Morgan Service Time so off to London again

Morgan Service Time, So I am Setting off for London.

I have always taken the Morgan back to its Supply Dealership SGT based in Taplow Berkshire.. The trip also allows me to see our son who lives in Bucks and while the car is being serviced I make yet another trip into London top visit the Museums.

The journey up was awful with lashing rain so here I park the now dirty Morgan at Longbridge Mill Hotel at Chineham just north of Basingstoke and head inside for a break and a welcome coffee.  

 The building on the left was the original Watermill Building feeding off of the River Lodden.

 The rest of the facility is formed from the original Mill Owners House.

 The Mill from my comfortable seat in the restaurant.

 Standing on the bridge over the mill stream some of the discarded mill equipment is rusting away.

 Those who know my penchant for photographing Toilet Art will probably expect to see these next two shots taking inside the Men's Room.

Everything is beautifully Clean and New as the whole location has recently been fully refurbished.

Haunting Aroma

It is rare to have enough time to take close ups of all of the pictures before someone else enters the facilities so these are the few that I managed to take in the time available. 

Notable in its Category 

Then came a Parson so Burley and Big - &e

The Feast of Reason, & The Flow of Soul  - i.e. - The Wits of the Age, setting the Table in a roar.

Unknown 

Advertising Plate for Morris Garages.

I took this photo of the lighting effect under a tree in the grounds of my overnight hotel.

In the morning I would deliver the Morgan to the garage where it will have its annual service and MOT test. This will be the day that I utilise by taking the train into London to visit the Science and the Victoria & Albert Museums.

In the past, I have always travelled from Paddington Station to South Kensington by Underground. This time I decided to try and walk there across Kensington Gardens in Hyde Park.

It was the best decision I have made and was most enjoyable. There were Dog Walkers, Joggers and Other Walkers using the many paths there, just like me.

The Serpentine Gardens were beautiful and something I had not seen before and the whole walk was only 1.8 Miles. Plenty of time and opportunity to take photos, as you will see below.     

St James's Church is just around the corner from Paddington Main Line Station.

Hyde Park is just at the end of this road.

The Traffic Light here on The Bayswater Road will soon halt the mighty roar of London's traffic to allow me to cross over and enter the park via those steps. 

To the right I get my first view of the serpentine gardens as I head down the hill to turn left and walk along the west side on the water.

This Wood Panelled Gazebo was popular with people having a lunch break.

The Italian Water Garden has this group of magnificent fountains.

This unusual Roll Royce Ice Cream Van seemed to be unoccupied.

I will be partaking of one of its Smooth Cornets on my return later in the day.

Looking back the Royal Lancaster Hotel towers over the treeline.

Looking down the Serpentine the Carriage Drive Road Bridge is clearly visible.

My route across the park stretches into the distance

Along the way I come across this large stud telling me that I am walking The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Walk.

To the right Kensington Palace, Home of the Princess and Princes, comes into view across the park.

As the signpost below shows, Paths stretch away in all directions.

One of the many park signposts.

At the junction stands this Magnificent Statue 'Physical Energy' placed here in 1907.

The Centenary Plaque

Trying to get all of the angles without others in shot proved impossible.

Looking back gave me the best view.

Directly in front of me is the rear side of The Albert Memorial and The Royal Albert hall.

I could take dozens of photos as there are so many elements worthy of close ups.

The Scale of the Monument is clear to see against this other tourist.

One of the Four Corner Tableau featuring the Bison in White

Another shot of The Albert Hall with its unfortunate Scaffold & Covering.

The Camel forms the centre piece of this one.

There are Four more corner groups and a very detailed freeze around the whole raised section.

Each of the Gable Ends have these beautiful frescos.

And Prince Albert himself sits on his Central Plinth.

The third corner piece featuring the Indian Elephant.

Albert from the front.

The last of the four corner groups features the Magnificent Bull.

One last look back from the road level as I leave the park.

The Park Map allows me to follow my route.

Heading for Exhibition Way I pass the East Door and notice these massive security barriers now to be found around the whole perimeter.

High on a wall across the road I spot this plaque.

His home was somewhere in this Apartment Block

This road is called Kensington Gore. More Barriers following the roadway.

Across the next road is famous The Royal College of Music

Looking back here is the Main Entrance of the Albert Hall.

In keeping with the Architecture this Temporary Shuttering has been magnificently decorated on the period

Another Statue to Prince Albert

More Classy Apartments and Security Barriers.


The View along Prince Consort Road.

One last look at the Albert Hall.

The entrance to the North Wing of The World Class Imperial College London, The Science, Engineering, Medicine and Business University.

Looking back into Kensington Gore from the south the profile of this building seems to be just One Room Wide.

Turning into Exhibition Way the quite different Front Elevation of the Modern Imperial College London comes into view

On the wall of an Office Building opposite I spotted this plaque in memory of the Victims of the Hungarian Uprising of 1956. After stepping back I noticed that there were also two Floral Wreaths attached to the railings.

I remembered that back in 1956, when I was a Boy Scout, our Troup helped rebuild two Prefabricated Bungalows in our town of Fareham which were to re house two of these refugee families.

Next is the façade of The Science Museum where I am heading.

Being the Half Term Holiday for some Schools I was expecting to find a queue outside.

Opposite is this beautiful wing of The Victoria and Albert Museum which is difficult to photograph without including those massive flagpoles.

Inside the Entrance Hall of the Science Museum is the decorated Tuc Tuc celebrating all things Indian.

Some of the many items inside the vehicle.

In the James Watt Hall the Giant Pump was actually operating under live steam.

This must be a special event for the School Children to see.

I travelled to the top floor seeking a new exhibition and came across The Fly Zone where they have introduced these New Flight Simulators replicating The Red Arrows.

I watched these two pods being tossed and turned almost through 180 degrees of rotation just like the display aircraft.

This more classic simulator seemed to be demonstrating a flight in a Typhoon.

(as feature on the control panel below.)

Then I found the exhibition floor that I was seeking. It had taken almost two years to assemble since they removed the Technical Drawing Display that I just missed when making my first visit.

The Mathematics Exhibition

I have taken the liberty in this section of the Blog to use the Notes provided with each exhibit rather than miss something important.

The display feature Mathematics and many of the Practical Applications invented over the centuries.

This little pocket Financial Calculator was invented by one Samuel Morland in 1666  

This contraption is a University Development which I failed to record what it actually is for?

Mathematics used in Architecture for the development of Cities and Buildings

A Complex Sector made from Ivory.

As a Collector of Technical Drawing Instruments I have to say that I have never seen anything like this Massive Boxed Set from 1800.

So many instruments set our beautifully on these four trays in this giant box.

Many of which I have never seen before and have no idea of their use.

A beautiful set which must be worth a small fortune.

Marine Architecture is featured by these Ship Models 

The excellent and complex Enigma Encryption Machine

A peculiar Coding Invention for confidentiality between friends, ministers or ambassadors..

Mathematically created lighting shapes hang from the ceiling.

Calculating the Aerodynamic effects during Flight

One of the now famous National Lottery Number selectors 'Guinevere' presumably now replaced.

This fascinated me in that it was used to calculate the Betting Odds.

Used at Wembley Dog Racing Track around 1933

Mathematical Shapes used to create this superb Lighting Display.

A Cross Section Model through The Thames Flood Barrier

At this point on the visit I decided that it was time for lunch and for that I would head across to the Victoria & Albert Museum to the café which I happen to prefer.

The last time I was here this whole are was behind Builders Boarded Walls as a major rebuild was underway.

Now it is completed and I would be heading over there to enter the museum  through a new set of doors.

This plaque to the sponsors is difficult to read being printed on Mirror Steel or similar?

The Walk Way is interesting as it is formed from these textured Tiles.

In the background is a new café and Angled Lighting Windows for the rooms below.

Unfortunately I would not get to see inside as a special exhibition on The Opera was taking place there and I did not have the time to go there.

Travel down the slope or take the steps.

On the way I am once again distracted by these beautiful statues 

This area is popular with Students of Art often seen sketching the exhibits.

The central courtyard taken through the window as I make my way around to the café.

Some new Creative Seating set in the corner.

While enjoying my lunch I cannot resist another photo of the Café Tiling 

The Oval Pond seen from one end.

Inside the Wooden Seating Pods

I photographed this Statue as I fancy trying to sketch it when I get a moment.

I decided to visit the Jewellery Display next as I had not seen it before. I did not take any photos there due to the sensitivity of those valuable objects.

From Jewellery it was into another new gallery to me full of beautiful Silverware.

After that I found two Art Galleries devoted to John Constable & Turner works in one and a host of other Artists in the other.

I could have filled another Blog with phots but restricted myself to these few.

This statue on the stair case reminds me of the two Trumpeting Angels either side of the High Alter in At Mary's Church Beaconsfield.

It was just here that I received the phone call to tell me that my cars was ready to be collected.

I would need to be heading back to Paddington Station

I love this picture of Salisbury Cathedral. It is a Constable that I have not seen before. 

These next two massive pictures of The Leaping Horse are only his Full Size Oil Sketches before painting the final pictures.

I believe that the Final Painting is held in The Royal Academy of Arts

This second Oil Sketch is of Willi Lot's Cottage and The Hay Wain. The Final Picture is in The National Gallery.

As I head for the exit I pass yet another piece of the buildings exotic architecture 

The Ornate Staircases

On Route I pass through yet another gallery that I have not seen before. 

This Furniture Exhibition is in an old Library 

This is one of the Full Size replica House Rooms just waiting for me to explore in more detail the next time I visit the V&A.

As I cross Hyde Park I spot this map of a Royal Parks Half Marathon held there on October 8th.

One last view of Albert. Very Autumn with the leaves falling as the Trees begin to turn orange.

Wow, Between the trees in the opposite direction I can see the Shard superimposed behind The Millennium Wheel

I have no idea what this building is for?

The Serpentine Gallery

Another Hyde Park Gazebo lurks among the trees.

Feeding the Pigeons 

Another View of The Carriage Drive Bridge

The Arch by Henry Moore can be seen across the Serpentine 

Birds are in abundance on the water.

My last view along the Serpentine.

Something has spooked the Pigeons as they suddenly take to the sky.

Wildlife in the park

The Beautiful 'Peter Pan' Statue so popular with Children 

Cormorants drying their wings in the afternoon sun.

More information on the many birds to be found here.

Some more Cormorants at their rest.

As I am almost at the end of the park here are just a last few views of the Fountains as I make my way to that Ice Cream that I promised myself.

Back to where I began the Park Walk

Paddington is just up the road and in just over an hour I will be in The Morgan driving back to Hampshire in the Friday Rush Hour.

I hope that you enjoyed the journey once more.

Frank