#Edwardian house restoration London

[nuwayconstruction]

We will provide tips on choosing a building contractor that is well-suited to your project's needs and why it is essential to use a building contractor in the first place.

A certified building contractor should have extensive experience with projects, from small-scale home renovations to large commercial construction projects.

[beautifulhadle]

Why Choose Brushed Steel Door Handles for Your London Home?

Brushed steel door handles have gained immense popularity across London homes, blending aesthetic appeal with robust functionality. But why should you consider brushed steel for your door handles? In this blog, we’ll explore the reasons behind the rising demand for brushed steel door handles in London, illustrating their benefits through real-life case studies and compelling statistics. Let’s delve into why these handles may be the ideal choice for your interiors.

1. Why Are Brushed Steel Door Handles Popular in London?

Brushed steel door handles are known for their elegant finish and impressive durability, making them a popular choice in modern and traditional homes alike. Here are some reasons London homeowners gravitate towards brushed steel door handles:

Durability: Brushed steel is highly resistant to wear and tear, ideal for busy London households.

Aesthetic Appeal: The sleek, matte finish of brushed steel complements various interior styles.

Low Maintenance: Unlike polished finishes, brushed steel handles resist fingerprints and smudges, keeping them clean with minimal effort.

A recent survey indicated that 58% of homeowners in London choose brushed steel door handles primarily due to their resilience and ease of maintenance. This high demand is not without reason, as evident in the following case studies.

2. Case Study 1: Modernizing a Notting Hill Apartment with Brushed Steel Door Handles

Client Profile: A young couple renovating a contemporary apartment in Notting Hill wanted hardware that matched their sleek, minimalistic aesthetic.

Solution: They opted for brushed steel door handles throughout the apartment, enhancing the modern vibe without overwhelming the space.

Outcome: The couple found that these handles perfectly balanced form and function, creating a cohesive look that complemented their style. They appreciated that the brushed steel door handles required little upkeep, maintaining their finish even after months of daily use.

Stat: In a local design survey, 67% of interior designers rated brushed steel as the top choice for contemporary apartments, aligning with the growing demand in London’s urban districts.

3. How Do Brushed Steel Door Handles Improve Property Value?

Investing in high-quality brushed steel door handles London not only elevates aesthetics but can also enhance property value. In a market like London, small touches, like quality door hardware, contribute significantly to a property’s perceived value.

Longevity and Appeal: With a lifespan longer than most other materials, brushed steel maintains its appeal even after years of use.

Energy Efficiency Boost: Many London homeowners invest in sustainable renovations. Brushed steel door handles, which are recyclable, align with eco-friendly values, a feature that appeals to potential buyers.

Stat: According to a recent UK property value study, 72% of potential buyers reported that durable and stylish finishes, such as brushed steel, positively impacted their purchase decision.

4. Case Study 2: Enhancing an Edwardian House in South London

Client Profile: A homeowner restoring an Edwardian house in South London wanted a handle that balanced traditional charm with modern functionality.

Solution: The choice was brushed steel door handles that complemented the classic style of the property while adding a contemporary twist.

Outcome: The brushed steel door handles seamlessly blended with the restored elements of the home, satisfying both aesthetic and functional needs. The owner noted that the brushed steel finish was perfect for hiding fingerprints—a major benefit for high-traffic areas like the main hallway.

5. Are Brushed Steel Door Handles Low Maintenance?

For busy Londoners, low-maintenance features are a priority. Brushed steel door handles meet this requirement exceptionally well, as they are naturally resistant to smudges and corrosion.

Easy to Clean: A simple wipe-down is enough to keep brushed steel door handles looking pristine.

Smudge Resistance: Their finish conceals fingerprints, maintaining a cleaner appearance over time.

Stat: A study on household maintenance found that brushed steel door handles reduced cleaning time by 40% compared to polished counterparts, making them an attractive option for families and professionals alike.

6. Case Study 3: Family-Friendly Home in Camden

Client Profile: A family with young children in Camden wanted durable and easy-to-clean door handles for their newly renovated home.

Solution: Brushed steel door handles were installed throughout high-traffic areas like the living room and kitchen, where durability was key.

Outcome: The family reported that these handles were extremely practical for their active household, withstanding daily use without showing signs of wear. They also appreciated the smudge-resistant quality, which kept the handles looking clean despite frequent handling by small hands.

7. Why Do Brushed Steel Door Handles Suit All Interior Styles?

Brushed steel door handles are incredibly versatile and suit a wide range of interior designs, from rustic to ultra-modern. Here’s why they’re an adaptable choice:

Neutral Finish: Brushed steel has a subdued elegance that complements both bold and subtle color schemes.

Enhanced Texture: The matte finish adds texture to any room, enhancing the look without overpowering other decor elements.

A survey of interior designers in London found that brushed steel door handles are used in 65% of contemporary and traditional projects alike due to their adaptability across styles.

8. Case Study 4: Adding Elegance to a Chelsea Townhouse

Client Profile: A homeowner in Chelsea wanted to add a luxurious feel to their townhouse without opting for overly shiny or ornate hardware.

Solution: Brushed steel door handles were installed, offering a refined look that fit seamlessly with both classic and modern décor.

Outcome: The brushed steel handles provided the high-end finish the homeowner was looking for, creating a sense of elegance in every room. They reported that the handles also matched well with other metallic fixtures throughout the house.

9. What About Cost-Effectiveness?

Brushed steel door handles may have a slightly higher initial cost than lower-grade materials, but they offer cost savings in the long term.

Durability Reduces Replacement Needs: With a long lifespan, brushed steel door handles reduce the frequency and cost of replacements.

Minimal Maintenance: The easy-clean surface cuts down on cleaning supplies and effort over time.

Stat: A London-based maintenance company found that brushed steel door handles reduced overall hardware replacement costs by 25% compared to other materials, offering a cost-effective solution for homeowners and property managers alike.

10. Case Study 5: Durable Solution for a Rental Property in Shoreditch

Client Profile: A landlord managing a high-turnover rental property in Shoreditch needed durable door handles that could withstand frequent use.

Solution: Brushed steel door handles were chosen for their robustness and low maintenance, ideal for a rental setting.

Outcome: The landlord observed that these handles retained their appearance and functionality even after multiple tenants, reducing the need for repairs and replacements. This reliability made brushed steel door handles a top choice for high-use properties.

Conclusion

Brushed steel door handles london offer a unique combination of elegance, durability, and low maintenance, making them an ideal choice for London homes. From contemporary apartments to heritage homes, brushed steel enhances a wide range of interior styles while delivering long-term value. If you’re considering door handle upgrades, brushed steel may be the timeless, stylish, and practical solution you need.

[comtessezouboff]

Love the pics from your Edwardian save you shared recently and was wondering what there's a story to go with it and if you'd be willing to share?

Hi! Yes there is one!

The family goes like this:

The Godolphins began with Sidney Godolphin, Ist Earl of Portborough in 1660. His son was later elevated to the title on Duke of Portborough by Queen Anne in 1700 for his victory in the battle of Tordesillas during the Spanish War of Succession. The Duke's Wife, Margaret became very good friends with the queen's lady in waiting, Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, thus belonging to the queen's innes circle.

In 1689, Sir Christopher Wren was comissioned tu build a country house for the IInd Earl of Godolphin, in red brick. The house was named Finchwick Park. The manor had a mausoleum to serve as the resting place of multiple generations of Godolphins.

In 1785, the Vth Duke hired the scottish architect William Adams, who enlarged and modernized the façades, adding white stone walls, the music room and redecorating the Dining Room, the Staircase Hall, the Entrance Hall and the passages, while keeping the shape of the original house.

In 1856, Calability Brown was hired to Modernize the gardens in the english style, planting new trees, the Water Mirror, the Temple of Arethusa and the Pet's Mausoleum.

The Marriage between William James Godolphin and Marjorie Millicent Cavendish-Bentinck in 1879 brought new life to Finchwick park. A portrait of their three daughters hangs over the fireplace in the Drawing room (seen here in the backround), as well as multiple pendants of their daughters and their husbands. They modernized the kitchens and bathrooms in the french style, and restored their London Town House, Portborough House in Mayfair, London.

Marjorie, their eldest daughter, married her second cousin, Esmond, thus inheriting the title of duke in 1900, they had their only son, Esmond William Godolphin, that same year.

Diana and Cecil met in a garden party at Buckingham Palace, during Diana's debut in 1900. Cecil proposed in November and the wedding took place in St. Paul's in London in 1901. 9 months later, their only son, Colin, was born.

Elizabeth met Vere simply as an accident in 1905. While in Finchwick, preparing for her court debut, a car near the gates of the state broke down. The car belonged to Beatrice Harmsworth (née Dallas-Yorke) a very close friend of the then Duchess, Marjorie. The Duchess sent her chauffeur to pick her up in the pouring rain. Apparently, the car was basically ruined, so when she arrived at finchwick, she called to her London House wich immediately sent a car that arrived the next day with clothes and necessary provisions, amongst them, her 24 years old son and heir, Vere Sidney Tudor Harmsworth, Marquess of Rothermere. Elizabeth, being alone with her parents due to her sister's honeymoons took a liking to the young man. They eventually got married in january 1909 at Westminster Abbey. Elizabeth gave birth to twins in december 1909, Vere and Winifred.

That's pretty much it! I have some marriages planned for the youngest ones, and being argentine myself, of course I had to add an argentine socialite. Since my game sort of screwed up, I'm still trying to fix it, but once I do, I'll add pictures of the family members.

[leibal]

Muswell Hill House is a minimal residence located in London, United Kingdom, designed by Giles Reid Architects. The project was to restore and reconstruct a three storey Edwardian House in the Muswell Hill Conservation Area. The house was in considerable state of dilapidation. It was stripped back to brick walls, timber floor joists and studs. Clues and reusable material from the existing house were then taken as the starting point for the design on a room by room basis.

[starfata]

I kind of want to write an infinite loop fic for Bridgerton, but not the World Changing events, becoming all powerful and evolving storyline kind. Also, without an anchor. Or maybe it's a moveable anchor- at least One Bridgerton is Awake at all times. And they can have magic powers etc but they have to follow basic rules- not too obvious, don't get caught.

Awake Violet messing with her kids by declaring her intention to skip the season in favour of touring the country- As A Family.

Anthony causing a scandal with I don't know, his fashion choices, because Penelope's the only other looper and she's upset because the society papers are So Boring. The next issue of Whistledown, and several other papers, are all about Viscount Bridgerton's Excessively Bright and ill-fitting pantaloons (loose, yellow muslin). The ribbons on his shirt pass mostly unnoticed.

Benedict letting his family know about his art. After he has a painting in the national gallery.

Colin keeping a diary for his wife whenever they aren't together, recording any new gossip and interesting fashion choices she misses. Learning to cook so he can feed everyone his favourite foods from his travels.

Eloise deciding she's going to be a proper Spinster, and moves to a country cottage just for a change in scene. She ends up writing an epistolary novel with Penelope and teaching the local teens to shoot.

Hyacinth regularly breaking into the St Clair home to look for the diamonds, and writing a few Miss Butterworth-y novels of her own. Some of them about a successful Lady thief.

The Bridgerton clan playing a Calvin ball-esque variation of Pall mall through their London house.

Trying to inspire new fashion trends. Writing borderline scandalous books. .

Experiments with architecture/botany. Experiments in general. They're rich and functionally immortal.

The men experimenting with careers, going into the acceptable gentlemanly careers of Law/clergy/military/civil service, or buying a decrepit estate and try restore it before the end of the loop. Giving up on acceptable gentlemanly careers and trying out medicine/science/farming themselves.

Enjoying variants where they are two sets of triplets and a pair of twins. Variants in other time periods, from medieval through to the 18th century, to the Victorian/Edwardian period. Trying to keep track of what propriety dictates, when it moves from Bridgerton propriety to actual Georgian propriety and a mixture of those and modern manners.

[architectnews]

London Houses: New Property Designs

London Houses, Property Images, New Homes, Buildings, Architects, Residential Architecture

London Houses: Properties

Contemporary Residential Buildings in South East England – Contemporary British Homes in the UK Capital

post updated 13 May 2021

London House – Latest Designs

London Residential Architecture News, chronological:

4 May 2021 Highgate House Restoration, Highgate Conservation Area, North London Design: Cairn photograph : Peter Landers Highgate House Restoration This Edwardian property restoration project brought a dilapidated home back to life, re-organising the arrangement to suit the lives of a young family and converting the roof space. A huge amount of work was required to restore the home and modernise the layout and environmental performance.

27 Apr 2021 Sponge Urban Living

21 Apr 2021 House for a Gardener, Haringey, North East London Design: Amos Goldreich Architecture photograph : Ollie Hammick House for a Gardener, Haringey A much-loved garden was central to our design of this side and rear extension for a Victorian mid-terrace house in the Stroud Green Conservation Area of Haringey. The project arranges a sequence of living spaces around the garden and an internal courtyard that gives constant connection to greenery.

21 Apr 2021 Vault House

Mountain View House

Chiswick House Extension

Bladerunner House

Cascade House, Hampstead Village

1 Mar 2021 Cloistered House, Chelsea, south west London Design: Turner Architects photograph © Adam Scott Images Chelsea Georgian terraced house The restoration and extension of a Cubitt-built Georgian terraced house in a conservation area. The Cloistered House was carefully given life having been left to ruin for many years.

20 Feb 2021 Library House

16 Feb 2021 Eclectic House, Camden

14 Feb 2021 Melbury Studio

14 Feb 2021 Harcombe House

14 Feb 2021 St Georges House

14 Feb 2021 Boscombe House

29 Jan 2021 The Rower’s House, Chiswick, south west London Architects: Loader Monteith photography : Emanuelis Stasaitis The Rower’s House in Chiswick The clients wanted a home with four bedrooms, space to entertain, and an accessible garden – with plenty of space to live and work, as well as a divisible section for a relative to use autonomously. Despite a questionable original design, the couple found the perfect potential property in a quiet corner of London.

1 Feb 2021 Art House, Paddington

10 Dec 2020 Kensington Townhouse Design: KNOF design photography: David Cleveland Kensington Townhouse, Hyde Park KNOF Design, an international design practice founded by Susan Knof, has just completed a major London commission – the unification of two separate townhouses near Hyde Park to create a single 7,500sf family home.

4 Dec 2020 Pitched Black House

26 Nov 2020 Sugar House

17 Nov 2020 17 Portland Place Renovations

16 Nov 2020 Regency Villa, Kensington

16 Nov 2020 EC1 Penthouse, Clerkenwell

15 Nov 2020 Chiswick House Extension, West London Architects and Interior Designers: Found Associates photograph : Nick Hufton, Al Crow Chiswick House Extension A double-fronted Edwardian house has been updated and extended in dramatic fashion for a television and radio presenter and his family. This four storey villa sits on a corner site with unusually large gardens to the rear. The renovation and reinvention of the villa reinforces the sense of connection between house and garden.

7 Nov 2020 Winter House Renovations

24 Apr 2020 Two and a Half Storey House, Central London Architects: Bradley Van Der Straeten photograph © French + Tye Two and a Half Storey House The Two and a Half Storey House project that circumnavigates a local planning restriction by building a half-height roof extension! The clients owned the existing two-storey, two-bedroom property, located on a central London Housing Estate.

1 Apr 2020 Hampstead Penthouse Property, North London Design: Ungar Architects photograph : Peter Cook Hampstead Penthouse Property A breathtaking new penthouse in Hampstead, with panoramic views across the UK capital city.

1 Apr 2020 Contemporary London Penthouse Properties Penthouse Properties London

5 Mar 2020 An Eclectic Victorian Home Extension North London

3 Mar 2020 Slim Studio’s Flat Interior

26 Feb 2020 Collector’s Flat, Central London Design: MATA Architects photograph © Peter Landers Collector’s Flat Interior in Central London Extensive refurbishment and interiors fit out of an apartment in a mansion block constructed at the turn of the 19th century. The works included substantial structural modifications altering the flat’s layout and introducing new services.

30 Oct 2019 Brexit Bunker Design: RISE Design Studio photograph : Edmund Sumner Brexit Bunker This sunken garden room was envisioned as a way of adding a new studio and extending the program of the house, without having to intervene in the existing portion of the building.

15 Oct 2019 Fleet House in Hampstead

20 Sep 2019 Dukes House, Alexandra Palace, Muswell Hill Structural Engineer: TZG Partnership photograph : Will Pryce Muswell Hill House This North London property is an ornate Edwardian Terrace, in the shadows of Alexandra Palace. The home has been given a complete make over.

20 Sep 2019 Aperture House in Islington

More contemporary London houses designs online soon on e-architect

London Houses Designs in 2018

23 Oct 2018 Duke’s Avenue House, Chiswick Architects: IBLA photograph : Brotherton Lock Contemporary House in London The clients, a pair of doctors, wanted to significantly increase the amount of floor-space in their West London home, whilst maintaining the existing character and external massing of the original house, and keeping their garden intact.

2 Oct 2018 Volcano House, Shoreditch, East London Architects: Urban Mesh design ltd photograph © Charles Hosea New House in Shoreditch The interiors of the home were playfully designed to suit the desires and personalities of the Client and his family.

20 Aug 2018 Benbow Yard Home, Southwark, South London Design: FORMstudio Architects photograph © Bruce Hemming Contemporary Home in Southwark This new property is a response to the Mayor of London’s Policy to optimise the re-use of small sites across the UK capital city.

19 Jun 2018 Victorian Townhouse, Highgate, North London Design: LLI Design photograph © Victorian Townhouse in Highgate Conversion of a Victorian property in reasonable condition to form a warm, comfortable home with contemporary style touches.

30 Apr 2018 Step House, North London Architects: Bureau de Change photo © Ben Blossom North London Property Extension Using bricks reclaimed from the fabric of the house, the architects exploited the rights of light diagram to create a staggered, extruded form that appears to melt away from the existing structure. This rhythmic stepping generated by the brick is echoed throughout the interior, and is integrated in both the plan and section of the extension.

27 Apr 2018 Roof Conversion, Crouch End, North London Design: JaK Studio, Architects photo : Francesco Russo Crouch End Flat Extension JaK Studio create unique loft conversion in large Victorian property by adding a new dormer extension to form a dramatic two-storey cathedral-esque space.

29 Jan 2018 The Etch House, Honor Oak, Lewisham, South London Design: Fraher Architects photo : Adam Scott Honor Oak Home Extension Joint Third Prize in ‘Don’t Move, Improve!’ 2018: this 1460 sqft property re-examines the layout of the traditional Victorian terrace house. A modern floor plan sits within the old house walls, hidden behind the retained street elevation.

26 Jan 2018 Sun Rain Rooms, Islington, North London Design: Tonkin Liu Architects photo : Edmund Sumner Sun Rain Rooms Home Extension ‘Sun Rain Rooms’ has been crowned London’s best and most innovative home extension as overall winner of New London Architecture’s (NLA) annual ‘Don’t Move, Improve!’ competition.

London Houses Design News for 2017

8 Dec 2017 Highgate Hill Townhouse, North London Design: LLI Design photo from LLI Design Highgate Hill Townhouse Winner in the Interior Design, London category – UK Property Awards 2017-18. LLI Design recently completed a total redesign and refurbishment of a 7 storey townhouse in Highgate, a leafy and desirable part of London.

15 Aug 2017 Hilltop House, Kingston-upon-Thames, South West London Architects: Coupdeville photograph : Simon Kennedy New Teddington House Commissioned in 2012, the architecture studio were asked to design a five bedroom house on a large 0.26 acre single plot, while retaining the existing building.

11 Aug 2017 Fairfax House, Teddington, South West London Architects: Coupdeville photograph : Simon Kennedy New Teddington House The proposal is for a contemporary dwelling that is based on a series of banded layers, that allow for a light filled interior and a dynamic and interesting external appearance.

24 Mar 2017 Oak Hill House, Hampstead, North London Design: Claridge Architects photograph : Simon Kennedy New Hampstead House Shou Sugi Ban, a UK based manufacturer of charred timber products, has selected Kebony, to create a distinctive modified timber cladding using the ancient Japanese techniques of burning, brushing or pre-weathering timber to provide a long-lasting and beautiful wood.

London Property Design News for 2016

27 Nov 2016 Increasing Value of Residential in the British Capital City Flipping Property Prices in London

1 Sep 2016 House of Trace Design: Tsuruta Architects photo : Tim Croker House of Trace A beautiful and unconventional extension to a London terraced house designed by Tsuruta Architects has been awarded the 2016 Stephen Lawrence Prize.

2 Jan 2016 Madeira Residence, Bromley, South east London Design: Rado Iliev Architect photograph : Assen Emilov New Residence in Bromley

5 Nov 2015 Newington Green Road Property, North east London Architects: NK Architects image : Robin Hayes Newington Green Road House

16 Sep 2013 Mayfair House Design: Squire and Partners, Architects photo : Gareth Gardner Mayfair House The contemporary interpretation of leaves are crafted as a metallic shingle, which cover a three storey elevation and rooftop pavilion. The PPC coated folded aluminium leaves – 4,080 in total – subtly vary in tones of bronze to mimic organic growth patterns. The concept was designed over a three year period of research and development working closely with Swiss manufacturer Tuchschmid.

London Homes – archive page up to and including 2013 photo : Alan Williams Photography

Location: London, England, UK

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The post London Houses: New Property Designs appeared first on e-architect.

[amazingarchitecturewebsite]

Muswell Hill House in #London by Giles Reid Architects. The project was to restore and reconstruct a three storey Edwardian House in the Muswell Hill Conservation Area. The ambition was to create a contemporary interior using traditional construction and carpentry skills that the Edwardians themselves would recognise. Taking over two years, the guiding principle at each stage was to have a single spirit carry across the whole house, rather than old feel in contrast to new. Read more: Link in bio! Project name: Muswell Hill House Architecture firm: @gilesreidarchitects Location: Muswell Hill Conservation Area, London , United Kingdom Completion year: 2019 Engineering: Ling Engineering Contractor: UK Associates Ltd Photography: @marygaudin #uk #awesome #архитектура www.amazingarchitecture.com ✔ A collection of the best contemporary architecture to inspire you. #design #architecture #picoftheday #amazingarchitecture #style #nofilter #architect #arquitectura #luxury #realestate #life #cute #architettura #interiordesign #photooftheday #love #travel #instagood #fashion #beautiful #archilovers #architecturephotography #home #house ‎#amazing ‎#معماری (London, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAL9-hwlGhS/?igshid=16j8bwx7fgsv8

[myhouseidea]

The project designed by Giles Reid Architects was to restore and reconstruct a three storey Edwardian House in the Muswell Hill Conservation Area. Photography by Mary Gaudin

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The ambition was to create a contemporary interior using traditional construction and carpentry skills that the Edwardians themselves would recognise. Taking over two years, the guiding principle at each stage was to have a single spirit carry across the whole house, rather than old feel in contrast to new.

Despite many areas giving the appearance of being simply restored, every space was remodelled from scratch. The house had not been renovated in over one hundred years and was in considerable state of dilapidation. The entire interior was stripped back to brick walls, timber floor joists and studs. Clues and reusable material from the existing house were then taken as the starting point for the design of each floor, on a room by room basis, working in close collaboration with builder and client.

The project features new solid bespoke oak joinery, three new bathrooms with stone floors and a rear extension for the kitchen with reconstructed study above. The design was informed by detailed research into and appreciation of Edwardian domestic architecture.

The ground floor has a nobler treatment and bolder colour scheme. Rooms are characterised by fibrous plaster covings, high ceilings and large bifold doors connecting drawing and living rooms.

As you rise towards more private areas of the house, the colours become calmer and at the same time, the design more playful. In a nod to Edwardian architecture and its embrace of fantasy, we opened the attic levels to expose the concealed roof truss work. This creates a variety of new volumes and gives the top floors a sense of an overall roof folding down over and enclosing the rooms. These new attic spaces provide both separate play and/or retreat rooms for both children and adults and the chance to glimpse long and surprising views between rooms.

The external scope included replacement of all existing windows with new in matching timber profiles and both new and refurbished stained-glass windows. We undertook full repair and repointing of the brick facades, new slate roofing, new skylights giving views as far as the City of London and new hard landscaping to front and rear. Guiding the external restoration was the ambition that all new works would be invisible from the street upon completion, sensed but never obvious.

Muswell Hill House by Giles Reid Architects The project designed by Giles Reid Architects was to restore and reconstruct a three storey Edwardian House in the Muswell Hill Conservation Area.

[bbclesmis]

TV Is Unwhitewashing History One Character, Period, and Genre at a Time

From “Les Miserables” and “Harlots” to “The Spanish Princess” and “The Terror,” TV producers are restoring the historical narratives of people of color.

Black characters on a show set in Tudor England would be a “stark anachronism” one consultant told “The Spanish Princess” co-showrunner Emma Frost in no uncertain terms. “Even I knew just from basic research that that wasn’t true,” she said in an interview with IndieWire during a set visit last year.

As TV shows seek out more inclusive storytelling, many producers are looking to the past to find new ways to freshen old stories. And while historical records and artwork have shown plenty of black, brown, and Asian faces through centuries of Western history, that same diversity has been largely absent in history class and on the screen unless it takes place after the 1950s. This dearth has affected the types of roles offered and even considered by actors of color.

Mandip Gill, who plays a British police officer of South Asian descent on “Doctor Who,” has only performed in contemporary projects. “I have always said I won’t be in a period drama. I just don’t see it happening,” she said. “I can’t even imagine it. When I’ve written down what types I like to play or where I would like to push the boundaries, it’s not with period dramas. I don’t watch them because I can’t relate to them.”

Danny Sapiani has had a better track record for landing period roles — such as Will North in “Harlots” and Sambene in “Penny Dreadful” — but that wasn’t always the case. “Period drama on screen was not a consideration when I began my professional career. Most film and tv roles were confined to the modern era, post-1950s, ghetto-ized in nature or victims of oppression,” he said.

David Oyelowo, who stars as Inspector Javert in the upcoming PBS-BBC adaptation of “Les Miserables,” agrees. “That was the case for me. And having grown up in the UK, and more specifically, on period drama, I had just resigned myself to the fact that, ‘Okay, those amazing shows are going to be shows I love, but they’re never going to have folks like me in it.’”

Sites like The Public Medievalist and historians like Onyeka have worked to challenge the narrative of the pure-white Western history that’s been widely accepted, even by people of color. Now actors and producers are following their example to restore the place of marginalized people on screen and into the public consciousness.

“The excuse has been used that it’s not historically accurate, and that’s just not true,” said Oyelowo. “If you are an actual genuine student of history — and not just coming from an ignorant kind of purely white lens in relation to European history — you’d know that people of color have been in France, in the UK, all over Europe, for centuries, and not just as slaves.”

Sapiani points to the discoveries and documentation available for anyone to research about the existence of people of color in Europe for centuries.

“As evidenced by the discovery of Cheddar Man, the first complete skeleton found in a gorge in Somerset, the first modern Britons who arrived on the island 10,000 years ago had black to brown skin, blue eyes and dark wavy hair. It is from these earliest arrivals that the inhabitants of Britain derive their origins,” he said.

“In fact, there are very few periods in history where people of color do not feature, not only in Britain — the setting of most costume dramas — but across the entire European continent. The census notes 20,000 blacks living in Britain in 1780, the century we focus on in ‘Harlots,’ more than half that number living in London, which is where ‘Harlots’ is set. Even though this was during the height of the slave trade, not all those people were slaves or victims of white racism. Fascinating characters like Will North, spanned social and class boundaries, often, though not always, against incredible odds.”

Hulu’s “Harlots,” about the war between two brothels in Georgian London, not only features the free man Will North, but also several black harlots, one of whom ran her own brothel.

“There were tens of thousands of people of color living in London in the 1760s. We have found stories of musicians, estate managers, fencing masters, actresses, grocers, prize fighters, haberdashers, soldiers, poets, activists, librarians and clerks,” said “Harlots” co-creator Moira Buffini.

“Some were clearly people of means, like the ‘black lady covered in finery,’ spotted by Hester Thrale at the opera. ‘Harris’s List of Covent Garden Ladies’ has entries for several women of color who were making their living in the sex trade and The Nocturnal Revels tells us of ‘Black Harriot,’ a very successful courtesan who ran a popular ‘house of exotics.’ All our stories are about people trying to find agency when society gives them none — and this seems in especially sharp relief for our characters of color. Violet is a street whore and pickpocket but from her perspective, society is the thief. Her mother was stolen. Violet, in her own eyes, is neither victim nor criminal. She has a raw integrity and a personal truth that others find both intimidating and irresistible.”

For “The Spanish Princess,” an adaptation of two Philippa Gregory historical novels set in Tudor England about Catherine of Aragon, Frost and co-showrunner Matthew Graham turned to books by Onyeka to develop characters of color who would have fit in during that time. In particular, they discovered the story of the real-life Lina de Cardonnes (played by Stephanie Levi-John in the series), a high-ranking noble woman who acted as Catherine’s lady-in-waiting and companion.

“There was a character that was referenced in Phillipa’s books who was what they call a dueñas or a lady-in-waiting to Catherine. Her name was Catalina de Cardonnes and she was just this larger than life character who was depicted as white Spanish,” said Graham. “Then we just did a bit of cursory research and discovered that it was based on Lina de Cardonnes and that she was African Iberian. She was a black lady. So, we were certainly like, ‘Wow, this is a bigger story and a more interesting story than we can possibly imagine.’”

This discovery of the larger part that people of color have played throughout history has been increasing the more people look into telling marginalized stories. The author of “The Miniaturist” Jessie Burton and Netflix’s “Anne With an E” creator Moira Walley-Beckett had similar epiphanies and added black characters in significant roles to their stories set in the Dutch Golden Age and Edwardian Canada, respectively.

In many of these cases, ignorance or acceptance of the dominant narrative could explain the lack of representation in these TV shows. The absence of photographic or film evidence made it easier to whitewash the presence of people of color.

But there’s really no excuse with period dramas set in the 20th century and beyond, when plenty of visual records show the diversity present. As with the #OscarsSoWhite campaign started by activist April Reign, the biggest problems facing more inclusive TV lay in challenging the mindset at the studio level and changing who’s behind the camera.

As seen with many of the shows that are including people of color in historical narratives, the show’s creators are often women, people of color themselves, or part of the LGBTQ community. When marginalized groups help each other, this can address intersectionality.

For example, Carol Hay and Michelle Ricci co-created the Jazz Age mystery adventure show “Frankie Drake Mysteries” coming to Ovation on June 15. Not only did they make a show about Toronto’s first female private detective, but they also cast Chantel Riley as Trudy, Frankie’s partner who happens to also be a black woman.

“When Shaftesbury [Films] came up with this idea and decided to have a black female lead, it was mind-blowing to me because you never really hear about black folk or Asian folk, in that time,” Riley said. “We touch on the Asian community, the black community, even the Indian community as well. That’s why I was really attracted to this particular show, because no one’s really doing that in this particular era.”

In some cases, actors have had to step behind the cameras themselves to increase the opportunities for people of color. Daniel Dae Kim left “Hawaii Five-0,” and the first series that he produced afterward is ABC’s “The Good Doctor,” which has provided numerous on-screen opportunities for actors from marginalized groups.

Similarly, Oyelowo became an executive producer on “Les Miserables” to take control of how his role of Javert and the other people of color were portrayed. Oyelowo also co-produced and starred in the period film “A United Kingdom.”

“I wanted to make sure that me being in [‘Les Miserables’] wasn’t going to be a token thing. I wanted to make sure that people of color were integrated through the story in an organic way that didn’t feel imposed,” he said.

“But also, something very important to me was the American distribution. I wanted it to be on a channel that was worthy of the work that everyone was putting into it. And so, I had a hand in it going to PBS Masterpiece. Anything that takes me away from my kids for any period of time better be worth it. And so, some of the times I produce in order to develop. Some of the times I produce in order to be able to have a say in how things are cast, how they are marketed, how they are distributed. And that’s basically been the case with this.”

Currently, there aren’t many period shows by people of color about people of color on TV. John Singleton’s “Snowfall” on FX is set in Los Angeles during the 1980s crack epidemic and was renewed for a third season.

Over on broadcast, the late 1990s-set comedy “Fresh Off the Boat,” based on the memoir of Eddie Huang and created by Nahnatchka Khan, a queer woman of Iranian descent, is currently in its fifth season. It’s the first TV show with an Asian cast in over 20 years — since Margaret Cho’s short-lived “All American Girl” — and stars Randall Park and Constance Wu as the Huangs, who had relocated to the Florida suburbs with their family. Khan had to make a case for why the show had to remain in the ‘90s to replicate the real-life Huangs’ feelings of alienation.

“I remember having a creative discussion with 20th [Century Fox] at the very beginning about them asking me, ‘Why does it have to be set in the ‘90s?’” she said. “For me it was creating a sense of isolation with the family. They moved to Orlando in the middle of the white suburbs and they don’t know anybody. But in the present day, you can get online and talk to your friends and you can text people. You have a connection outside of your everyday life, even if it’s virtual.”

Other than those, “Underground” was the last period show about people of color by a creator of color, Misha Green. WGN’s critically acclaimed slavery-era period drama lasted two seasons and was canceled shortly after Sinclair Media Group announced it would purchase Tribune Media, which owns WGN.

Fortunately, this scarcity won’t last for long. Many period shows that feature significant narratives for people of color are on the horizon. Green has teamed up with Jordan Peele for the HBO drama horror “Lovecraft Country,” which takes place on a road trip during 1950s Jim Crow America. Barry Jenkins executive produces and directs the upcoming Amazon series “The Underground Railroad,” an adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s book. Justin Lin and Jonathan Tropper’s “Warrior” premieres April 5 on Cinemax and is based on Bruce Lee’s original concept about a Chinese immigrant who becomes a hatchet man for the most powerful tong in late 1800s Chinatown in San Francisco.

One other upcoming series explores a new genre for the period TV show that adds a provocative take on a historical event. In its second season, AMC’s anthology series “The Terror” explores the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II through the lens of Japanese horror. Actor George Takei, who experienced internment, acts as a consultant and series regular.

“We’re telling the story of a very underserved piece of American history using the vocabulary of Japanese-style horror as an analog for the terror of the actual historical event,” said co-creator and showrunner Alexander Woo.

“I don’t want the audience to feel removed from the events that are happening on screen. What a horror movie or horror series does is it makes you feel viscerally in the shoes of the person who’s trapped in the house or the person who’s running away from the monster or whatever it is. So we’re using that style, that language, to make you really feel how terrifying the experience of the Japanese Americans who lived through this terrible experience.”

While the Japanese ghost story trappings fits the tone of the narrative in “The Terror: Infamy,” Woo acknowledges that the genre twist might have helped pitching the show.

“We’re in an era of so much content and a period of such creative power, we have more sophisticated viewers that will hopefully appreciate a period drama told in a specific style,” he said. “Those two things used to not mix. That was not something that you would want to try because it might seem complicated or it might seem challenging, which I think now, in this time, that sounds very appealing… It’s also a terrific lens for us to understand things that are happening in the present. The story of internment is obviously relevant in a host of ways to the present day, so I think it’s a valuable story and has to be told now.”

While these more inclusive narratives continue to be discovered and told, inevitably people used to the status quo will resist and deny those stories. It’s the very reason that these stories haven’t been told in the first place.

“The more recent phenomenon of whitewashing, a political tool of the imperialists, dates back only a few hundred years,” said Sapiani. “I am so proud to see, and be a part of this change towards a more accurate and frankly more interesting dramatized interpretation of our world history. Needless to say, there is so much further to go.”

https://www.indiewire.com/2019/03/tv-unwhitewashing-history-period-dramas-hbo-hulu-pbs-abc-1202049639/

[ebsfashunblog]

DOUGLAS

Douglas is the capital town of the Isle of Man, in the Irish Sea. It’s home to the Manx Museum, featuring displays of Viking gold. From here, the Story of Mann trail tours the island’s ancient sites. The restored Villa Marina–Gaiety Theatre complex features a grand Edwardian concert hall. Horse-drawn trams ply the promenade on Douglas Bay. South, the Great Union Camera Obscura uses mirrors to provide panoramic views. Douglas (Manx: Doolish, pronounced [ˈdðuːlʲəʃ]) is the capital and largest town[a] of the Isle of Man, with a population of 27,938 (2011). It is located at the mouth of the River Douglas, and on a sweeping bay of two miles (three kilometres). The River Douglas forms part of the town's harbour and main commercial port.

Douglas was a small settlement until it grew rapidly as a result of links with the English port of Liverpool in the 18th century. Further population growth came in the following century, resulting during the 1860s in a staged transfer of the High Courts, the Lieutenant Governor's residence, and finally the seat of the legislature, Tynwald, to Douglas from the ancient capital, Castletown. see

The town is the Island's main hub for business, finance, legal services, shipping, transport, shopping, and entertainment. The annual Isle of Man TT motorcycle races start and finish in Douglas.

In the absence of any archaeological data, the origins of the town may be revealed by analysis of the original street and plot pattern. The discovery of a bronze weapon in central Douglas,[3] and the large Ballaquayle Viking treasure hoard[4] on the outskirts (now in the Manx Museum and British Museum, London[5]), both in the 1890s, hint at the early importance of the site now occupied by Douglas. Scholars agree that the name of the town derives from Early Celtic 'Duboglassio' meaning 'black river'.[6] Douglas is twice referred to in the monastic Chronicle of the Kings of Man and the Isles: first in 1190, when the monks of St Mary's Abbey at Rushen were transferred there for a four-year stay; then again in 1313, when Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland, spent the night at the "monastery of Duglas" on his way to seize Castle Rushen.[7] These may be references to the site of the later Nunnery, a little upstream from the port.

The first detailed documentation shows that in 1511[8] there were only thirteen resident households in the settlement clustered north of the harbour; most of the property there was classified as "chambers"[9] (unoccupied, unheated, single-celled structures) for which rent was paid by non-residents including clergy, officials and landowners from elsewhere on the island. This suggests that the town's nucleus originated as a non-urban port.[10] Speculation links the store buildings with the Irish Sea herring fishery, and the import/export trade.

Growth and development

Edit

In 1681 Thomas Denton described Douglas as "the place of greatest resort" on the Isle of Man, and by 1705 a clear picture of the early town emerges, with hints that its residential, market, and military defence functions were growing in importance[11] alongside the port facility. The town thrived in the next 60 years, as imposing merchants' houses, large warehouses, quays and a pier were built to accommodate the burgeoning "running trade" (smuggling): one of the stimuli for the town's expansion.[12] Other forms of trade also grew, and after the Revestment Act 1765, Douglas began to reap the benefits of transatlantic trade, due in part to co-operation at a local level with Liverpool.[13] Legitimate merchants who rose to prominence over the period included the Murreys, the Moores, and the Bacons.[13] The town's later prosperity was facilitated by the low cost of living, and the favourable legal status enjoyed by English debtors and half-pay officers.[14] The initial growth and development of the town owed much to its natural harbour (now the Inner Harbour), since greatly expanded and improved. Over the 18th century, the town's population rose from about 800 in 1710 to nearly 2,500 in 1784.

Throughout the 19th century, the town's demographics followed the same trends as the United Kingdom, due to the Industrial Revolution. The number of holiday visitors grew from the early 19th century, and from around 1870 onwards, the town was transformed into a leading holiday resort. But there were increasingly unsanitary conditions, and poor quality housing; again reflecting a trend seen across the United Kingdom. The open sewage, middens (domestic waste dumps), and smell from the harbour at low tide all contributed to the town's uncleanliness. Oil and gas lamps first appeared in the late 1820s and 1830s, the first hospital to join the Dispensary was built in 1850, and in 1832 the scenic Tower of Refuge was built in Douglas Bay to offer shelter and provisions for sailors awaiting rescue. Douglas in the first half of the 19th century often suffered from the destitution of its population and the many epidemics, in particular cholera.The rise of Douglas as the social and economic stronghold was recognised in 1869, when it became the home of the island's parliament, Tynwald, and therefore the capital, an honour previously held by Castletown, a smaller town in the south of the island. Douglas's political landscape also changed significantly in the 19th century, in spite of the conservatism of some townsfolk: in 1844, for example, at a public meeting, the idea of a town council was rejected in favour of retaining the system of Town High Bailiffs; when the Town Bill Act was passed at Tynwald in 1852, the people of Douglas again rejected the idea. However, an Act passed later that decade, which did not include opt-out clauses, was accepted, and in 1860, Douglas elected its first town council, which was predominantly middle class in its makeup. The Town Commissioners could tackle the town's problems with greater efficiency, and by 1869 the sewage problem had been largely resolved.The Commissioners also worked to alter the anachronistic architecture of Douglas, built during the era of fishing and trading, and no longer amenable or safe for tourists. The proportion of the total Manx population living in Douglas was also expanding, with 35% living there by 1891. The Victorian and later modernisation of the town was achieved at the expense of the original maze-like layout of the oldest streets. These were cleared away in the new street schemes and slum clearances of the 1870s to 1920s. The town's infrastructure was radically altered for tourists' convenience, and in 1878 the Loch Promenade was constructed. In 1870, there were 60,000 visitors annually; by 1884, this had grown to 182,000. In 1887, 310,916 visited for Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee.The earliest organised ferry services emerged between Douglas and Whitehaven, established by William Nicholson in the 1750s. More formally, Nicholson's Packet Service began in 1765 or 1766, and the Post Office mail contract was secured by 1782. Sailings were irregular and heavily dependent on weather conditions. Steamer services brought a considerable improvement; the first regular link (en route between Greenock and Liverpool) was available from 1819. The formation of what became the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company in 1830 led to greatly improved services, and also laid the foundations for growth in both cargo and tourist traffic.The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has a lifeboat station at Douglas. The first lifeboat station in the port was established in 1802. In 1825 it was one of the first lifeboat stations to be provided with a purpose-built lifeboat; this was at the request of Sir William Hillary, the founder of the Institution. It was not operational between 1851 and 1868, and it closed in 1895. The station, established in 1874, operates the Tyne-class lifeboat Sir William Hillary. There are three memorials to Sir William in Douglas: one in St George's Church where he was buried in 1847, one on Loch Promenade, and the other on Douglas Head near where in 1832 he established the Tower of Refuge.

[nevecadmanfmp]

LONDON ARCHITECTURE

BAROQUE ARCHITECTURE 1600-1750

Baroque architecture was not the first style to be introduced in London however the designs are some of the oldest seen today. After The Great Fire of London in 1666, nearly all buildings were destroyed by the flames. Therefore the city needed to be restored and one of the most notable figures responsible for re building the city was Christopher Wren. He was tasked with rebuilding many of the cities churches most notable was St. Pauls Cathedral.

GEORGIAN ARCHITECTURE 1714-1830

The Georgians were responsible for expanding London following The Great Fire. They focused on building London’s great estates. These buildings were bounded by garden squares providing a green space right on their doorstep. Most of these buildings were made of red brick, were terraced, had tall windows and were built in a symmetrical style. These estates now dominate many areas of Central London.

REGENCY ARCHITECTURE 1811-1820

Regency architecture defined the period at the end of the Georgian era. Despite only lasting nine years, many of London’s central residential buildings were built during this time and the homes built during this time were marked by their white stucco front. John Nash was a leading architecture during this time and was responsible for designing Regent Street and parks such as St James’ Park.

VICTORIAN ARCHITECTURE 1837-1901

Following the Industrial Revolution, the Victoria Era was defined by elaborate and intricate architectural styles. Buildings such as St Pancras Station, Tower Bridge and the Houses of Parliament are great examples of the Victorian gothic style. The Victorian period was also the introduction for mass housing with most houses being built for the expanding middle class. The Victorians were also responsible for building permanent properties for those who were working in factories and homes were constructed for the poor for the first time.

EDWARDIAN ARCHITECTURE 1901-1910

The Edwardians were responsible for building many more of London's houses in an effective terraced style. These homes were bigger than those built during the Victorian period.

1950’S - PRESENT DAY

After the Blitz which took place from September 1939- May 1940 and consisted of 57 days of non stop destruction to London, more than 1,000,000 homes were destroyed. In an effort to rebuild housing quickly and effectively, high rise blocks were introduced. Some examples of the post war architecture include the Barbican and Trellick Tower. Developers of the city take inspiration from the post war trend of building upwards and today London is dominated by high rise buildings. However the designs of today have a much more luxurious and sophisticated appearance.

HARVARD REFERENCING:

Daisy Mason. (2019). A brief history of London's architecture. Available: https://www.foxtons.co.uk/discover/2018/02/a-brief-history-of-londons-architecture.html. Last accessed 24th Feb 2022.

Evan Evans. (.). The History of London Architectural Styles. Available: vanevanstours.com/blog/the-history-of-london-architectural-styles/#:~:text=Most%20of%20the%20oldest%20structures,influential%2017th-century%20architects.. Last accessed 24th Feb 2022.

[tilecleaningtoday]

Renovating an Original Edwardian Tiled Hallway Floor in North London

It must seem to he reader of this site that the only we get in North London relates to Victorian and Edwardian tiled floors. They are certainly popular, and we do get our fair share, but I can assure we also work on all types of tile, stone and grout however at the moment there appears to be a huge demand for our services in restoring Victorian and Edwardian tiled floors. This post which comes from a property in the London suburb of Muswell Hill which is well known for Victorian and Edwardian houses. The owners had decided to improve the look of their hallway and uncovered an original Edwardian tiled floor after pulling up the carpet. Realising it was an original feature of their period property they decided to get it cleaned, repaired and restored back to its rightful splendour.

Deep Cleaning an Edwardian Tiled Floor

Our first task was to protect the area surrounding the tiles from splashing by applying a protective polythene tape to the thresholds and door fronts etc. We then started preparing the floor for cleaning by removing the glue that was used to hold the carpet gripper to the tiles. A sharp blade was used to carefully scrape the adhesive off the tile and then the area was spot treated using a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Remove & Go which was left to soak into the tile for ten minutes before being scrubbed by hand. With the adhesive removed the whole floor was given a thorough clean using a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro Clean. The cleaning solution was left to soak in for ten minutes and then they were scrubbed with floor pads fitted to a rotary buffer machine and then by hand with stiff brushes. The floor was then rinsed, and steam cleaned with the soiled extracted off the floor using a wet vacuum. We managed to take a photo as seen below showing the floor half way through the cleaning stages.

Repairing a Victorian Tiled Hallway Floor

Whist carrying out the repairs to inside the front door we uncovered a distressed surface underneath the tiles, probably from all the foot traffic walking over it for so many years which required some much-needed attention. After carefully taking out the required number of tiles and setting those aside we had to lay a new covering of cement and insert stainless steel mesh plates to level the floor.

After the installation of the tiles, the floor was re grouted and thoroughly cleaned and left to dry off overnight.

Sealing Edwardian Style Tiles

We returned the next day to seal the floor, first checking to ensure the tiles had dried out overnight. To start the sealing, we applied a single coat of Tile Doctor Colour Grow with leaves a matt finish and left it to dry. Colour Grow is an impregnating sealer that provides stain protection whilst enriching the colour of the tiles in the process. Once the first coat was dry it was followed by the application of six coats of Tile Doctor Seal & Go which adds further layers of protection but leaves a satin finish that gives a rich, natural appearance and works really well on Victorian and Edwardian tiles. Source: Edwardian Tile Cleaning and Restoration Service in Muswell Hill, London

[newstfionline]

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Young People’s Despair Deepens as Covid-19 Crisis Drags On (NYT) Life seemed promising last year to Philaé Lachaux, a 22-year-old business student in France who dreamed of striking out on her own in the live music industry. But the onset of the pandemic, leading to the loss of her part-time job as a waitress, sent her back to live at her family home. Now, struggling to envision a future after months of restrictions, Ms. Lachaux says that loneliness and despair seep in at night. “The pandemic feels like a big stop in our lives,” she added. “One that puts us so low that I wonder, ‘What’s the point?’” With curfews, closures and lockdowns in European countries set to drag into the spring or even the summer, mental health professionals are growing increasingly alarmed about the deteriorating mental state of young people, who they say have been among the most badly affected by a world with a foreshortened sense of the future. Across the world, they have lost economic opportunities, missed traditional milestones and forfeited relationships at a pivotal time for forming identity. “Many feel they’re paying the price not of the pandemic, but of the measures taken against the pandemic,” said Dr. Nicolas Franck, the head of a psychiatric network in Lyon, France. In a survey of 30,000 people that he conducted last spring, young people ranked the lowest in psychological well-being, he said.

For Better Health During the Pandemic, Is Two Hours Outdoors the New 10,000 Steps? (WSJ) Will two hours in the park become the next 10,000 steps? As people spend more time indoors, a mountain of scientific research says spending time in nature is critical to health and increases longevity. That means being in fresh air, under trees and away from cars and concrete—on a regular basis. And, no, the Peloton doesn’t count. “There’s an urgent need emerging in science and at the gut level to increase the nature experience. This field is just exploding,” says Gretchen Daily, a professor of environmental science at Stanford University. The benefits have been clear to scientists for some time, but the pandemic has made the matter more urgent. The physical and emotional toll the virus has taken, especially in urban areas with little green space, has galvanized doctors, researchers and others to tap into nature’s therapeutic effects. Spending time in the woods—a practice the Japanese call “forest bathing”—is strongly linked to lower blood pressure, heart rate and stress hormones and decreased anxiety, depression and fatigue.

Winter Storm Brings Icy Temperatures and Power Outages Across U.S. (NYT) A coast-to-coast winter storm swept from Oregon and Washington to the Southeast on Sunday, part of a frigid weather pattern that has created record low temperatures in Minnesota and a 100-vehicle traffic pileup in Texas and that is now producing dangerous conditions across much of the country because of heavy snowfall, perilous ice and dangerously low temperatures. The National Weather Service said early Monday that at least 150 million Americans were under ice or winter weather advisories. Hundreds of thousands of people were without power. Trucks slid off highways and cars piled up on ice-coated roads. As the storm continued to intensify, officials urged residents to brace themselves. “The time to prepare for this storm was yesterday,” the National Weather Service in Texas said in an ominous warning issued on Sunday.

Power cuts hit 4.7 million users in northern Mexico after cold snap (Reuters) A cold snap knocked out power for 4.7 million users in northern Mexico early on Monday, triggering a scramble by authorities to restore service and bring in extra fuel, with parts of the neighboring United States also hit hard. Frozen pipelines and a squeeze on natural gas deliveries from Texas roiled several northern states, though by midday, service had been restored to 58% of the affected supply, Mexican national electricity grid operator CENACE said. CENACE urged people in the states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Nuevo Leon, Sinaloa, Sonora and Tamaulipas to curb power usage. The freeze also knocked out electricity for more than 2 million customers in Texas.

UK opens quarantine hotels, pushes on with vaccine drive (AP) Britain’s newly established quarantine hotels received their first guests on Monday as the government tries to prevent new coronavirus variants from derailing a fast-moving vaccination drive that has delivered more than 15 million shots in ten weeks. Passengers arriving at London’s Heathrow Airport were escorted by security guards to buses that took them to nearby hotels. Zari Tadayon, who flew to Heathrow from Dubai and was taken to the Radisson Blu Edwardian hotel near the airport, said she had hoped she would be allowed to quarantine at her home in London. She said she felt “horrible” about the enforced 10-day hotel stay. Under the new rules, residents of the U.K. and Ireland arriving in England from 33 high-risk countries must stay in designated hotels for 10 days at their own expense, with meals delivered to their door. In Scotland the rule applies to arrivals from any country.

Dragnet, planned law boost French fight of Islamic radicals (AP) More than three dozen police officers descended on a small private school in Paris, blocked the 92 students inside their classrooms, took photos everywhere, even inside the refrigerator, and grilled the school director in her office. “It was like they were moving in on a drug deal,” Hanane Loukili, the director and co-founder of the MHS middle and high school said, recalling the Nov. 17 scene. Loukili didn’t know it then, but a team from the Cell to Fight Radical Islam and Community Withdrawal, or CLIR, had arrived for an inspection. The dragnet sweeps schools, shops, clubs or mosques to rout out “radicalization.” Within a week, a shaken Loukili informed students their school was shutting down. Loukili insists she is no radical, but such operations illustrate the extent of French efforts to fight extremism as lawmakers prepare to vote Tuesday on a bill aimed at snuffing it out. The proposed legislation is intended to re-anchor secularism in a changing France, where Muslims are increasingly visible and Islam—the nation’s No. 2 religion—is gaining a stronger voice. The legislation, expected to pass the first critical vote, will also expand and facilitate the crackdown.

Russia’s rising poverty fuels political discontent (AFP) Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, crowds have grown at the Martha and Mary Convent in central Moscow. The white-walled women’s monastery houses one of Russia’s best known charities that gives out free food parcels, among other projects. Many of the visitors who queue for packages containing buckwheat, sugar, and tea are retired but there are also those who have lost their jobs or had their salaries cut. The coronavirus pandemic has delivered a new blow to Russia’s stagnating economy, which was already chafing under Western sanctions, low oil prices and weak corporate investment. Observers say that rising poverty, falling incomes and lack of tangible government support during the pandemic are fuelling discontent with President Vladimir Putin’s two-decade rule and strengthening the opposition. Russians’ real disposable incomes have been falling for the past half-decade, and contracted by 3.5 percent in 2020, while the cost of basic foodstuffs surged.

Military Imposes Full Grip on Myanmar in Overnight Crackdown (NYT) With the night in Myanmar came the terror. In cities across the country on Sunday evening, armored vehicles moved in, along with trucks filled with soldiers in camouflage. Security forces fired rubber bullets, water cannons and tear gas at a crowd. Troops surrounded the houses of government workers who had dared to join a nationwide civil disobedience campaign. Politicians, activists and journalists fled, turning off their phones as they disappeared into the shadows, hoping to outpace the men coming after them. On Saturday evening, the State Administration Council, the Orwellian name chosen by the coup-makers, announced that it was taking away basic civil liberties, allowing for indefinite detention and for the police to search homes with impunity. Arrest warrants were issued for veteran democracy activists who had already spent years in jail. Late into Saturday night, residents of Yangon and Mandalay, the two biggest cities, watched in horror as unidentified men lit fires to spook neighborhoods and ran. Police raids netted protesters and politicians alike. The day before, prisons had been emptied of 23,000 inmates in a mass amnesty. There is now room to spare to incarcerate people in what for decades has felt like a prison state.

Sudan says Ethiopian forces crossed border, raising tensions (Reuters) Ethiopian forces crossed into Sudanese territory in an act of “aggression”, Sudan’s foreign ministry said on Sunday, marking the latest flare-up in a long-standing border dispute. “Ethiopia’s trespass into Sudanese land is an unfortunate and unacceptable escalation, which could have dangerous repercussions on security and stability in the region,” the Sudanese foreign ministry said in a statement. Ethiopia has also accused Sudan of crossing into its territory. Clashes erupted late last year between Sudanese and Ethiopian forces over Al-Fashqa, an area of fertile land settled by Ethiopian farmers that Sudan says lies on the Sudanese side of a border demarcated at the start of the 20th century.

Note: News may be sporadic for the next few days because of internet and power outages.

[architectnews]

NoMad London Hotel, Covent Garden

NoMad London Hotel, Covent Garden Interior Renovation, Building Restoration, Architecture Photos

NoMad London Hotel in Covent Garden

18 May 2021

NoMad London Hotel Refurbishment

Design: Roman and Williams

Location: 4 Bow St, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 7AT, UK

New-York based hospitality company, Sydell Group, opens NoMad London, the first international property for The NoMad Hotel brand, in the historic former Magistrate’s Court in the heart of London’s West End.

Located in Covent Garden, opposite The Royal Opera House, NoMad London takes residence in the Grade II-listed building famously known as The Bow Street Magistrates’ Court and Police Station. This is the brand’s most intimate property at 91 rooms including 21 suites, centred around several exquisite dining and drinking spaces in the NoMad tradition.

The property is the Sydell Group’s second venture in London, following the company’s partnership with Ron Burkle and Soho House to open The Ned. Sydell Group’s Founder Andrew Zobler, has earned a reputation for his ability to transform historic buildings into meaningful hospitality experiences that preserve their historic spirit and bring them back to new life. Sydell Group has partnered with Doha-based investment firm BTC to launch the London outpost.

Bringing together the finest creative talents in architecture, design, art curation, food, beverage, and hospitality, each NoMad explores the artistic, cultural and historic interplay between its home city of New York and European culture. In London, NoMad lends its residential warmth and casual elegance to the storied building, layering it with rich interiors and a playful spirit that is decidedly NoMad.

In collaboration with New York-based interior design studio, Roman and Williams, the transformation of the historic 19th century building draws inspiration from the building’s history and its location in Covent Garden, as well as exploring the artistic and cultural connection between London and New York. Grounded in this narrative, and an ethos rooted in creating voltage by uniting complementary forces, the masculine character of the historic architecture is animated with interjections of femininity, glamour, and a cosmopolitan spirit. This is expressed through richly textured fabrics, aesthetic woodwork and ethereal murals.

The opening of the hotel comes on the heels of Roman and Williams’ most recent opening of the British Galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Robin Standefer, co-founder of Roman and Williams, says: “The spirit of the London NoMad is collected and fundamentally residential. It embraces a New Romanticism that has a powerful contrast with the grit and strength of the courthouse. From rich textured textiles to aesthetic inspired woodwork to ethereal murals, the space evokes a grand residence but always tempered with a bohemian spirit that Stephen and I infuse into every Roman and Williams project.”

Stephen Alesch, co-founder of Roman and Williams, says: “With all our projects we want people to feel comfortable and curious. On a journey of discovery that is familiar even if it’s from a dream they may have had. The Nomad is meant to be beautiful, bohemian and evocative all at once. The building is so powerful and remarkable that you are embraced by its strength, while the rich and textured interiors balance the bones. There is a tension between this muscularity and softness that creates a powerful narrative for the guest. There are many stories to discover and hopefully to create.”

NoMad London is also home to a world-class art programme that celebrates the influence of post-war American art and the European avant-garde. A collaboration with long-time Sydell creative partners, be-poles, the hotel accommodates a curation of over 1,600 collected and commissioned works by a variety of British and international artists that lends a deeply layered narrative to the hotel experience.

For the first time in a NoMad hotel, abstract art is featured in reference to the Abstract Expressionist movement, which represents a significant moment in New York’s influence on modern art.

Antoine Ricardou, founder of studio be-poles, says: “The art for NoMad London was carefully curated to explore the exchange of creative ideas between New York and London. The full collection is not only a unique ode to the neighborhood of Covent Garden and the Royal Opera House across the street, but to the NoMad’s American roots, creating a rich narrative that blends photographs, sculptures, ceramics, paintings, drawings and more.”

As in all NoMad properties, food and beverage plays an integral role in the experience with a host of dining and drinking experiences throughout and is overseen by Executive Chef Ashley Abodeely. The hospitality and dining room teams will be overseen by Food & Beverage Director and NoMad NYC opening alum, Chris Perone.

At the heart of the hotel, The NoMad Restaurant is housed in a lush, light-filled atrium evocative of an Edwardian greenhouse and is open five days a week (Tuesday to Saturday). Side Hustle is NoMad’s version of a British pub with a decidedly New York sensibility and a playful spirit, serving a menu of sharing plates paired with an agave-based list of spirits created by legendary mixologist Leo Robitschek and the award-winning NoMad Bar team.

The Library is the living room of the hotel where guests can enjoy light fare, coffee and tea, and cocktails amidst a thoughtful collection of books. Coming further down the line, Common Decency, is the first-ever NoMad lounge, and is nestled in a subterranean playground, offering a lively East London style craft cocktail bar complemented by elements of West End establishments.

NoMad London also offers over 9,000 square feet of elegant and adaptable space for weddings, events, meetings and private dining. The building’s original Magistrates’ Courtroom, now the Magistrates’ Ballroom, has been re-imagined as a formal space with two adjacent private dining rooms, a separate bar, and a dedicated entrance from the street using the original courtroom’s entrance.

A unique part of the hotel will also be the Bow Street Police Museum which pays homage to the building’s colourful past both as a police station for over 100 years and as a Magistrates’ Court.

Following government guidelines in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, NoMad London will adhere to regulations, including the appropriate PPE for restaurant and hotel personnel.

Room rates, starting from £455 Please visit thenomadhotel.com for more information

NoMad Hotels Grounded in the idea of the hotel as a great home layered with stories and animated by the collective spirit of its inhabitants, NoMad is our vision of an artfully lived life.

NoMad’s restaurants and bars celebrate the interplay between grand and intimate, classical and colloquial, festive moments of revelry and quiet meals that nourish the spirit. The offering is a reflection of the season, the place and the gracious, creative talent of the NoMad team that brings it to life.

Hotelier Andrew Zobler founded New York-based hospitality company, Sydell Group. In London, Zobler opened The Ned in partnership with Ron Burkle and Soho House. For NoMad London, he has partnered with Doha based investment firm BTC.

Sydell Group Sydell Group is the creator and manager of unique hotels deeply rooted in their location and architecture. Sydell’s core expertise is an ability to collaborate with original talent within the world of design, food & beverage, and retail, and bring them together in the creation of compelling new hotels that engage the communities around them. Sydell Group’s diverse portfolio of award-winning properties include The NoMad, New York, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas; The LINE LA, DC and Austin; Park MGM Las Vegas; and The Ned, London. www.sydellgroup.com

Roman and Williams Credited with disrupting the hospitality industry by creating an alternative to the ‘boutique’ hotel Roman and Williams is known for their work on such projects as Ace Hotel New York, The Boom Boom Room at the Standard High Line, and the historic Chicago Athletic Association Hotel. Their restaurants have received extensive praise, including Le Coucou, with Stephen Starr and Chef Daniel Rose, which was named New York City’s top restaurant of 2016 by the New York Times. In another project of cultural and civic significance, the firm is collaborating on the re-design of the British Galleries at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Roman and Williams has received numerous accolades for their approach, including the prestigious 2014 National Design Award for excellence in Interior Design and a recurring presence in Architectural Digest’s Top 100 Designers. Robin and Stephen were cited by Fast Company in 2016 as two of the most Creative People in Business.

be-poles and Portraits de Villes be-poles is a Paris and New York-based narrative design studio that breathes creative, 360-degree storytelling into hospitality and lifestyle brands. Their work encompasses architecture, interior design, branding, illustration, publishing, furniture design, amenity design and curating art collections for hotels, restaurants and retail spaces. Their clients include Sydell Group and NoMad Hotels, Four Seasons, Perseus Properties, Le Barn Hôtel, Hôtel Le Pigalle, Eleven Madison Park, Les Sources de Cheverny, Cyril Lignac, Moet Hennessy, and more. be-poles reveals the soul of a project, immersing it in graceful wabi-sabi, the Japanese philosophy that extols beauty in the impertinence of things, and the unexpectedness of happy accidents. For more information follow @bepoles on Instagram or visit www.be-poles.com. Shop be-poles-designed objects and books on www.shop.be-poles.com.

BTC Business Trading Company, also known as BTC was established in 1997 to fill the void which existed in Qatar for a retail environment offering the perfect mix of shopping, dining, and entertainment opportunities. Today BTC is famous both in Qatar and the entire GCC region for its proven expertise in the development and management of premium shopping malls, entertainment, real estate, and high-end retail brands. Ever since its inception, BTC has set exemplary high standards of excellence in all its areas of expertise. With the advent of every new project, the BTC has successfully raised and exceeded the standard it set.

Photography: Simon Upton

NoMad London Hotel, Covent Garden building images / information received 180521

Location: 4 Bow St, Covent Garden, central London, England, UK

London Architecture

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NoMad London Hotel Design: Roman and Williams photo © Emsie Jonker NoMad London Hotel

PACATA PACATA London Restaurant

Covent Garden London Market Covent Garden London Market

Covent Garden Flower Cellars Design: Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates Covent Garden Flower Cellars

New Covent Garden Market in South London

New Covent Garden Market Railway Arches Building Renewal Design: Neil Tomlinson Architects photograph courtesy Neil Tomlinson Architects

Embassy Gardens image from Wandsworth Council Embassy Gardens – One Nine Elms

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Comments / photos for the NoMad London Hotel, Covent Garden page welcome

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[pvccream8]

Discussing Upgrades On New Building And Construction.

Florida Top Home Builders.

Content

Exactly How The Residential Or Commercial Property Remodelling And Also Repair Services In London Work.

Rj Refurbishment Solutions.

Start Your Task.

Little Orangery Conservatories And Glass Conservatories.

Allow The Sunlight In! Everything You Wanted To Know Concerning Sunrooms

Newly Built Residences.

The firm you pick for the job will deal with the entire procedure and also keep you notified regarding the progression. In addition, they work to ensure they remain within budget as well as promptly.

What to do if Builder is cheating?

https://www.designbuild4u.co.uk/general-builders/ who is the victim of the unfair practices of the builder can approach the following forums for his redressal: 1. He can file a civil suit in a Civil Court. 2. He can file a complaint before the consumer Forum. 3. He can file a complaint before the Competition Commission of India. loft conversion company br/> 4. He can approach Regulatory Forums. More items

The glass extensions of today are designed to lower thermal loss and keep the residence warmer for longer all year. This will certainly assist to minimize energy costs as well as your carbon impact. Glass extensions typically include a glass roof covering to let in as much natural light as possible. This aids to produce an illusion of more area, which leads to an ambience that is brilliant and spacious. Just like other building expansions as well as sunrooms, you will call for planning permission for glass extensions.

Just How The Residential Or Commercial Property Restoration And Also Refurbishment Solutions In London Work.

If you are working with an engineer to install the expansion, they will certainly advise you on the policies prior to building starts. Besides the value glass extensions contribute to your house, they are eye-catching, specifically if they are developed to match the general design of the residence. If you have limited room, extensions are excellent for including room. Of course, there is additionally the appeal of having a room made from glass. The glazed expansion gives one of the most stunning views of the landscape.

Regardless of being an all-glass space, there are different design options you can make use of to personalise the expansion. The architectural components provide a possibility to make the expansion distinct. A suitable alternative is a powder-coated aluminium which has numerous tones to offer the expansion a modern and also classy look. And also with the stringent structure regulations, it is crucial to maintain high thermal effectiveness and decrease the glow of the sunlight. As a result, you need to take into consideration utilizing dual or triple glazed panels, which are much more energy-efficient.

Rj Refurbishment Solutions.

You likewise get to enjoy the sunlight from the convenience of your home. Therefore, if you want to light up your house with all-natural light, glass extensions are an excellent option. Your home is your haven, and it should show your style and also personality.

Begin Your Job.

Little Orangery Conservatories And Also Glass Conservatories.

Lots of house owners keen to add value to their homes as well as increase their space are purchasing a sunroom. A conservatory is a room containing a glass roofing and wall surfaces, generally attached to a home on one side.

What Do You Do With a Cowboy builder?

What they've done constitutes fraud, so you should complain to the police, giving them as much information on the builder as possible. Also complain to Trading Standards, which takes a very harsh view of rogue traders. If you can track down the cowboy builder and he refuses to refund your money, take him to court.

Many thanks to the bricked wall surfaces, orangeries can be tailor-maked to match nearly any design as well as are available in a series of colours. The lavish visual appeals can additionally add kerb attract your residence. Many glass extensions do not call for any kind of planning authorization. Thus, you ought to not expect hidden costs when the task starts.

How do I approach a home builder?

10 Tips for Choosing and Working With a Builder 1. Don't approach a builder too soon. 2. Consider the scope of the project. 3. Establish whether you need a specialist or just a general builder. 4. Aim for one point of responsibility. 5. Let the builder manage the project. 6. Be specific. 7. Embrace bidding. 8. Understand the importance of a building contract. More items•

Discover hints and also suggestions for filling your area with daytime, before-and-after galleries as well as case studies. The design of the roof of a 2 floor extension will certainly be subject to planning needs, however there are still alternatives to make the most effective selections. Bi-folding or sliding doors, roofing lights, glazed wall surfaces as well as structural glass are all choices that a good engineer will help you review to get the very best for your priorities.

Let The Sunlight In! Every Little Thing You Wanted To Know Regarding Sunrooms

Whether you are planning a simple pitched roof extension or a bigger project, prices can start to accumulate very promptly. Planning policies limit how far a two storey extension can predict.

If your neighbours have window openings in the direction of the suggested expansion, there are restrictions to stop a loss of light to the neighbours. The expansion should predict no even more back than a line set at 45 levels horizontally from the centre of adjoining home windows. Skylights are widely used in making daylighting for domestic, public, and commercial buildings. Enhanced daylighting can result in less electrical illumination usage as well as smaller sized window glazing, saving energy, decreasing prices, and decreasing environmental influences. Daylighting can cut illumination energy use in some buildings by as much as 80%.

The traditional glass provides the very same superb view, however during summertime, the warm will certainly be intolerable, and you could ice up in the winter season. Unlike a sunroom, glass extensions have a regular temperature as well as are beautiful. Below is a guide on glass extensions and the choices readily available.

Is the BCA now the NCC?

The Building Code of Australia (BCA) is contained within the National Construction Code (NCC) and provides the minimum necessary requirements for safety, health, amenity and sustainability in the design and construction of new buildings (and new building work in existing buildings) throughout Australia.

It can be used to meet many objectives and is usually made use of as a greenhouse, a sunroom or perhaps a kitchen. Many cottage conservatory extensions are of the lean-to design, as well as they are built to make sure that the top of the conservatory roof slope is no higher than the rain seamless gutters on the main home. Nevertheless, by expanding the elevation of the conservatory, and with some design panache, you can capitalize on layouts such as the Gable, Edwardian or perhaps Georgian conservatory kind.

House improvements often tend to be expensive, yet the worth it includes is worth it. In some cases all it takes to get the excellent interior space is flooding the area with all-natural light. With a glass extension, you can delight in the breath-taking views from your living room.

Experience 360-degree, self-guided scenic tours of all of our new residence layouts.

See each layout from street degree or doll-house floorplan view.

That brings us to a total amount of 2,000 houses because this program began in 2006.

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One of America's leading homebuilders and a Lot of money 500 firm, Lennar has had the opportunity helpful over one million households relocate right into the following stage of life with a brand-new home.

Select a home style, choose an elevation, add choices, area furnishings and also make notes.

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Congratulations to our cute new home owners at Preston at Brighton Touchdown.

An additional design choice for glass wall surfaces is including a roofing with openings on the ceiling for personal privacy. Expansions can vary substantially fit, dimension as well as consequently spending plan.

Why are bad builders called Cowboys?

Cowboy builder refers to the term cowboy with the meaning of reckless, unreliable: A house builder with no proper training or official qualifications who does work of a low standard.

Nevertheless, you won't need consent if the extension has an elevation of listed below four metres and also is far from highways and roads. Nevertheless, you will require a license if the extension is to be affixed to a noted building. To ascertain whether a permit is essential, you require to speak with an expert.

Developing a tiny glass box extension onto a smaller sized commercial residential property is suitable as it permits you to expand the building as well as produce more internal spaces. Nonetheless, by visiting this website you will discover how can also be created in much bigger dimensions to give great amounts of extra space.

[grantmkemp]

112 years ago, In the summer of 1908, the Olympic games came to London, with tennis and yachting popular among the very wealthy. The Edwardian period is sometimes portrayed as a romantic golden age of long summer afternoons and garden parties, and this immaculately dressed group of Edwardian sports fans have managed to combine a picnic, a game of tennis, and watching the boats on the Thames. This superb photograph records the end of a splendid afternoon in the sun, suitably shaded with the correct millinery, of course.

Some advice for the perfect Edwardian picnic by the river .... from "Every Woman’s Encyclopaedia volume 4"

"Leave nothing to chance. If a river picnic be in question, and the party be going down from town, write a couple of days beforehand to the traffic manager, asking to have a carriage reserved for your party by whichever train you propose to travel, not forgetting to mention the class. Write also to engage the necessary boat or boats – weather permitting – from a reliable waterman, who will have soda-water and stone ginger-beer in readiness to stow aboard, if asked to do so, besides good-naturedly providing bottles of drinking water for making tea.

It is hardly too much to say that at least half the success of a picnic depends upon the providing of daintily packed and appetising looking fare, be it as elaborate or as simple as you please; and the invention of cardboard plates and dishes has greatly simplified picnicking, for they cost only sixpence a dozen and are strong enough to allow of cold chicken and salad or cold meat pie being partaken of upon them. The weight is practically nothing, and they take up very little space to pack.

It is, moreover, only necessary to take one plate for each person, no matter how many courses may have been provided, for the plates, when bought, are each filled with a circle of grease-proof paper, and to cut any number of extra circles from a quire of grease-proof paper, with the help of a big pair of scissors, is an extremely simple matter, and the picnicker, armed with a single plate and half a dozen papers, may par-take of salmon mayonnaise, chicken and salad, or meat pie, tartlets, fruit salad, or strawberries and cream in succession, wrapping up the remains of one course in the paper plate-cover, and putting it in the rubbish heap, and re-covering her plate with a fresh paper before going on to the next course. Charming fluted cardboard dishes for fruit, salad, and cakes are obtainable also, while smaller plates with a pretty blue-and-white border may be had for tea.

Pies and tarts baked in white enamelled tin dishes travel beautifully, and salad, having been well washed and shaken in a cloth, and then placed in a white damask table-napkin, will arrive crisp and fresh. Butter keeps best if packed in a white china jam-pot, tied down with grease-proof paper, and cream travels well if ordered in a patent stoppered bottle from the dairy, and wrapped in green leaves to keep it cool.

Jam tartlets make a delicious and much appreciated picnic sweet, and are easily packed if the pastry cases, when baked, are piled one on top of the other like saucers in a biscuit tin, and a small pot of jam taken separately to fill them on the spot. A couple of dozen cases will go easily into quite a small tin packed in this way, with a little tissue paper to prevent them from shaking about if the tin is jolted. A plain lunch cake or gingerbread cake is always much appreciated.

Both brown and white bread, wrapped in a white cloth to keep it fresh, should be taken, allowing a loaf to every three guests for luncheon or supper, for people often develop astounding picnic appetites.

Fruit salad travels well in a big jam-jar tightly tied down, or, better still, fitted with a screw top, and extra juice can be taken, if liked, in a separate well-corked bottle, and clearly labelled.

If salmon mayonnaise is taken, have the fish boiled, boned, and skinned, and wrapped first in oil-proof paper, and then in dry cabbage-leaves, and rolled up in a white table napkin. Carry the mayonnaise sauce in a screw-topped bottle with a good wide mouth, for, though it will pour in easily enough, it will probably be impossible to get it out after it has thickened.

Drinks are a very important matter. Stone ginger-beer is always popular, and, if wine is to be taken, hock and claret are best, with plenty of soda-water to accompany them. Few people know that tumblers are to be had for a penny each at any penny bazaar, and are quite good enough for picnic purposes. Choose the shape which will half-fit inside one another, and allow a couple of extra glasses in case of accidents.

For river picnics it is essential to have some sort of portable spirit-lamp and kettle for making tea, and a biscuit-tin in which to place them while boiling, to avoid all chance of setting light to the boat. For a tea picnic always provide lettuces, a pot of jam, potted meat, and fruit, and very simple cakes.

The tea should be measured out beforehand into squares of coarse-meshed butter muslin, which has previously been washed and dried, about five teaspoonfuls for each square is a good allowance, and the ends are then twisted up and tightly tied with cotton, allowing plenty of room for the tea to swell. When tea-time comes a bag of tea is dropped in the teapot, and boiling water poured on to it. This obviates the difficulty of making second brews of tea with a single teapot, for the bag can easily be taken out and thrown away, and a fresh one substituted.

A moonlight picnic given in the height of summer on a night on which a full moon is due as soon as the dusk falls is sure of success, and one’s menkind, who have been working in the City all day, as a rule welcome the idea of a few hours spent out in the open air with much enthusiasm.

Such a picnic party might meet at the railway station at half-past six or seven, and on arrival at their destination should take possession of a field where the grass has already been cut, spreading their tablecloth on sloping ground, so that if heat mists rise along the hedges of low-lying fields they may be high above them.

Each member of the party should be provided by the hostess with a Chinese lantern and a nightlight or candle, and these can be hung to the branches if the moon delay her rising or be overcast, and will also serve to light the picnickers on their homeward way, making a highly picturesque effect as they wind through the fields and by-paths.

Subscription picnics, if well organised, will prove an immense success. An honorary secretary must be appointed, who will draw up a list of necessary provisions, and then write postcards to each of the party giving directions as to what to bring.

In a party of ten, for instance, for a moonlight supper picnic, two might bring fruit, two a supply of daintily cut ham sandwiches, one a dozen hard-boiled eggs and a bottle of cream, one salad and paper picnic plates; two might share a big cake between them, and two provide drinks, the honorary secretary making herself responsible for a table-cloth and a few knives and spoons, besides her share of the provisions, for, with such fare as has been described, knives and forks would not be needed, while the fact of the provisions being divided up into so many separate parcels makes it easy to convey them to the picnic ground without hiring outside help. Impromptu picnic dances run on the same lines in summer-time by a party of intimate friends collected together at any little seaside or riverside resort, where a suitable room or boat-house, or even a barn with a polished floor, can be hired for the night, are delightful.

Each picnicker subscribes a trifle towards the music and the room hire, and each one arrives “on the night” armed with a mysterious parcel or packet, which, when unpacked at supper-time, reveals itself to be a basket of fruit, sandwiches, or a cake, or, perchance, a bottle of claret or hock, the provisions being partaken of in impromptu fashion on the stairs or in the garden."

Excerpt from "Every Woman’s Encyclopaedia volume 4"

This is my restored, and colourised version of a black, and white photo postcard, as you can see I have recreated the missing section from the original off-centre picture, taken, and produced early July 1908

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