Well I’d no idea what a ‘caryatid’ was … but picked up the name as I went on a tour of one
of our local Eastbourne theatres – then the Saturday Times had an article on
Pitzhanger Manor, Ealing, London … where caryatids were mentioned.
 |
Caryatid displayed in
the British Museum |
The way things seem to happen in this learning world
of ours – well it does to me … once one hears about something, then it keeps
popping its head above the parapet.
 |
Sir John Soane c 1800
portrait by Thomas Lawrence |
Sir John Soane (1753 – 1837) used the Manor as a sort
of laboratory to develop his architectural ideas. Sir John was a son of a bricklayer, who rose
to the top-most heights of his profession …
… as professor of architecture at the Royal Academy,
and an official architect to the Office of Works – the English Royal Households
castles and residences overseer.
 |
Bank of England facade 1818-1827
with a facade of caryatid columns |
His design of the Bank of England, soon after
destroyed by fire, set the tone for commercial architecture;
 |
Dulwich Picture Gallery
Interior |
Dulwich Picture Gallery
was a major influence in the planning of subsequent art galleries and museums.
 |
| Soane Museum |
The main legacy – his home in Lincoln’s Inn
Fields, was designed to display the art works and architectural artefacts that
he collected during his lifetime – is described in the Oxford Dictionary of
Architecture as “one of the most complex,
intricate, and ingenious series of interiors ever conceived”.
I feel like I probably should be a caryatid at the
moment – I’m like a static person holding up numerous tendrils of learning –
attending lots of classes, giving some talks, going to films by the dozen,
being round and about with the encumbent mashed brain trying to remember where
and when I’m doing what …on the other hand I've no wish to be turned to stone!
 |
| Caryatid Building, Madrid |
… to add to myself insulting me … ‘my bus’ decided to
do a funny on me: I don’t usually take
the bus, as I can walk from town quite happily … but felt like a ride back on
Saturday …
… there are two of ‘my buses’ one goes round via the
theatres and thence to my stop, the other goes up the hill to the Eastbourne
village of Meads, round the top and back down to my stop – I got this one …
 |
Pitzhanger Manor - front entrance
(with caryatid pillars) |
… I was minding my own business – enjoying the view as
I took the long route home – but hey ho, fiddle dee dee … the bus went straight back to town to ‘dump me’ where I’d got on --- I then
walked home, which obviously I should have done forty minutes earlier!! Ridiculous life?!
 |
| Pitzhanger Manor library c1802 |
Enough of the wobbling chit-chat … Pitzhanger Manor
has just reopened, having been refurbished – and looks a great place to visit …
 |
| Circle and Upper Circle, Devonshire Park Theatre Eastbourne |
… as is another restored rather magnificent building:
King’s Observatory, Richmond … which has a telescope observatory on the
roof. Both of which are now on my list
of ‘to see’ places … I guess I need a
TBS list: to be seen!
 |
Looking out from the Theatre bar towards the
refurbishing of the Devonshire Park Tennis Centre
(the area is almost ready for the 2019 season - after much
redevelopment of the area, including the Congress Theatre -
a 1963 (I'd say) brutalist building! which has been restored) |
Ah well … I’m failing … but I’ll write about the
Theatre another day … my head needs to get into gear … so for April I’ll be
gathering those tendrils of brain (if possible) – but will continue with the
#WATWB (We are the World Blogfest) posts at the end of the month and will do
WEP – see my side bar … but not the A-Z Challenge …
 |
Ionic Entablature
engraving c/o Wiki |
So this static caryatid person with an entablature on
her head full of who knows what … is signing off …
If any of you can make head or tail of this post =
well done is all I can say … but something got written! Caryatid is the key …
I’ll be around … vaguely probably – thank goodness
it’s getting lighter and I’ve six months to get myself into gear while the
longer days are around.
My post mentioning Eleanor Coade
An immediate addendum to this post about the King's Observatory ... a simultaneous posting by the Royal Society refers to the Observatory ... gives more details, shows more, mentions the Transit of Venus, and talks clocks - the subject of the post ... no caryatids though!
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
