moore. The bishop's house is in Abbey Mill Lane, St Albans, as is the house of the Bishop of Hertford. The Reverend Canon Eric James, Chaplain Extraordinary to HM the Queen, was Canon at St Albans for many years.
At 21:47 GMT, the equinox happened, and so from then on, light is destined to win over darkness. Which meant, of course, that the day before then was the shortest "day", or amount of daylight.
This is the end of the year, the build up and excitement before Christmas, and at the same time, looking back at the year, and what has happened in the previous 50 or so weeks. So, a time of mixed emotions, good and bad, happy and sad.
But I was on vacation, or not going to work.
I am not up to date, but I did all the tasks I was supposed to do, threw a few electronic grenades over the walls, and was now happy not to think of that shit for two whole weeks.
For Jools, however, there was half a day to do, and then her employers paid for all those employed at the factory to go to a fancy place in Folkestone for lunch, drinks at the bar and a bottle of wine between four folks.
It was, in short, a time for celebration. Something I realise has not happened in my job since I left operational quality, to be happy and give thanks to those we work with. And be recognised for the good job we do.
So, I was to take Jools to work, and have the car for the day.
Jools was conscious that my plan for the day involved driving to the far west of Kent, so realised I needed an early start, and not dropping her off in Hythe at seven.
We left after coffee just after six, driving through Dover and Folkestone on the main road and motorway before turning over the downs into Hythe. I dropped her off in the town, so she could get some walking in. She always didn't walk, as waves of showers swept over the town, and me as I drove back home for breakfast and do all the chores before leaving on a mini-churchcrawl.
So, back home for breakfast, more coffee, wash up, do the bird feeders and with postcodes, set out for points in the extreme west. Now, Kent is not a big county, not say, Texas big, but it takes some time to get to some parts of the west of the county. Main roads run mainly from London to the coast, so going cross-country or cross-county would take time.
At first it was as per normal up the A20 then onto the motorway to Ashford then to Maidstone until the junction before the M26 starts. One of the reasons for going later was to avoid rush hours in and around Maidstone, Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells.
As it was, after turning down the A road, things were fine until I got to Mereworth, but from there the road began to twist and turn until it lead me into Tonbridge. Once upon a time, this was a sleepy village or small town. The the railways came and it became a major junction. The road to Penshurt took me though the one way system, then down the wide High Street, over the river Medway and up the hill the other side.
Two more turns took me to my target, through what were once called stockbroker mansions, then down a hill, with the village laid out before me just visible through the trees.
The village was built around the outskirts of Penshurst Place, home to the Sidney family since Tudor times. Just about everything is named the Leicester something, the village having its own Leicester Square, though with no cinemas, and all timber framed houses and painfully picturesque.
The church lays behind the houses, the tower in golden sandstone topped with four spirelets.
I parked the car, and armed with two cameras, several lenses and a photographer's eye, walked to the church.
The reason for coming was I can only remember a little about my previous visit, but the Leicester name thing triggered in my head the thought the memorials and tombs might be worth a revisit.
So there I was.
Gilbert Scott was very busy here, so there is little of anything prior to the 19th century, but the memorials are there. Including one which features the heads of the children of Robert Sidney (d1702) in a cloud. Including the eldest son who died, apparently, so young he wasn't named, and is recorded as being the first born.
This is in the Sidney Chapel where the great and good are buried and remembered, it has a colourful roof, or roof beams, and heraldic shields. It has a 15th century font, which, sadly, has been brightly painted so is gaudy in the extreme.
I go around getting my shots, leave a fiver for the church. Go back to the car and program Speldhurst into the sat nav.
Its just a ten minute drive, but there is no place to park anywhere near the church. I could see from my slow drive-by the porch doors closed, and I convinced myself they were locked and not worth checking out.
I went on to Groombridge, where there is a small chapel with fabulous glass. I had been here before too, but wanted to redo my shots.
It was by now pouring with rain, and as dark as twilight, I missed the church on first pass, went to the mini-roundabout only to discover that it and the other church in the village were in Sussex. I turned round, the church looked dark and was almost certainly locked. I told myself.
I didn't stop here either, so instead of going to the final village church, I went straigh to Tunbridge Wells where there was another church to revisit.
I drove into the town, over the man road and to the car park with no waiting in traffic, how odd, I thought.
It was hard to find a parking space, but high up in the parking house there were finally spaced. I parked near the stairs down, grabbed my cameras and went down.
I guess I could have parked nearer the church, but once done it would be easier to leave the town as the road back home went past the exit.
I ambled down the hill leading to the station, over the bridge and down the narrow streets, all lined with shops. I think its fair to say that it is a richer town than Dover because on one street there were three stores offering beposke designer kitchens.
The church is across the road from the Georgian square known at The Pantiles, but it was the church I was here to visit.
I go in, and there is a service underway. I decide to sit at the back and observe.
And pray.
I did not take communion, though. The only one there who didn't.
About eight elderly parishioners did, though.
I was here to photograph the ceiling, and then the other details I failed to record when we were last here over a decade ago.
I was quizzed strongly by a warden as to why I was doing this. I had no answer other than I enjoyed it, and for me that is enough.
After getting my shots, I leave and begin the slog back up to the car, but on the way keeping my promise to a young man selling the Big Issue that I would come back and buy a copy. I did better than that in that I gave him a fiver and didn't take a copy.
He nearly burst into tears. I said, there is kindness in the world, and some of us do keep our promises.
By the time I got to the car park, it was raining hard again. I had two and a half hours to get to Folkestone to pick up Jools after her meal.
Traffic into Tunbridge Wells from this was was crazy, miles and miles of queues, so I was more than happy going the other way.
I get back to the M20, cruise down to Ashford, stopping at Stop 24 services for a coffee and something to eat. I had 90 minutes to kill, so eat, drink and scroll Twitter as I had posted yet more stuff that morning. In other news: nothing changed, sadly.
At quarter past four I went to pick up Jools, stopping outside the restaurant. When she got in she declared she had been drinking piña coladas. Just two, but she was bubby and jabbering away all the way home.
With Jools having eaten out, and with snacks I had, no dinner was needed, so when suppertime came round, we dined on cheese and crackers, followed by a large slice of Christmas cake.
She was now done for Christmas too.
--------------------------------------------------
The red brick church stands on a busy junction at the end of the Pantiles whose patrons it was built to serve in 1678. Within thirty years it had been extended on two occasions to more or less reach its present size. The ceiling bears the date 1678 and is rather domestic in character, based on deep circular domes with putti, palms and swags. The stained glass in the east window is based on a picture by Alex Ender and was designed by Heaton, Butler and Bayne in 1901. There is an excellent window under the north gallery designed by Lawrence Lee in 1969. The church was sympathetically restored by Ewan Christian in 1882, when the shallow chancel was added. The woodwork it contains was brought from one of Wren's City of London churches. Outside the west wall of the church, set into the footpath, is a boundary marker to show the former parish boundaries of Tonbridge and Speldhurst.
www.kentchurches.info/church.asp?p=Tunbridge+Wells+1
-------------------------------------------
The large and populous hamlet or village of TUNBRIDGE-WELLS is situated at the south-east boundary of this parish; part of it only is in Speldhurst, another part in the parish of Tunbridge, and the remainder in that of Fant, in the county of Suffex. It consists of four smaller districts, named from the hills on which they stand, Mount Ephraim, Mount Pleasant, and Mount Sion; the other is called The Wells, from their being within it, which altogether form a considerable town; but the last is the centre of business and pleasure, for there, besides the Wells themselves, are the market, public parades, assembly rooms, taverns, shops, &c. Near the Wells is the chapel, which stands remarkably in the three parishes above mentioned—the pulpit in Speldhurst, the altar in Tunbridge, and the vestry in Fant, and the stream, which parted the two counties of Kent and Suffex, formerly ran underneath it, but is now turned to a further distance from it. The right of patronage is claimed by the rector of Speldhurst, though he has never yet possessed the chapel or presented to it; the value of it is about two hundred pounds per annum, which sum is raised by voluntary subscription; divine service is performed in it every day in summer, and three times a week in winter. Adjoining to it is a charity school, for upwards of fifty poor boys and girls, which is supported by a contribution, collected at the chapel doors, two or three times a year.
The trade of Tunbridge-wells is similar to that of Spa, in Germany, and consists chiefly in a variety of toys, made of wood, commonly called Tunbridge ware, which employs a great number of hands. The wood principally used for this purpose is beech and sycamore, with yew and holly inlaid, and beautifully polished. To the market of this place is brought, in great plenty, from the South downs, in Sussex, the little bird, called the wheatear, which, from its delicacy, is usually called the English ortolan. It is not bigger in size than a lark; it is almost a lump of fat, and of a very delicious taste; it is in season only in the midst of summer, when the heat of the weather, and the fatness of it, prevents its being sent to London, which otherwise would, in all likelihood, monopolize every one of them. On the other or Suffex side of the Medway, above a mile from the Wells, are the rocks, which consist of a great number of rude eminences, adjoining to each other, several of which are seventy feet in height; in several places there are cliffs and chasms which lead quite through the midst of them, by narrow gloomy passages, which strike the beholder with astonishment.
THESE MEDICINAL WATERS, commonly called TUNBRIDGE-WELLS, lie so near to the county of Suffex that part of them are within it, for which reason they were for some time called Fant-wells, as being within that parish. (fn. 1) Their efficacy is reported to have been accidentally found out by Dudley lord North, in the beginning of the reign of king James I. Whilst he resided at Eridge-house for his health, lord Abergavenny's seat, in this neighbourhood, and that he was entirely cured of the lingering consumptive disorder he laboured under by the use of them.
The springs, which were then discovered, seem to have been seven in number, two of the principal of which were some time afterwards, by lord Abergavenny's care, inclosed, and were afterwards much resorted to by many of the middling and lower sort, whose ill health had real occasion for the use of them. In which state they continued till queen Henrietta Maria, wife of king Charles I. having been sent hither by her physicians, in the year 1630, for the reestablishment of her health, soon brought these waters into fashion, and occasioned a great resort to them from that time. In compliment to her doctor, Lewis Rowzee, in his treatise on them, calls these springs the Queen's-wells; but this name lasted but a small time, and they were soon afterwards universally known by that of Tunbridge-wells, which names they acquired from the company usually residing at Tunbridge town, when they came into these parts for the benefit of drinking the waters.
The town of Tunbridge being five miles distant from the wells, occasioned some few houses to be built in the hamlets of Southborough and Rusthall, for the accommodation of the company resorting hither, and this place now becoming fashionable, was visited by numbers for the sake of pleasure and dissipation, as well as for the cure of their infirmities; and soon after the Restoration every kind of building, for public amusements, was erected at the two hamlets above mentioned, lodgings and other buildings were built at and near the wells, the springs themselves were secured, and other conveniencies added to them. In 1664, the queen came here by the advice of her physicians, in hopes of reinstating her health, which was greatly impaired by a dangerous fever, and her success, in being perfectly cured by these waters, greatly raised the reputation of them, and the company increasing yearly, it induced the inhabitants to make every accommodation for them adjoining to the Wells, so that both Rusthall and Southborough became ruinous and deserted by all but their native inhabitants. The duke of York, with his duchess, and the two princesses their daughters, visited Tunbridge-wells in the year 1670, which brought much more company than usual to them, and raised their reputation still higher; and the annual increase continuing, it induced the lord of the manor to think of improving this humour of visiting the wells to his own profit as well as the better accommodation of the company. To effect which, he entered into an agreement with his tenants, and hired of them the herbage of the waste of the manor for the term of fifty years, at the yearly rent of ten shillings to each tenant, and then erected shops and houses on and near the walks and springs, in every convenient spot for that purpose; by which means Tunbridge wells became a populous and flourishing village, well inhabited, for whose convenience, and the company resorting thither, a chapel was likewise built, in 1684, by subscription, on some ground given by the lady viscountess Purbeck, which was, about twelve years afterwards, enlarged by an additional subscription, amounting together to near twenty-three hundred pounds.
About the year 1726, the building lease, which had been granted by the lord of the manor of Rusthall, in which this hamlet is situated, expiring, the tenants of the manor claimed a share in the buildings, as a compensation for the loss of the herbage, which was covered by his houses. This occasioned a long and very expensive law suit between them, which was at last determined in favour of the tenants, who were adjudged to have a right to a third part of the buildings then erected on the estate, in lieu of their right to the herbage; upon which all the shops and houses, which had been built on the manor waste, were divided into three lots, of which the tenants were to draw one, and the other two were to remain to the lord of the manor; the lot which the tenants drew was the middle one, which included the assembly room on the public walk, which has since turned out much the most advantageous of the three. After which long articles of agreement, in 1739, were entered into between Maurice Conyers, esq. then lord of the manor of Rusthall, and the above mentioned tenants of it, in which, among many other matters, he agreed to permit the public walks and wells, and divers other premises there, to be made use of for the public benefit of the nobility and gentry resorting thereto, and several regulations were made in them concerning the walks, wells, and wastes of the manor, and for the restraining buildings on the waste, between the lord and his tenants, according to a plan therein specified; all which were confirmed and established by an act of parliament, passed in 1740. Since which several of the royal family have honoured these wells with their presence, and numbers of the nobility and persons of rank and fashion yearly resortto them, so that this place is now in a most flourishing state, having great numbers of good houses built for lodgings, and every other necessary accommodation for the company. Its customs are settled; the employment of the dippers regulated; (fn. 2) its pleasures regulated; its markets well and plentifully supplied, at a reasonable rate, with sowl, fish, meat, every other kind of food, and every convenience added that can contribute to give health and pleasure.
¶The whole neighbourhood of Tunbridge-wells abounds with springs of mineral water, but as the properties of all are nearly the same, only those two, which at the first discovery of them were adjudged the best, are held in any particular estimation. These two wells are enclosed with a handsome triangular stone wall; over the springs are placed two convenient basons of Portland stone, with perforations at the bottom; one of them being given by queen Anne, and the other by the lord of the manor; through which they receive the water, which at the spring is extremely clear and bright. Its taste is steely, but not disagreeable; it has hardly any smell, though sometimes, in a dense air, its ferruginous exhalations are very distinguishable. In point of heat it is invariably temperate, the spring lying so deep in the earth, that neither the heat of summer, nor the cold of winter, affects it. When this water is first taken up in a large glass, its particles continue at rest till it is warmed to nearly the heat of the atmosphere, then a few airy globules begin to separate themselves, and adhere to the sides of the glass, and in a few hours a light copper coloured scum begins to float on the surface, after which an ochreous sediment settles at the bottom. Long continued rains sometimes give the water a milky appearance, but do not otherwise sensibly affect it. From the experiments of different physicians, it appears that the component parts of this water are, steely particles, marine salts, an oily matter, an ochreous substance, simple water, and a volatile vitriolic spirit, too subtile for any chemical analysis. In weight it is, in seven ounces and a quarter, four grains lighter than the German Spa (to which it is preferable on that account) and ten grains lighter than common water; with syrup of violets this water gives a deep green, as vitriols do. (fn. 3) It requires five drops of oleum sulphuris, or elixir of vitriol, to a quart of water, to preserve its virtues to a distance from the spring.
This water is said to be an impregnation of rain in some of the neighbouring eminences, which abound in iron mineral, where it is further enriched with the marine salts and all the valuable ingredients, which constitute it a light and pure chalybeate, which instantly searches the most remote recesses of the human frame, warms and invigorates the relaxed constitution, restores the weakened fibres to their due tone and elasticity, removes those obstructions to which the minuter vessels of the body are liable, and is consequently adapted to most cold chronical disorders, lowness of spirits, weak digestions, and nervous complaints. Dr. Lodowick Rowzee, of Ashford, in this county, wrote a Treatise of the Nature and Virtues of these Waters, printed in 12mo. 1671; and Dr. Patrick Madan wrote a Philosophical and Medical Essay on them, in 1687, in quarto.
Enter to win a 6-month Holstee subscription through July 16, 2016: www.allthingspaper.net/2016/07/the-holstee-subscription-m...
why yes.., i like teen vogue:)
i'm not absolutely into fashion, though. but i love how teen vogue talks about more than fashion and glamour and who's hot and who's not.
they definitely show more than that.
The Letterform Archive's "Subscription to Mischief" exhibition features a beautifully curated collection of ephemera from the dawn of graffiti zines in the 1990's.
letterformarchive.org/news/subscription-to-mischief-graff...
Super excited about this theme!!! ❤
Here's some info totally stolen from the website :p
Group is now open for subscriptions! Remember, from now until the 22nd of June, you can join at the discounted price of $L1500. After that, join will be set at $L2500. Remember, if you miss a box, they are available on Pandora’s Box Marketplace.
Pandora’s Box HQ: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/River%20Village/135/246/21
You can also copy/paste this link into your chat box and join that way: secondlife:///app/group/786d39ed-9dc1-3f21-b26c-f01f3ce0528f/about
To stay up to date, feel free to follow our facebook page and other social media:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/PandorasBoxEvent/
I got my Brixinit Box in the mail today. I started a monthly subscription with them back in July. I am impressed by their service, as it is a fun way to get rare and odd elements in the mail on a monthly basis. I currently belong to the lowest tier of their three tier subscription service, which costs me $30 a month.
If you visit the site, they are very open about their mission to spread creativity and they are supporters of "brick therapy" which is being used to help veterans with PTSD and children with autism. So, I feel like my monthly subscription goes toward a wonderful cause as well as getting me some new bricks.
The lowest tier comes with ONE mystery minifigure, TWO bags of assorted elements (one large and one small), a challenge bag that comes with bulk amounts of the featured monthly element, a builder's pro-tip pamphlet, and usually ONE surprise bag of... well... whatever. This month the surprise bag was minifigure "junk" like a smiley head, a crate, a mug, a chair, etc.
If you are interested in a monthly subscription, I've provided the link: www.brixinit.com/
Cinderella at the Subscription Rooms, Stroud, Gloucestershire, England. First dress rehearsal image, 21 December 2022.
Acabashi, © 2022 All rights reserved. Republishing in whole, part, form, variation or adaptation in any media or on any web site is not allowed. This image could be released through application. There are 25,000+ files on Wikimedia Commons that can be used under Creative Commons licence; see Acabashi at Wikimedia.
1917 Lithograph certificate by H.A. Thomas & Wylie (#51212) certifying Guilford's Lucy F. Chittenden as a "...member of the American Flag House and Betsey Ross Memorial Association and a subscriber to the Endowment Fund for the preservation of the Historic House in which the First Flag of the United States of America was made and for the erection of a National Memorial in honor of Betsey Ross. The names of all the Subscribers are placed on the Roll of Hono and preserved in the Archives of the Association."
The document is finely printed in formal B&W script with a fine color image (Chas. H. Weisgerber's painting "Birth of Our Nation's Flag,") of Betsey displaying the flag to Washington, George Ross & Robert Morris. There is a red seal of the organization and printed signatures of the organization's President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. To raise funds to purchase Ross's house (at 239 or 241 Arch St. in Philadelphia), the organization sold these ten-cent subscriptions to the American Flag House and Memorial Association. See also americancenturies.mass.edu/collection/itempage.jsp?itemid... and historicphiladelphia.org/stories/how-the-betsy-ross-house....
This document is in very poor condition with frayed borders, water damage, tears and creases, ~13.25" X 11".
Donated to the MHS by the Dudley Farm Museum December 2024. Donated earlier to the Farm by Mike and Robin (Potter) Bradshaw.
ACC# TBA2024.029.003
Dispatch details of your HT Coupon Subscription ( Coupon Number : 40901062 ) message received on 6 April 2015
Dear Mr. Firoze,
This is with reference to your below email regarding your HT Subscription coupons bearing coupon Number : 40901062 .
We would like to inform you that the coupons have been dispatched via India Post, airway bill number : EA733097584IN from our end on 01-APR-15. As per the current status, the shipment is In Transit. Please be assured that the coupons will be delivered at the earliest.
Regret for all the inconvenience caused.
Best Regards,
Hajra
Team Hindustan Times
I sent a message today
Hi this is to inform you that today is 10 April and I have not received my coupons ,, I would suggest you send me a new lot or cancel my subscription.. I cant take it anymore
Thanks
Firoze Shakir
update .. 13 April 2015
Dear Mr. Shakir,
We understand from your email, that the HT Subscription coupons bearing coupon Number : 40901062 are not received at your end.
We will ensure the necessary investigation is done at our end. The investigation with the courier partners will take some time and hence request you to bear with us till then.
Best Regards,
Vaibhav
Team Hindustan Times
update 16 April 1 .00 pm
I spoke to their departmental head , now they are investigating why the Indian Postal Services have failed to deliver my coupons ,, sadly they still defend their company but not the shoddiness and lethargic attitude ,, its because I sent them mail that I wanted to talk to their Senior that he called me ,, I can still assure myself being the oldest Subcriber of Hindustan Times .. their house is not in order and their Subscription Department Sucks Big..
I am really sorry that I read Hindustan Times ,, touted as No1 Paper of Mumbai with bad after sales service ,,,
Message received From HT Team 16 April 2015
Dear Mr. Shakir,
Greetings!!!
We will take this matter with INDIA POST to track your coupons and confirm the correct delivery or recall them if undelivered. This usually takes 20 working days. Meantime we would request you to ask your vendor to start delivering Hindustan Times to you. Rest assured we will follow up to ensure a timely closure and get your coupons delivered to you.
Best Regards,
Vaibhav
Team Hindustan Times
I get my coupons ....21 April 2015
My message to Hindustan Tiimes
I had gone to the Post Office Bandra and given my hand written complain to the Post Master ..
After an hour the post man arrived with my coupons he said they were accidentally put in the box of 502 and si I got the coupons
Thanks
I am sure whatever your idea of being partner with Indian Posts maybe fine in rural areas but had you used a corier service I would have not gone through so much stress and pain
I hope you understand ,, you will if you step into my shoes .. of a senior citizen
Take Care
Firoze Shakir
Stitching five vertical photos in Photoshop created this odd perspective of Stroud Subscription Rooms! They are so named as they were built 'by public subscription' - the people of the town contributing to its construction in 1834.
The Mount Barker Institute is a Local Heritage Place in the town. It served as Council Office until 1939.
The building is now known as the Town Hall.
*Opening of the Mount Barker Institute
Friday last was one of Mount Barker's bright red-letter days, when the new and handsome building just completed for Institute purposes was formally opened.
On the 11th December last, the foundation stone of the present commodious building was laid with Masonic honours under most auspicious circumstances.
The Hon J Dunn MLC, had headed a liberal subscription-list with £100, the Government had supplemented the subscriptions to the extent of £800, and the designs of a most elegant and useful structure had been submitted by the Hon Thomas English, MLC, accepted by the Building Committee, and contracted for by Messrs Trenouth & Dick, builders, of Strathalbyn, and most creditably has the whole been completed. The contract price of the building was £1,505, but furniture, fittings (provided by Mr A Hendry, of Mount Barker) piano &c, have increased the total cost to about £1,831.
Towards this £424 18s. has been subscribed, £216 11s. 9d. raised by a bazaar held in March last, outstanding subscriptions £60, grant from the Government £800, leaving a deficiency before the opening of about £330.
The building is in the Italian style, and the stone used is a beautiful freestone from a quarry on the Hon J Dunn's property — the same as is used for the Bank, Congregational Baptist Church, and other buildings.
The ground-floor to front building contains entrance-hall 10 feet wide, library, 17ft x 16ft, waiting-room, 16ft x by 12ft, all 13 feet high. There is also a side entrance hall and staircase 9 feet wide. The first floor contains a large room, 26ft 6in x 16ft, and 14ft high, capable of seating 100 persons, and now used by Lodges, &c: also a classroom 17ft 6in x 11ft 6in, and entrance to future gallery in public hall. The public hall is 50ft x32ft, 21ft 6in high, lit by three circular-headed windows on both sides, finished with ornamental dressings in plaster.
Provision is made for future extension at the rear of large hall, to consist of proscenium and retiring-rooms, also for a gallery at the front end. For illumination at night, the hall has three chandeliers, each carrying four lamps with 1½ inch burners. The hall at present will accommodate about 350 persons.
At noon on Friday last the ceremony of formally opening the Institute took place.
A procession was formed of the Committee, Concordia Band, and others, who escorted the Hon J Dunn from his residence to the building.
The Hon T English handed the key to Mr Dunn, requesting him to open the Institute, and remarking that Mr Dunn had always been associated with every good cause in the town, and was ready and willing at all times to lend a helping hand by money and otherwise.
The Hon J Dunn then opened the front doors, amid the cheers of the spectators and the large hall was soon occupied by a numerous audience.
He congratulated them on the successful completion of the Mount Barker Institute. (Cheers.)
The Hon T English remarked that the men of Mount Barker had done a great deal, but where would they have been without the ladies?
The gathering broke up, most of those present adjourning to the grounds of the Hon J Dunn (kindly lent for the occasion) where the picnic was held.
The Concordia Band dispensed some choice music and refreshment stalls were erected.
The tea meeting took place in the Institute Hall, when it is calculated about 700 persons took tea. The spread was everything that could be desired, and the arrangements (thanks to the ladies again) perfect.
The entertainment followed in the same room, when the chair was taken at about half-past 7 by J G Ramsay Esq JP. He then stated that W Townsend Esq MP, was expected every moment to deliveries lecture, but having been unavoidably detained in town, he would call for some music to commence with.
Mr and Mrs Paltridge then commenced a set of quadrilles for cornet and piano, but when the first figure had been played, the piano, which was raised at one end to make it level on the sloping platform, slipped off the block, and two kerosine lamps fell to the ground, one of which broke, and the floor was immediately in a blaze. Several ladies sitting near had a narrow escape, the lighted kerosine splashing their dresses, but fortunately the day having been cold and dreary, dark warm stuffs were worn, and no harm was done. Several gentlemen quickly beat out the flames with shawls, coats, and whatever else they could lay hold of, and in about a moment all was safe again.
Mr Townsend having arrived, then came forward and offered his congratulations on the erection of so beautiful a building, and expressed his regret than an accident should have so upset the audience, but was pleased no bad results had followed.
He then delivered the first part of his celebrated lecture, 'Lights and Shades of London Life’, in his usual masterly manner.
In the interval between the first and second part of the lecture some more excellent music was introduced. [Ref: Southern Argus 16-9-1875]
*Mount Barker Institute Extension
Mount Barker is peculiarly happy in the possession of one of the prettiest and most commodious institutes in the colony. The additions recently made have largely added to the attractions of the building, and the stage facilities are now unequalled out of Adelaide.
The committee having received Mr R Barr-Smith's generous gift of £500 placed it to advantage by extending the hall and the stage greater depth, and at the same time redecorated the hall, both outside and in, with excellent effect. The stage is now 30 ft in depth, and is provided with a complete suite of dressing-rooms, a piece of land belonging to the Presbyterian Church having been purchased at the back of the institute. The dressing-rooms are fitted with every convenience, and the stage accommodation is very complete.
The lighting of the hall is excellent, gasoline lamps having been superseded by electric banner lamps, which give all the light required and add greatly to the attractions of the hall.
The reopening of the institute took place on Wednesday evening, when a musical and dramatic entertainment attracted an overflowing audience. [Ref: Advertiser 25-11-1895]
*MOUNT BARKER INSTITUTE
The formal opening of the "Founders' Room" at the Mount Barker Institute is to take place on Thursday evening of next week, when it is anticipated that the president (Mr B Barker) will perform the ceremony at 7.30 pm. Members of the Institute and library are invited to attend. After the room has been declared open the unveiling of the enlarged portraits of the founders will take place in the new room.
In the main hall, the general public are to be entertained at an illustrated lecture by the Rev A C Hill BA, the subject being "Windsor Castle." The lecturer has a collection of 100 magnificent coloured lantern slides with which to illustrate his talk. Mrs A C Hill will present musical items between times. No charge is made for admission. [Ref: Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser 17-3-1933]
6 ZINES + 6 PRINTS OVER ONE YEAR
25 SPOTS AVAILABLE
$115
BUY HERE
Hey guys, I revamped this subscription service. Here are the new rules.
INFO:If you purchase this subscription you will receive 6 prints and 6 zines over the course of one year, from me, Rand Renfrow. They will be released approximately once a month. You will receive these items before anyone else sees them or they are posted on the internet (oh boy!). Some subscriber only goodies will be tossed in as well.
The subscription begins July 2013, but you can sign up later and still get all the items from previous months, it is just that each month the price increases by $10, so act fast! There are only 25 spots available. Just for reference, if you were to buy all this new art without subscribing, it would cost at least $250. So I hope this sounds like a nice deal.Thanks!
Beauty and the Beast at the Stroud Subscription Rooms, Stroud, Gloucestershire, England. Show run: December 2021 to January 2022. Image from the technical rehearsal.
Acabashi, © 2021 All rights reserved. Republishing in whole, part, form, variation or adaptation in any media or on any web site is not allowed. However, this image could be released through application. There are 25,000+ files on Wikimedia Commons that can be used under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence; see Acabashi at Wikimedia.
"With Subscription Snacks, Entrepreneurs Think Inside the Box" by STEPHANIE STROM via NYT t.co/bfnoPo2Zcx (via Twitter twitter.com/felipemassone/status/647488313780236288)
Round Up of Greeting Card Subscriptions: www.allthingspaper.net/2015/04/round-up-of-greeting-card-...
For the Storytellers group: I almost called this one "Market Research." I did it as a T-shirt designer by going to the mall once a week and seeing what was on the shelfs at hottopic, pacsun, hollister, zummies and on and on. As old and boring as walking the malls got it really made an impression on me. I learned that its not cheating to see what other creative types are doing and how they are doing it.... and how people respond to it. Inspiration is exposure to new and interesting things right? Well, for photography I do my market research late at night with a W magazine or Glamour or Bazaar.. any of the many womens fashion magazines I have subscriptions too. Me, a beer, a sharpie and my womens mags.... truth be told, its a showcase of the best fashion photographers in the world and I learn a lot by circling catch lights on the pages to see where a light came from, or outlining a good pose to show a model. So what this has to do with this image I've posted... I noticed that the torn page of a magazine can counter act a harsh line of a photo to make it all balance out. Hope you like it.
Jewelry by Angela Sandaval
Grade II listed Diamond Jubilee drinking fountain near Monnow Bridge, Monmouth, by J Mackie of Monmouth.
Erected as a memorial to Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897, it was restored in 1977 by Monmouth Rotary Club to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee.
Red sandstone ashlar on a two step plinth. Recessed Norman style arched alcove, matching doorways at the adjacent Church of St Thomas the Martyr with columns and dogtooth decoration. Above the basin is a relief Royal insignia 'VR' and crown. The basin is supported on colonnettes, and below is an inscription:
'ERECTED BY SUBSCRIPTION
TO COMMEMORATE
THE DIAMOND JUBILEE OF
QUEEN VICTORIA'
A dog trough is below.
Easily the most satisfying, yet most annoying 40 bucks I ever spent, both at the same time: Cancelling the subscription of Photoshop. "Imma give it a try, and if I don't like it, I'll just unsubscribe and keep using GIMP." Well, not so fast! Adobe have infamously driven that model to an extreme level, and it's slowly coming back to bite them. To be real, I find the idea of subscribing to products (which are now "services") rather scary anyway, no matter what it is.
In the past, when you were in trouble economically, you couldn't buy new things, including food, and clothes when they wore out, and other things that are, to varying degrees, essential. That was unpleasant enough. But the things you owned, had bought and paid for, they didn't go away. If ever more of the economy turns to subscription models, and I mean things way more essential than Photoshop or the seat heating in your car, that's bound to change. Life will be the point of a dagger slowly pushing towards, or indeed into your back. Always, whatever you do, wherever you go. You better not need to stop moving forward because you're not feeling well today, or need to tie a shoe lace, or need the toilet. Or because your boss isn't feeling well today. Or your customer. If any of that happens, you better have managed to get a bit of distance between yourself and the blade before it catches up with you.
Yet catch up it will, one way or another, one day or another. If nothing else, then during the next Lehman crisis or the next 9/11 or whatever there will be. Or maybe just because you said something your new cyber AI overlord doesn't agree with. You heretic!
Something new in the shop!
I'm currently offering a three month subscription for dresses for tiny bjd. Sizes range from Lati Yellow/Pukifee, through Realfee, Littlefee/YOSD and Lati Green/Iplehouse BID.
Save on individual dresses, shipping, and enjoy three months of happy mail days!
Please see my etsy shop for more details.
(Link in profile, or search TrillianAndCompany on etsy)