Before I launch myself into a jigsaw, wordle, spelling bee and codewords I will put down some of the references that have passed by in the last couple of days.
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| Temple Mill Works |
Secondly, the redundant flax mill Temple Works in Leeds has had a grant of ten million pounds for conversion into the British Library northern outpost. It has an Egyptian Revival frontage and one wonders at these Victorian owners of old why they spent so much money on grandiose schemes. But it is good that it is being saved. One of these Northern mills traits are enormous spaces which housed the looms. Drafty old halls are probably quite amenable to shelves of books.
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| Todmorden town hall |
Lastly, whilst contemplating the fate of Northern Victorian buildings my mind went back to the town hall in Todmorden. A very classic 'Roman' facade this building has. To my eye it sits rather sadly at a roundabout of roads, though central, it has no gathering open space for the people of Todmorden but has a very fine assembly room.
Then of course the politics that flow at the moment. I had subscribed to Robert Reich on Substack, but then other things started coming through, such as an article by 'Old Goats'. Most of what I read tends to flow away from me but I did find one name mentioned that always fills me with crossness.
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| Bradenstoke Abbey |
Yes, William Randolph Hurst, one of the 'great' names of America. Well he nicked parts of our buildings, mainly Bradenstoke Abbey in Wiltshire and then left all the stones to rot in a barn. I think he took them to build a hotel, doesn't he remind you of someone? Well he also dabbled in films such as this....de ja vue??
The essay it came in though was from the 'Old Goats' on Substack.....
I often think the same about overly ornate churches. Wasting so much money on the building instead of sharing it with the people who need it. I guess those big buildings create jobs, tho...
ReplyDeleteThere is an argument there Ellen but there again many churches have beautiful craftsmanship of stone and wood which still gives pleasure.
DeleteWhoa. That clip! Deja vu indeed.
ReplyDeleteThose huge, ornate buildings make me wonder too. I suppose that the whole purpose of them was to show off their money to the people in their vicinity. No different than those 'follies' of old...albeit on a much larger scale.
Well in medieval England the thought was you could bribe a decent place in heaven by showering the church with plenty of money and offerings Debby.
ReplyDelete!!!!! I did not know!
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