Children at Belton House
he perfect English country house, set in its own extensive deer park, Belton was designed to impress. Built in the late 17th century for ‘Young’ Sir John Brownlow, with family fortunes founded in law, it is one of the finest examples of Restoration architecture and was, for centuries, the scene of lavish hospitality. Opulent décor, stunning silverware, imposing paintings and personal mementos convey wealth while retaining a family atmosphere. Delightful gardens, luxuriantly planted orangery and lakeside walks ensure Belton is a pleasure to explore all year round. Featured in the BBC’s TV adaptation of Pride and Prejudice starring Colin Firth.
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Greylag goose goslings
Two Greylag goose goslings (baby geese) in a grass field. Latin name: Anser Anser.
The West front of Lincoln Cathedral
The West front of Lincoln Cathedral with a 1500s Tudor building in the foreground. Lincoln Cathedral towers above the city and is one of the finest medieval buildings in Europe. The West Front incorporates the surviving part of the first Romanesque Cathedral dating from 1072. Most of the Cathedral dates from the 13th century when the Cathedral was re-built in the new gothic style.
Bluebell Railway
A tilt-shift image of a steam train entering Sheffield Park Station on the Bluebell Railway. “The volunteer run Bluebell Line was the UK’s first preserved passenger railway, re-opening part of the old London Brighton & South Coast Railway in 1960. Since then it has developed into one of the largest tourist attractions in Sussex, remaining true to its objectives of the preservation for posterity of a country branch line, its steam locomotives, coaches and goods stock, signalling systems, stations and operating practices.”
Keal Hill, Lincolnshire
A panoramic view of Keal Hill on the Lincolnshire Wolds.
Baby-blue-eyes portrait
These blue flower are Nemophila menziesii or Baby Blue Eyes. This image was taken at Belton House in Linconlshire in June. Dowload a high resolution image of Baby Blue Eyes flowers from here.
Arundel Castle
Apart from the occasional reversion to the Crown, Arundel Castle has descended directly from 1138 to the present day, carried by female heiresses from the d’Albinis to the Fitzalans in the 13th century and then from the Fitzalans to the Howards in the 16th century and it has been the seat of the Dukes of Norfolk and their ancestors for over 850 years.
Lincoln Cathedral and Bishop’s Palace
A dramatic image of Lincoln Cathedral behind the ruins of Bishop Lincoln’s Medieval Palace.
Standing in the shadow of Lincoln cathedral, the bishops’ palace was once the administrative centre of the largest diocese in medieval England, its architecture reflected the enormous power and wealth of the bishops as princes of the church. Begun in the late 12th century, the palace’s most impressive feature is the undercrofted West Hall, completed in the 1230s. Having hosted visits from Henry VIII and James I, the palace was sacked by Royalist troops during the Civil War.
Stonehenge
Dusk at Stonehenge – prehistoric stone circle, Wiltshire, England. Dramatic backlit image with subdued colours. Although backlit, some detail is still visible in the stones, as are the silhouettes of visitors (bottom right).
An awe-inspiring sight, Stonehenge is a powerful reminder of the once-great people of late Stone and Bronze Age Britain. Erected between 3,000 BC and 1,600 BC, a number of the stones were carried hundreds of miles over land and sea, while antlers and bones were used to dig the pits that hold the stones. Modern techniques in archaeology, and the series of recent digs, have helped to shape new theories about the stones, but their ultimate purpose remains a fascinating mystery. Download from iStockphoto
Old leather football on overgrown grass pitch
Close-up of a well-used silver leather football at rest in long grass. Download from iStockphoto.
New York Crystal Palace, 1853
From The Illustrated London News, Saturday August 13, 1853, ”Inauguration of the New York Crystal Palace, platform in the North nave”. The New York Crystal Palace was an exhibition building constructed for the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations in New York City in 1853, under the presidency of Mayor Jacob Aaron Westervelt. The building stood in Reservoir Square.
The Great Western Hotel, Paddington
From The Illustrated London News, Saturday December 18, 1852. The Great Western Hotel, Paddington, London by architect P Hardwick RA, built to accommodate increasing passenger numbers on the Great Western Railway. Download from iStockphoto.
Express engine for London and North-Western Railway
From The Illustrated London News, Saturday December 18, 1852. ”The magnificent new engines now worked on the London and North Western-Railway for the express trains are of the largest class of passenger engines yet introduced upon the narrow gauge. They combine several important improvements, which have recently been patented by Mr McConnell, the locomotive engineer of the company.”
Traditional red British telephone box
A traditional red British telephone box in the countryside – now quite rare and hard to find.
Don’t even blink!
In honor of the fact that we are smack in the middle of a Doctor Who Weeping Angels two-parter, here is an image I took of the scariest Doctor Who monsters ever at Earl’s Court in 1998.
50% off SmugMug
I’m currently a Zenfolio user but want to give SmugMug a go now they seem to have grown up a little bit (I was never keen on the little green smily faces). Anyway, I just found a fantastic 50% off coupon code if anyone is interested. Just enter sMUGsHOT on the signup page.
Urban pigeons scavenging for food
Urban pigeons scavenging for food in Lincoln city centre.
St Paul’s Cathedral – London skyline at night
St Paul’s Cathedral – London skyline at night. Tilt shift image (focus on St Paul’s dome.
Little girl exploring castle ruins
Tilt-shift image of a little girl exploring the ruins of a Norman castle.