Ham Photos

Improving Ham Village Green

2012-02-12T11:31:00.000Z

I am sure that more could be mad of Ham Village Green given a little determination and some effort. The small garden in the nearby Ham Library shows what determination and effort can achieve and Ham Village Green provides a larger canvass on which to experiment with benches and plants.

Some things have been tried, which I welcome. The corner by the Ashburnham Road bus stop has seen the arrival of some young trees and a strange assortment of rocks and logs. The intention appears to be to provide a space for your children to scramble while their mothers and fathers sit to keep watch over them.

Winter Wonderland

2012-02-10T15:38:00.000Z

The second fall of snow the year was lighter than the first and disappeared even more quickly so it was only the early birds that saw it briefly cloak Ham Lands down by Royal Park Gate in white.

The trees resented the snow and were shaking it off as I walked through them and it almost fooled me in to thinking that it was still snowing.

Roof and spire at St Richards

2012-02-08T00:59:00.001Z

I hardly ever go in to a church and I find the architecture of most of them bland and unimaginative but that cannot be said of St Richards. I have no idea what the interior looks like, nor am I curious enough to find out, whereas the exterior view is a different story with its unusual roof, glass panels and prominent spire.

A little snow on the Common

2012-02-05T16:29:00.000Z

The first snow of the Winter fell overnight bringing chaos to transport systems and glee to small children who were quick build snowmen, slide, throw snowballs and make tracks in the virgin snow. By mid-afternoon the morning's dreams were already turning to slush.

Simply a nice house

2012-02-04T12:54:00.001Z

Sudbrook Lane could lay claim to being the most prestigious road locally thanks to houses like this, which is fairly typical for the road. The Georgian proportions and symmetry combined with the fresh white finish make this a bold and assertive house and also a good backdrop for the vines, trees and bushes in front of it.

Sudbrook Lane's only shame is that it allowed Dickens Close to be tagged on to the end of it. The modern mock Georgian houses there have few redeeming features and fit uncomfortably next to their genuine neighbours.

Vertical windows

2012-02-01T23:19:00.002Z

I was somewhat cruel about the rear of this house with its scatter-gun approach to roof windows but the face it presents to the Sudbrook Lane is an entirely different matter and I have nothing but praise for the tall vertical windows framed with a fresh and modern grey.

Collecting windows

2012-01-30T13:41:00.001Z

I am sure that they are all very useful and make the house a lot brighter inside but the sheer number of windows and their scattered arrangement make for a distinctly odd roof.

Red tower

2012-01-28T11:53:00.003Z

The former All Saints Church in Bute Avenue can reasonably lay claim to being the most impressive building locally. Others may be bigger, more historical and have better gardens but All Saints is unsurpassed in the arrogance of its design. It stands bright and tall surrounded by much lesser houses that gather around it as if paying homage.

The height and colour of the red tower are enough in themselves to warrant this awe but All Saints is also highly decorated with intricate designs in the brick work. Nothing about this design is plain and simple, even the lowliest windows get the full treatment of layered arches.

Shy house

2012-01-24T22:48:00.000Z

This house is doing its very best to stay hidden. It has chosen one of the quietest roads to live in, has built a tall wall in front of it and now seeks further protection from a coat of scaffolding and a shabby plastic hat.

Winter trees

2012-01-22T13:11:00.003Z

Winter brings with it clear blue skies (at times) and trees bereft of leaves which draw a fractured web of angular branches above us.

Looking out for frogs

2012-01-19T22:42:00.000Z

As Church Road hits Latchmere Lane and turns sharply north toward Ham Gate there is a stark warning that we may encounter frogs. I suspect we are meant to worry more about their safety more than our own but as I have never encountered any there I cannot comment on their ferocity.

St Andrews in the sun

2012-01-16T20:22:00.002Z

I do not like St Andrew's Church very much and so it has not featured in this archive for almost three years. It is not an attractive building and its setting, surrounded by trees, makes it dark and unwelcoming.

You can see some of that here with the graveyard choked by shadow but the sun has managed to climb above the trees to warm and brighten the red brick wall at the back of the church.

Hidden house

2012-01-14T17:08:00.000Z

The houses and gardens on the south side of Ham Farm Road have matured nicely and what once must have seemed brash and even brutal now blends in with Ham Common Woods opposite.

I've chosen this example as the garden almost succeeds in hiding the house. Something that it has been trying to do for fifty years since being planted by the then, and still current, owner.

An even closer look at Toad of Toad Hall

2012-01-12T22:15:00.000Z

I love this weather vane immensely, which is why I've taken three photographs of it in the last four years.

The magnificent Toad of Toad Hall first appeared in this blog back in March 2008.At the time I was using a Canon Ixus 55. Then, in February 2009, I took another picture with my then brand new Ixus 80 IS with its better zoom and image stabilisation software.

Three years later and my camera has been upgrade again and I now use a Canon Powershot 230HS which has an even better zoom despite still being small enough to fit easily in to a pocket.

I think that this picture shows that the upgrade was worth it.

Another fallen tree

2012-01-11T23:15:00.000Z

It's a sign of unstoppable change when a tree falls. It marks the passage of time and reminds us that we can take even beautiful things for granted when they have been there for so long. You only know what you've got when it's gone, as they say.

Somebody was alert to the fall and the top of the tree was trimmed quickly to reopen the path. So far so good but now somebody else needs to plant some new trees to fill the gaps left by this one and the others that have fallen in the cause of nature.

Locked wheel

2012-01-10T20:40:00.001Z

It is sometimes easy to forget when admiring the beauty of Teddington Lock that its primary function is as a machine for lifting and lowering boats to allow them to pass the weir.That is why it has wonderfully sturdy and industrial features like this wheel, conveniently locked in case children discover it.

Fading hollyhocks

2012-01-09T13:33:00.002Z

The garden by the office at the south-east end of Teddington Lock are manicured, regimented and tidy which contrasts with the ad hoc arrangement of hollyhocks at the north-west end, beyond the barrier that keeps visitors safe from the river, that almost convinces you that they arrived their naturally.

Even as the year turns some of the flowers remain defiantly colourful while on other plants it is the leaves that choose to show off.

A gathering of seagulls

2012-01-08T15:46:00.000Z

On the quieter west (Surrey) side of Teddington Lock a flock of seagulls has gathered to make the most of the wind and grey skies that they appear to be enjoying more than I was.

What I was enjoying was the clutter. The picture is busy with various purposeful bits attached to the lock in the foreground, moored boats in the middle and flats on the Teddington bank bringing up the rear.

Long lock

2012-01-04T22:33:00.002Z

Teddington Lock is one of those places that rewards every visit with something new. This time I walked to the very end of the lock and took this picture looking back. The things that I note from this view are the sheer length of the lock, the care and attention that are paid to the grounds with it's new trees, neat grass, seats and picnic tables, and the two lock-keepers cottages on the Surrey bank.

The weir at Teddington

2012-01-03T08:21:00.001Z

Where Ham meetings Teddington the river has been tamed to allow safe passage for boats along the river and for pedestrians across it. The first signs of this as you walk along the tow-path north from Kingston are the sights and sounds of the weir and the constructions around it.

The industrial brutality of the weir is echoed by the boats moored on the Surrey bank. In the middle the calmed water reflects what it sees without prejudice.

Long shadows on Ham Common

2012-01-01T15:55:00.000Z

The long Winter shadows stretch longingly across Ham Common and almost reach as far as the parade of trees that efficiently divides East from West. Beyond the divisive trees can be glimpsed Sudbrook Lodge and the New Inn.

Spoiling the view slightly are the cars on Upper Ham Road that add unnatural colours and alien movement. I would love to see substantial bushes line the road to hide it from the Common.

Work finished on Ham Pond

2011-12-28T19:04:00.001Z

Now that the grey metal fencing and orange plastic barriers have been removed it is possible to see what the work on Ham Pond was all about. Actually I am little the wiser.

Clearly something has been done to what I presume is in inlet pipe but I do not know what. They must have done more that just protect the outlet with bricks and sandbags.

Christmas soldiers

2011-12-22T17:55:00.001Z

These bright soldiers look as though they've escaped from the rats in the Nutcracker and have made their way to Dance Active on Ham Parade to protect the young girls inside from anything evil passing by.

They also remind us that it is the Christmas Season far more than the silly little trees that have been stuck above the shops do.

Pink crosses

2011-12-17T17:23:00.000Z

I presume that the pink crosses mark the trees for death which would be a great shame as there are quite a few pink crosses scattered around the little pond in Ham Common Woods by Ham Gate.

Landmark tree

2011-12-11T12:39:00.001Z

At times the 65 feels like a tour bus offering views of places that are hidden to those on the ground (such as the Petersham Elephants) or just different views of familiar places.

An example of this is the downwards view of the dignified tree at the confluence of Petersham Road and Sandy Lane.It is also a reminder that you are about to leave the cosy village of Ham for the disparate collection of houses that likes to call itself Petersham.

Resting boats

2011-12-07T22:57:00.001Z

Following the tow-path as it curls around Ham offers a variety of views on both sides and, not surprisingly, these include boats gently moored on the Middlesex bank. Despite being man-made they fail to break the tranquillity and they give us a few more colours to enjoy.

Trampled underfoot

2011-12-04T15:24:00.001Z

These leaves have chosen to lie down and die on the tow-path where, instead of the slow peaceful end that they might have expected they will be subject to the constant hammering of boots and tyres and be trammelled in to the mud. They deserve better.

Lowest tide

2011-12-01T16:04:00.001Z

November has come and gone and with it the river's freedom to rise and fall as much as it likes but now Richmond Lock is back in action and it stops the river from falling too far.

So here is a final reminder of what the low tides looked like in November if you happened to walk down River Lane at the right time.

Crashing down

2011-11-29T17:34:00.001Z

The line of trees along Dukes Avenue that once disguised the British Aerospace factory have been looking old and tired for some time, and some of them have already been removed, so it was not a great surprised when another one of them fell.

Luckily they all lean slightly away from the houses so the residents were safe. The railings along the front were less so and they now bulge out across the pavement.

Large bridge to a small path

2011-11-26T11:39:00.001Z

Douglas Footpath takes a circuitous route from the tow-path to Petersham Avenue as it navigates past the scouts and a school. For most of this journey it is a narrow path over uneven ground but the entrance from the tow-path belies this with a wide sturdy bridge that helps you cross the sometimes wet ditch.

A walk on the quiet side

2011-11-23T22:08:00.001Z

The tow path that follows the eastern boundary of Ham is a mixed experience. Parts of it are always busy, such as the section by Teddington Lock, while others are only busy on bright days or when a sponsored walk or cycle passes through.

I prefer to walk where and when it is quiet because then you are in environments like this and you can forget how crowded the rest of London is.

Escape in to Ham Lands

2011-11-21T21:12:00.001Z

I find the stretch of the tow path between Teddington Lock and Ham House a little boring due to the lack of views and even a little difficult because of the narrow rocky path.

So when a gap opens up to reveal a soft green path leading in to the heart of Ham Lands there is a strong temptation to heed the siren call of the scenery and to melt quietly in to the wilderness.

Low water with lone boat

2011-11-19T15:01:00.001Z

The regular rise and fall of the river and the frequent flooding of the tow path can lead you to think that the Thames is naturally tidal as it sweeps back and forth to Teddington Lock but for most of the year it is kept artificially high by Richmond Lock.

Then, every November it is allowed free reign and it delights is falling much lower, revealing more of the shore, stranding boats moored along the banks and allowing passage only to canoes.

Works by the pond

2011-11-17T17:54:00.001Z

A big hole has appeared alongside Ham Pond together with an assortment of metal and wood objects that suggest that some major work is under way. I presume that this is to do with the pond, which may be why it was unusually low at the time.

Coloured markings

2011-11-11T21:18:00.001Z

It is quite common to see runes painted on roads and pavements as heralds of either impending works or the arrival of a daemon from a mystical realm but these signs are normally scrawled in primitive chalk so the use of colour suggests that something very special is going to happen. If it does then I'll let you know.

Royal Park Gates

2011-11-08T22:22:00.001Z

I am not sure who, apart from estate agents, still uses the description Royal Park Gate for the houses built on the former BAe site but that was the name given to it when it was built about fifteen years ago.

In keeping with that name, there are fake gates at either end of the pedestrian and cycle route that runs through the development, starting at the junction of Dukes Avenue and Northweald Lane and leading on to the tow path beside the river.

Impressive though these brick pillars and iron gates are it is immediately clear that they do not close and were never intended to.

Folding doors

2011-11-05T18:03:00.001Z

As I've remarked before, Lock Road is a mixed bag that is overall has a pleasing and welcoming charm. It's the sort of road that you want to walk down. On the south side at the east end (between Back Lane and Craig Road) there are a few terraces of neat cottages that have shuffled close to the road so that we can appreciate them more.

The climbing rose, low clipped hedge and neat white gate are all lovely but the front door is special. The line down the centre and the hinge between the letter box and door handle reveal that that, very unusually, this front door folds as it opens.

I had the pleasure of walking through it once when the former owners were regulars at the Hand and Flower and some of us were invited back there for late drinks.

Colourful flowers at Ham House

2011-11-03T20:19:00.000Z

Most of the gardens at Ham House rely on shapes and subtle colours to make their point but the Orangery Kitchen Garden disregards that rule and goes for messes of bright colours instead.

The mixed planting in the parallel beds that run away from The Orangery cafe is there to service the house with food and flowers but it does not hurt that it is pretty too.

Wandering in the Wilderness

2011-11-02T22:43:00.003Z

The Wilderness is my favourite part of Ham House and Gardens and this picture gives a hint of why that is.

Firstly it's green. Very green. And green means natural. The grasses, hedges and trees all battling to demonstrate their superiority in greenness. Secondly, it's enchanted with memories of every happy childhood. Here you expect to see Rupert playing with the Bash Street Kids.

The scheming paths and the intransigent hedges always offer the promise of something new and exciting around the next corner. A pixie perhaps?

New lavenders

2011-11-01T20:55:00.002Z

Last time I was in the Cherry Garden at Ham House the old tired lavenders had been dug up and work was under-way to replace them with some young blood.The children are now nicely settled in and looking forward to playing in the wide open spaces between them.

Crossroads

2011-10-31T20:34:00.000Z

Here choices have to be made. The path ahead leads to Petersham, passing Ham Polo and the German School as it does so. The path crossing it offers Ham House and the river to the left while a right turn takes you on to Melancholy Walk and then away from Ham Lands and the harsh urban reality of Sandy Lane.

A gathering of trees

2011-10-29T14:29:00.000+01:00

Ham Common has a secret and it keeps it well. While it proudly flaunts the avenues of trees and the pond it is more discrete about the clutch of trees that it keeps away from the crowds in the middle of the north side.

Stafford Cottages in October

2011-10-25T20:34:00.001+01:00

Stafford Cottages has featured here a few times simply because both the cottage and front garden are very pretty. Even in October, when the trees across the road on Ham Common are rushing to lose their leaves before the serious cold comes to steal their life.

Pink house

2011-10-23T11:02:00.001+01:00

This is another one of those pictures that I've been meaning to take for some time but have been thwarted until now. Sometimes I have been put off by the poor light but more often it was a car on the drive that has ruined the composition. So I've kept walking past the house waiting for the moment to be right.

The fresh bold pink is the point of the picture but look past that and you can also see the cute garage doors, the pretty front door with neat side windows and the lines of flowers in the front garden.

A house in Petersham

2011-10-21T14:47:00.003+01:00

The houses in Petersham seem to have been added randomly over the years so that many of them now sit in unusual settings. This beauty managed to find a little space along the main road between Petersham House and the narrow lane heading towards the church and nurseries.

Beat Box

2011-10-16T11:38:00.001+01:00

The artistic endeavours at Ham Youth Centre have taken another joyous leap forward with the addition of Beat Box. Clearly this was once a humble shipping container but it is now a music studio and to celebrate this ascension it has acquires a colourful coat that proudly proclaims its new role.

Boarded up

2011-10-13T20:25:00.000+01:00

The unfortunate story of the Royal Oak, on the corner of Ham Street and Sandy Lane, has taken another sad step and it is now firmly closed and boarded up. We have lost too many local pubs in recent years, including another one in Ham Street, and I hope that this is just a temporary set-back and that it will be flourishing again soon. I'll certainly make a point of visiting when it reopens.

A new welcome for bikes

2011-10-11T19:58:00.000+01:00

I live about 1.5 km from Ham House and while I usually walk there I often go by bike and have had to put up with leaving it leant against a wall with a pile of others. Not now.

A number of sturdy posts have arrived at the far end of the car park ready to accept the challenge of looking after bikes while their owners explore the house and gardens.

Not only is this an excellent idea for meeting a clear need but they look good too.

Secret field

2011-10-09T16:44:00.000+01:00

Stepping away from the tow-path that follows the river as it flows East towards Ham House plunges you in to the secret world of Ham Lands with its mixture of woods, fields and confusing paths.

The tow-path lies just past the trees on the Right and there walkers, joggers and cyclists fight over a narrow rocky path unaware that a short distance away there is open space and peace.

New steps

2011-10-07T22:47:00.000+01:00

This is where I am going to fall out with some of my fellow members of Friends of Ham Lands as I really hate these new steps that have been inserted in to the middle of Ham Lands, and I hate the path that they lead to even more.

It used to be pure joy to leave one of the fields in Ham Lands by scrambling up a short muddy bank and then trying to follow an equally muddy path winding through bushes towards Ham Street. Then you could easily forget that other people also take that route occasionally but now the steps and the brutal wound above them (which some would like to call Majestic Walk) quickly and depressingly remind you that you are in a residential area after all.

Enticing path

2011-10-06T23:09:00.000+01:00

This is exactly what I like most about Ham Lands, a narrow muddy path that disappears in to the trees to an unknown destination.

This particular path leads away from Ham Street between two lines of trees. To the left is the lane to the Ham and Petersham Rifle and Pistol Club and to the right is a field that sits quietly next to the river.

Red ivy

2011-10-05T21:22:00.000+01:00

I've used the title "red ivy" before, and it was for the same ivy three years ago. Then I showed the ivy sweeping along the wall and up the side of the house to expose its size and shape, now it's a close-up to reveal the detail of the leaves and their colour.

There is a lag between when I take photos and when they get posted here and this varied from a few hours to a few days so it is hard to make a direct comparison on dates but the photo from three years ago was taken two or three weeks after this one and this year the ivy has already died back considerably, its red swansong ended for another year.

A corner of King George's Field

2011-10-04T21:43:00.001+01:00

The eagle-eyed will have noticed that this picture is closely related to the previous one except this time the allotments that were the purpose of the picture have here drifted in to the background. This is the end of King George's Field furthest away from its main entrance on Ham Street.

Behind me is the lane leading up to the Ham and Petersham Rifle and Pistol Club. This is well protected by a sturdy metal fence that not that long ago replaced the old chicken wire one. I liked the old one because there were gaps in it that meant that you could continue on towards the river, but I guess that is why they replaced it.

Now, having arrived via the footpath past the allotments, the only other way out is via Ham Street.

Allotments

2011-10-02T07:59:00.000+01:00

The allotments that fill the corner between Riverside Drive and Ham Street can be seen from either of those roads but, for the more adventurous, there is this view from the footpath that leads along the eastern edge.

The view on the other side of the path is much less interesting and even the presence of horses does little to inspire a flat brown field. Looking back to the allotments there is almost too much to look at and its the overall jumble that makes an impact.

Red and yellow flowers

2011-10-01T16:51:00.001+01:00

Teddington Locks fascinates me. It's the combination of solid purposeful brick surrounded by quiet waters on which colourful boats slip between Kingston and Richmond.

On the largest of the man-made islands that make up the collection of locks is a small but very pretty garden that the staff there maintain all year round so that even in late September there are bold colours to surprise and delight.

Disappearing garage

2011-09-30T21:23:00.000+01:00

I have featured a few garage doors here over the years for one simple reason; I love them. They are industrial architecture on a small scale supplemented by a splash of colour that can vary from bland to idiosyncratic.

What makes these doors special is the creeper that seems determined to devour the door and is making a rather good job of it. I wish it luck.

Metal dragon

2011-09-29T21:00:00.000+01:00

This startling dragon is exactly the sort of thing that you would really like to find in a garden one day but, equally, it is just the sort of thing that you do not expect to find.

Tall flowers

2011-09-28T16:25:00.000+01:00

The nicest thing about these flowers is that they are so tall that they burst well above the walls and fences that divide and hide the gardens in Broughton Avenue.

This is a rewarding road to walk slowly down as the lack of (hated) vehicular cross-overs means that all the houses have front gardens and many of them, like this one, deserve a little attention as you pass.

A different view of Ham Pond

2011-09-26T18:48:00.000+01:00

As a rule the photos that I post here are taken with my Canon IXUS 80 IS and are not modified in any way. This photo breaks both rules. It was taken with my iPhone4 and I used the Instagram app to apply one of its pre-set special effects.

Solar power

2011-09-25T17:54:00.000+01:00

The purpose of some of the Summer building works at Meadlands Schools is now clear with the pitched roof above the main entrance boasting two sets of solar panels.

This short roof points south-west so will only get sunlight late in the day and then only for part of the year. The longer roof is at right-angles to this and so faces south-east and so seems better placed to capture the sun but a few trees get in the way and it would be perverse to cut down trees to enable solar power.

Wates willow

2011-09-24T12:06:00.000+01:00

This typical view of the Wates Estate shows why it is so popular. The houses and flats are nice enough but what makes the Wates Estate is the generous spaces between them.

These spaces are nicely irregular in shape, often raised (as here) and are always well planted with flowers, bushes and trees. Sometimes there is even enough space for a large willow to stretch its limbs.

Behind the manor

2011-09-23T19:58:00.001+01:00

Behind the Manor House in Ham Street is a large open space that morally is part of Ham Lands but we are kept from away from it by a stern metal fence. At least we can peer through it at the neat grass and well kept trees and dream of being able to frolic among them one day.

Where horses play

2011-09-22T19:44:00.001+01:00

Ham Lands creeps South down from the river all the way to Sandy Lane where the tarmac forms a hard brutal barrier before the greenery continues with the playing fields of Grey Court School running either side of Great South Avenue. Melancholy Walk forms the border on the West but to the East lies The Copse and Ham Lands makes it all the way to Strathmore School.

Between the path and the woods is a small field where horses trot in circles alone apart from the occasional dog owner who dares to stray from the more usual routes.

Entrance to Ham Lands

2011-09-21T23:52:00.002+01:00

There are many ways to enter and leave Ham Lands but the busiest route is probably along the stretch of Riverside Drive between Croft Way and Thames Young Mariners.

This is a long border with lots of houses on one side of the road and only a little ditch and a little bank on the other side to keep the people out. Towards the road to Teddington Lock the bank is bigger and is a more effective barrier.

The first taste of Ham Lands here is of wide-open spaces with only a few ill-looking trees for company. A few long strides are needed to take you in among the thick trees and bushes that hide the houses of Riverside Drive so recently left behind.

Bramlings

2011-09-19T22:52:00.000+01:00

I've shown some pictures of Bramlings before but never a naked full-frontal like this.

Bramlings sits next to Ormeley Lodge but has only recently come under the Goldsmith influence and was Zac's official address at the last election.

As part of that influence, and very much in-line with Zac's stated beliefs (I'll not comment on those other than to say that I did not vote for him), the roof has gained some solar panels but, that apart, it looks much as it has done for many years.

There have been big changes to the house but these are at the back and you'll have to look up the planning application to see the details.

Early Autumn colour

2011-09-16T10:40:00.000+01:00

August has only just slept quietly away and brash September is already colouring the landscape with reds, oranges and browns.

This colourful abundance is in Parkleys. There is a clue to this in the exotic grasses at the front but you can also see one of the blocks of flats if you peer through the red leaves.

Mead by the river

2011-09-13T23:10:00.000+01:00

Others may argue with me but as far as I am concerned the souther border of Ham Lands in the copse by Royal Park Gate. Next to this, heading West and a little North, is a popular field that separates Burnell Avenue from the River Thames.

The wide open space edged by trees is typical of Ham Lands and it is this that makes the area so special. It is only the glimpse of the weir at Teddington that reminds you that you are deep within the M25.

Red door in a white frame

2011-09-10T10:33:00.000+01:00

I went back to Cardinal Newman's former house in Ham Street to see how the building works were getting on but the bright sunlight demanded that I pay attention to the front door and windows instead.

Changes at The Royal Oak

2011-09-07T00:33:00.000+01:00

Changes in my habits mean that I've gone from being fairly regular at The Royal Oak (regular enough for them to remember what I drink) to being just an occasional visitor but I do not think that its change in fortune has anything to do with me.

I have heard worrying tales from other regulars recently and so I see it as a positive move that the pub is back on the market and looking for a new loving owner. Ham has lost too many pubs to loose this one too.

52 Sandy Lane

2011-09-04T21:15:00.000+01:00

No. 52 Sandy Lane is another house that has made great effort to cast-off its bland heritage and to try and be more distinctive and attractive. And I must say that it does so with rather more aplomb and success than its near neighbour Sundial House that I featured yesterday.

There is lots to like here including the large plain windows, the warm grey colour, the first floor veranda with its architectural plants, and, settling it all off nicely, the splashes of orange announcing the house number. This is a house with courage and confidence.

Sundial House

2011-09-03T17:25:00.000+01:00

I do not feature Sandy Lane (or the similar roads off it) very often as, frankly, I find it boring with nothing noteworthy enough to be included. The road itself is dull too with the tall hedges on either side merely serving to emphasis the greyness of the road.

Lightening the gloom just a little are a few modern make-overs that are turning some of the blandness in to something more eye-catching and distinctive. One of these is Sundial House.

While I approve of the visual aspects of the changes I do not think that the either the size of the house or the location justify a price tag in excess of £2m.

Scarecrow

2011-09-01T13:19:00.000+01:00

This scarecrow looks overwhelmed by the job it has been given to do. The front garden of this house on Petersham Road is stuffed full to tall sunflowers that dwarf the rest of the garden and the scarecrow sent there to protect it. The scarecrow hopes that somebody notices how sad it is as finds it a more comfortable place to stand guard.

Exit Expertravel

2011-08-29T12:39:00.000+01:00

Expertravel, one of the stalwarts of Ham Parade, has closed. I remember it, as used it, when it was just Expertravel before it added the World Choice brand and the garish logo that went with it.

Sadly I never got around to taking a close-up of the shop before it closed but you can see the Man City blue colouring on the far right of the picture that I took of Ham Parade in February 2007.

Other vacant properties have filled quickly and I hope that the haste with which this one has been stripped and painted means that we will have a new tenant soon.

Stacks of scaffolding

2011-08-27T01:07:00.000+01:00

The builder's banner suggests that this is merely a loft extension but the amount of scaffolding that surrounds this house in Northweald Lane implies a lot more. It has cocooned the house for a couple of weeks now and the butterfly has yet to emerge. I hope that it is worth the wait when it does.

Grass and flowers

2011-08-24T21:12:00.000+01:00

Another look at some tall grasses and flowers in Ham Lands simply because they are always worth looking at, just like a child's smile.

Green field

2011-08-19T21:03:00.000+01:00

I try, but with mixed success, to show Ham in balance; the old and the new, the good and the bad, the serious and the frivolous, the bricks and the grass. Now it's time to show a little more of the grass.

Ham Lands is the wilderness that defines Ham and lifts it above other city villages. Breaking through the cordon of trees that ring most of it brings unexpected pleasures such as large fields where the grasses and flowers are allowed to grow tall.

Media circle

2011-08-11T22:33:00.000+01:00

Annoyingly I read via one of the local newspapers' on-line services (I read them all by RSS, Twitter and Facebook) that this image has been appearing across Richmond but I cannot find the story again otherwise I would include a link to it.

This example popped-up on the narrow road to Petersham Nurseries but is not connected to the advertisement for cafe that appears above it.

The timing suggests that the message has something to do with phone hacking and newspapers, but that is just my guess.

Beside the prison

2011-08-07T00:52:00.000+01:00

The future of Latchmere House is uncertain now that the Prison Service is moving out and selling the site and while it is fairly safe to say that whatever replaces the prison buildings will be an improvement the open land between it and Latchmere Lane is another matter.

The prison is there behind the wall but the trees hide it well and the grass before it disguises the nature of the area. This is a pretty spot and needs to stay that way.

School works

2011-08-03T19:12:00.000+01:00

Grey Court School in Ham Street is also taking advantage of the Summer break to do some work on its buildings. This former grand residence (and home of the future Cardinal Newman) is now part of the school that surrounds it, though I have no idea what they use it for.

This is another building site that I will be watching with interest over the next few weeks to see what emerges from behind the scaffolding and the stacked portacabins.

Modifying Meadlands

2011-07-31T16:36:00.000+01:00

Summer is the usual season for making major changes to schools and some of the local schools are making changes this year. One of them is Meadlands Primary School in Broughton Avenue. It will be interesting to see what has changed once the covers have come off.

Secure fence

2011-07-29T16:25:00.000+01:00

My previous pictures of Latchmere House have been of the actual house as that is the bit that is pretty but one of the purposes of the blog is to record changes in the area so here is a picture of the outer fence before it goes.

This is clearly a fence with just one purpose - security. It makes no attempt to blend in with its surroundings, though the symmetry in the posts and the mesh between them has a certain industrial charm.

Latchmere House (side)

2011-07-25T22:49:00.000+01:00

The pretty front of Latchmere House faces north-west which means that the slightly less pretty rear faces south-east. This is the much less pretty side that looks north-east towards Richmond Park.

The prisoners' quarters are beyond the fourth side so I'll not be taking any pictures of that until it stops being a prison. Perhaps it will become the school that North Kingston has been asking for for many years, in which case the ugly metal fence might remain.

Approaching HMP Latchmere House

2011-07-22T19:21:00.000+01:00

The Government's cost-cutting has led to the sudden announcement that HMP Latchmere House will close in September 2011 so I've been back to take a few pictures of it while it still is, and still looks like, a prison.

This is both the front of the old house and the entrance to the prison. The signs direct you clockwise to the limited parking at the front and to the car park behind. The pretty roundabout is unexpectedly welcoming for a penal institute.

Straight path

2011-07-19T13:47:00.000+01:00

There are several paths the lead to/from the footbridge by Teddington Lock. Some follow the river, others cut muddy swathes through Ham Lands but the most ugly one is the straight path that leads to Riverside.

I do not like it because it is just too straight and too urban; give me bends and unmade paths any day. In Summer it is rescued a little as the trees, bushes and grasses edge up close to the path and grow as tall as they can to hide as much of the path as possible.

Purple flowers

2011-07-17T22:27:00.000+01:00

It has been a little while since I've shown anything from Ham Lands and now it's time to redress the balance with a simple picture of purple flowers among the grasses in the lush area between the river and the Locksmeade Road development.

Beaufort House with flowers

2011-07-14T12:34:00.000+01:00

Beaufort House faces East on to Ham Street which makes the back of the house (towards Wiggins Lane) West facing and sunny. The roses clambering over the trellis are grateful for this and show their appreciation with bursts of blood-red.

Back to Ham Common Woods

2011-07-10T15:35:00.000+01:00

Ham Common Woods remains one of my favourite parts of Ham. It shares its natural beauty with Ham Lands but has the advantage that you can step straight in to it from the built up areas of Ham Farm Road and Church Road.

It also provides the shortest route from Ham Parade to Ham Gate but despite this convenience and its wildness Ham Common Woods is a quiet place and it is unusual for me to come across anybody else during one of my frequent walks through it.

Ham Gate Avenue

2011-07-07T10:06:00.000+01:00

The problem with Ham Gate Avenue is that it is long, too straight and with the twin grey lines of the road and the pavement it can look boring; a path to be walked through necessity rather than for enjoyment.

But it is transformed in Summer when the trees on the north side stretch their branches thick with new leaves over the pavement to form a fabulous, if little rustic, ceremonial archway most of the way to the park.

Changes in the garden

2011-07-03T13:56:00.000+01:00

The lavender parterres in the Cherry Garden of Ham House have come to the end of their natural life and are being replaced. They will look gorgeous again soon but, for the moment, they look bare and stark. The neatly clipped hedges still provide the criss-cross pattern of the garden but they look lonely and a little lost.

Pretty border at Ham House

2011-06-30T14:34:00.000+01:00

The (almost) straight line of the back of Ham House continues on either side with a tall and wide border that is bursting with greenery offset nicely by flecks of vibrant colour from the bold flowers.

Stepping down to the garden

2011-06-29T23:28:00.000+01:00

Staying with the south side of Ham House, and not moving too far in to the garden, the terrace ends abruptly and gives way to the gravel path that surrounds and crosses the lawn.

The drop does not go unnoticed. The upper level is marked with a row of pots, a narrow border and a lonely bench form the boundary of the lower level and a climbing plants cleverly links the two.

Ham House looking grand

2011-06-28T17:51:00.000+01:00

This is my favourite view of Ham House. I much prefer the clean lines of the back and this side to the clutter of the front and the other side. These are also the two side that catch the sun so they are bright and the generous helpings of white come into their own.

Here too the gardens keep a respectful distance from the house so nothing interrupts the order that the house imposes. The lawns even sink down a meter or so below the rear terrace which makes the position of the house even more commanding and purposeful. The garden is pretty but the house is in charge.

Rear terrace at Ham House

2011-06-27T22:59:00.000+01:00

The main reason that I pop-in to Ham House from time-to-time is for the gardens at the back of the house. The pleasure begins the moment that you walk through the door in the wall near to the shop when a look to the left reveals the broad clean terrace the sweeps along the back of the house and beyond.

To the left on the terrace is a wide colourful border sheltering under the wall and to the left a line of terracotta pots marks the edge of the terrace where it steps down to the large lawn.

The house is almost, but not quite, irrelevant but the little part of it that manages to peek around the trees adds some pleasing straight lines and a shock of white.

A closer look at Sudbrook Lodge

2011-06-26T18:12:00.000+01:00

It's the simplicity and symmetry of Sudbrook Lodge that appeals to me and that is amply demonstrated by this close-up that avoids the unwanted clutter of the road below.

Classic pond

2011-06-24T22:45:00.000+01:00

My final picture from Ham Open Gardens 2011 is once again from the luscious garden at Sudbrook Cottage which was easily the best find of the day. And I've saved the main feature to last.

The round pond in a square hole has classic pretensions and looks old, which I suppose it is as fifty is a lot of pond years. It's all very Capability Brown. Which is good.

Table, chairs and pots

2011-06-23T23:58:00.000+01:00

Even when doing just a simple table and chairs on the lawn, Sudbrook Cottage manages to make something a little special. The circle of stone sets the scene and the ring of plant pots adds the finishing touch.

Broken seat

2011-06-22T20:12:00.000+01:00

I think that this bench is wonderful. I love the rustic stone. I love the shape of and decoration on the backrest. I love the way that the lichen has claimed the seat for them selves. And I love the fact that it has not been repaired or replaced despite the damage that makes it unusable as a seat. It still works perfectly fine as a decoration.

Long border and other things

2011-06-21T21:54:00.001+01:00

Continuing our walk through the garden at Sudbrook Cottage takes us from the sunken area to the main lawn with edged with a wide border of flowers and all contained by an old and pretty brick wall.

Normally all that would be enough to justify appearing here but the attention to detail that is the main characteristic of Sudbrook Cottage plays its part here and within the border there is a hedge protecting a seat and two large stone balls protecting the hedge.

Sunken garden

2011-06-20T23:31:00.000+01:00

Our tour of the garden at Sudbrook Cottage continues with the sunken garden. This sits quietly in the north-west corner of the garden, which means that it captures the sun for most of the day.

Privacy is maintained by the large walls that form the boundary of the garden and by low hedges that define this section. The few steps down to it mean that even the low hedges are sufficient to keep prying eyes away.

Seats within the sunken garden let you linger and appreciate the trees and neat shrubs, as well as the flower borders sheltering under the walls.

Bench and pots

2011-06-19T18:18:00.000+01:00

There is so much to like about the garden at Sudbrook Cottage from the overall design that sweeps the garden smoothly around the house to the many rich details that arrest your gaze as you try to take it all in one.

In this one little part of the large garden we have a need clean bench sitting on bricks with a clutch of complementary white flowers bursting out of the pot next to it and another pot keeping watch from the safety of the border behind.