Hertford Town

Small views of Hertford Town - the town bucks the trend by being largely free of multiple chain shops, making it an interesting place to wander around the riverside and shop.

McMullens were seed merchants and is still a local brewery.

A modest church ...

... and a love of witches.

Classical builders.

Haileybury Storm Warning

Storm clouds gathering over Haileybury ...

... running rain.

Gibberd Sculpture Gardens

Gibberd Gardens is the private house of architect and town planner Fred Gibberd - he designed the layout for Harlow New Town and the architectural aspects of Didcot Power Station; despite these modern monstrosities the 16 acre garden he pulled together on the country outskirts of Harlow (architects never live in the towns they design) is a delightful place to visit on a sunny day.

Two Dogs Running, by Robert Clatworthy - the turds from these bronze dogs are everywhere, mind where you step.

Green River Scene, a small slow stream wends its way through the solitary woods

Torso, by John Skelton

Lime Tree Avenue entering into the gardens

Lucinda the Nymphet, by Gerda Rubenstein

Mighty Urns

Palm Tree

Interlock, by Paul Mount

Coutts Bank Columns, Gibberd refurbished Coutts Bank and nicked these for his garden.

Bark Rubbing? in the park

Mother and Son, by Gerda Rubenstein

Bathing in Marble

Queen Victoria, terracotta eyeless in essex

Film Snaps, the actress is just sorting out her shoe

Owl, by Antanas Brazdys it's a tricky shaving mirror

The Patron, Sir Fred

A Stone Sandwich

Lucinda, still stretching

Link to the garden's website:
http://www.thegibberdgarden.co.uk/sirfrederickgibberd.htm

Graffiti and Rubbish

You'll find it everywhere and Herts and Essex is no exception, here's some of the best/worst around.

First a warning ...

You will be prosecuted.

Red Bull, this slug was last seen tearing away at 2mph after supping on this caffeine rich brew.

 Teddy Rattle, I took this one home and cleaned it, good as new -  the baby loves teething on it.

Teddy Too, my missus wouldn't let the sprog keep this one I'm not sure why.

Duck Slipper, I couldn't find the other one, it's size XX so if you've got one send it to me the kid's got one cold foot at the mo.

Simple Tag, this is about as lazy as any graffiti is gonna be a lonely tag under a road bridge.

Throw Up, getting better this trainee tries out some shadow work.

Dissing It Out, no one's really impressed with this - "copy cat" and "toy" say it loud.

Break Fast Choice, cryptic or what?

Tilbury Fort, Essex

Out on the windy reaches of the Essex Thames is a fort built to protect London built by Henry the 8th and extended to stop Napoleon sailing upstream and stealing our crown jewels.  Over several decades is has been upgraded with heavier guns but never saw any real action until WW2 when it was kitted out with ack-ack guns to protect the docks.

Tilbury Fort Entrance is constructed in a Baroque style from natural sandstone.  The fort is maintained by English Heritage and is open every day of the year except Christmas Day, manned by brave souls even on bitterly cold winter days.

Ack-Ack Guns these newish guns from WW2 are mounted on the old fortifications.

Shell Store, guns are fed by shells from underground magazines beneath each of the guns.

Tunnels link the shell magazines across most of the perimeter of the site.

Gunpowder Stores are located well away from the guns and have very heavy buttressed walls designed to stay in place if an explosion blows the roof off.

Naval Gun a 3 inch deck gun from a submarine.

Double Bore shore gun slowly rusting away.

Rear Entrance to the fort is across two wooden bascule bridges spanning a double moat.

Bridge Across the Moat, this is a modern rebuild.

25 Pounder Field Gun, mainstay artillery weapon for UK forces in France WW2.

Morris Commercial, 2.5 ton truck for pulling guns and ammo around.

Interior of Morris, note the air filter in the cab to stop sand and dust clogging up the air intake.

Worlds End Pub, right next to the fort's entrance is the pub for steak and kidley pud.

Thames Mud Flats, facing onto the fort - there's a nice walk along the river wall.

Further information, http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.12192  the fort is a good day out to a part of Essex rarely visited and good value at about £4 entrance - allow at least half a day maybe more if you take a walk along the riverside.