Market Place
I like this pattern created in the cobblestones of the road that encircles the Market Square (Called ‘Market Place‘)in the centre of Hitchin. It lends it a medieval look. The texture created by the interplay of light and shade and depth is nice. The sound of the cars driving over them is enjoyable too. In short, the whole ‘Experience’ of this unintentional ‘Installation‘ is pleasurable. A ‘Must-See’ for all art enthusiasts.
Modillioned Pediment
The Head or Pediment, is the top bit of the porch and the ‘Modillioned’ bit refers to the scroll and square bits on the head. Often there is fancy ‘Acanthus’ scroll work and block modillions on neo-classical buildings. All of this can be looked up in an architect’s catalogue if you want to know more. (or even ‘Google’ it) This ‘Pediment’ and Porch is the entrance to a very nice building on Bancroft. Used by Phillips Antiques. The inside is even better and I would love to look around and photograph it.
Plaster and Lath
The 17th century building that houses the shop called ‘Fusion’ at 101 Bancroft, now has some absolutely wonderful plaster & lath and timber framing exposed. The lower panel board is covering up a smaller bit of plaster and lath that became exposed when some of the rendering fell off or was knocked off; whereas the upper bit seems to have been exposed deliberately to effect repairs while the shop is refurbished. What a great way to see how medieval (and later) buildings were constructed.
There seem to be a few methods of ‘infilling’ the timber framing known as nogging. It can either be in brick or plaster and lath. In the photograph above, one can see the large timber framing with plaster and lath nogging in between. In the sections of the plaster and lath, the upright ‘studs’ that the horizontal ‘laths’ attach to are then in filled with plaster. A serendipitous ‘find’ to say the least.
The Triangle Café
The photograph above is of the Triangle Café, run by the ever lovely Maree (Originally from sunny Belfast) Here you will get great wholesome, traditional, well cooked food and good service to boot too. The Triangle Café deservedly winning the ‘Hertfordshire Café of The Year’ award.
The building that the café inhabits, is a timber framed 15th century or early 16th century hall house, much altered and refaced in the 18th century. This building was also used as the vicarage to St Mary’s Church opposite it, from 1731 until 1925, when it then became used for shops and offices.
A Gargoyle’s View
Imagine if you will, that you’re a Gargoyle. What would you see all day long? Who would you look down upon in your stiff stone life? Are you there to protect the church, to scare away non-believers or other demonic creatures? Whatever the fact is, this is one of the views of one of the Gargoyles on St Mary’s Church overlooking the Triangle Café, The War Memorial and other shops.
(NB. The word Gargoyle comes from Old French Garguoille and Late Latin Gurgulio, both meaning ‘Throat’ and indicates one of the uses of a Gargoyle; that of a water spout for rain water) Here from the top of St. Mary’s Church, you can see the roof tops of some of the buildings that encircle Market Place, one of them being the lovely Triangle Café.