A description of a visit to Saltaire, a Victorian model village centred on Titus Salt’s immense woollen mill. This UNESCO World Heritage site gives an interesting insight into the intersection of 19th Century philanthropy and business, and 20th Century regeneration. Who Was Titus Salt And What Is Saltaire? On a recent seasonal visit to Yorkshire […]
A review of Frans Hals: The Male Portrait, a temporary exhibition now on at the Wallace Collection in London. This intimate look at a selection of Hals’s works shines a light on broader questions of masculinity as well as celebrating the artist’s skill. Frans Hals: The Male Portrait It has been some time since I […]
A walking tour along the path of London’s River Peck, from Honor Oak Park to Surrey Quays. This mostly hidden river meanders its way through South East London, where former market gardens have given way to industrial back streets. A Dual River We haven’t done a river walk for a while! The lost rivers we […]
A review of Brow of a God/Jaw of a Devil: Unsettling the Source of the Nile, a collaboration between artist Himali Singh Soin and historian of science Alexis Rider. The Orleans House Gallery in Twickenham is a unique and somehow fitting space to host this insightful and participatory exhibition. An Outing To Twickenham To Visit […]
A review of the Museu de Marinha (Naval Museum) and Fragata (Frigate) Dom Fernando II e Glória. Together, this substantial museum and restored naval frigate give interesting insights into maritime life in Portugal. Naval Lisbon Lisbon was long the capital of an empire. It sits on a river estuary as it joins the Atlantic. Bold […]
A review of a visit to the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga in Lisbon. This very traditional national art museum in the European tradition nevertheless has some distinctive sights to see. Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga Lisbon’s Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga (National Museum of Ancient Art) feels like a slightly odd place. It is […]
Once again we take a look at two plays currently on at the National Theatre. This time we have The Normal Heart, a passionate and heartbreaking play written during the AIDS epidemic, and East is East, the first production in the National’s Lyttleton theatre since early 2020. All Three Theatres In Action Once More! I […]
Join me for a walk through South East London’s suburbs, looking at the city through the lens of its green spaces. We follow one of the itineraries from Paul Wood’s book London Tree Walks. A Tree Walk? What Is That? Some of you may recall that, during the winter lockdown, I was doing a lot […]
A return to an old favourite – the Dulwich Picture Gallery – now that I live in South East London once more. And a chance to explore Unearthed: Photography’s Roots, an interesting if rather academic photographic exhibition. Revisiting the Dulwich Picture Gallery It’s been a while since I visited the Dulwich Picture Gallery! It is […]
A walk through Spitalfields and Brick Lane reveals that Bengali history in the East End extends much further back than twentieth century migrations. The East End: Basically Like A Layer Cake Yes it is, isn’t it! Thanks to the resources from Tower Hamlets Council, we have been able to explore several of these layers. We […]
