Special Post: Aldwych

An account of the now closed Aldwych branch of the Piccadilly line.

INTRODUCTION

This is the third post in a series I have recently started on this blog, covering London station by station. the first one on South Kensington fared well, but the real encouragement came from the second on Tooting Bec, which I had not had any expectations for, but which attracted several likes (more than the place itself ever has then!). Therefore I am making my most ambitious effort of the series so far…

ALDWYCH: A STORY OF FAILURE

Aldwych, on a side branch of the Piccadilly line, south from Holborn, opened in 1907 and closed in 1994. By the end of its life this single track single stop branch had become very run down indeed (I travelled it not long before it closed). The problem was that the station did not serve anywhere the could not be reached conveniently from other stations, and since it ran as a shuttle service between Holborn and Aldwych (although there was a track link to the northbound Piccadilly to Cockfosters).

In the terms set for themselves by the people who made the decision to close this branch for good it had to be done. My argument is that those terms were wrong, viewing it only in terms of what was already there.

Although not especially useful itself, Aldwych could have been made to serve as a starting point because it was very well positioned for an extension into the poorly served areas of South East London and West Kent. This is the failure I refer to in my title: a failure of imagination, a failure to see potential.

Rather than swing the axe, Aldwych could have been changed from being a largely functionless endpoint to being the start point for new development.

Since it does not feature on current London Underground maps, having been closed since 1994, I take the opportunity to share Douglas Rose’s London Underground: A Diagrammatic History, with a shot focussing close in on the Aldwych branch…

DSCN6317

The full map, spread out.
The full map, spread out.
The key area.
The key area.

I hope you have enjoyed this post, and I ecnourage you to share it widely.

An Extraordinary Test Match

A personal account of the Lord’s test match, some infographics, links and photographs – enjoy.

INTRODUCTION

I have a selection of infographics, photos and links to share, as well as my main piece.

AN EXTRAORDINARY TEST MATCH

England 30-4 in the first innings. After England recovered from this dismal start to reach 389 early on the second morning New Zealand spent the rest of day 2 compiling 303-2. By the end of day 3 England were two down in their second innings and still nearly a hundred runs in the red. Day four saw the big momentum swing, the creation of three individuals, Cook, Root and especially Stokes. The last named scored the fastest hundred ever in a Lord’s test match. This meant that England closed the day with an already substantial lead. By the time England were all out on the fifth morning (yesterday), New Zealand needed 345 for victory in 77 overs. Two wickets went down without a run, but the really decisive blow came later in the day and was struck by that man Stokes (the most obvious man of the match in test history) who cleaned up Kane Williamson and Brendon McCullum with successive deliveries. Thereafter, although the New Zealand lower order showed plenty of fight it always looked like an England win, and the eventual margin was 125 runs.

I do not withdraw my earlier criticisms of England’s selection policy, and I point out that it was not until deep into day four that the possibility of an England win showed up an anyone’s radar. Also as an aside New Zealand won the toss and chose to put England in, and even though they did take early wickets, as such a course of action requires, they still ended up beaten.

I hope that the second test match lives up to this one (a pity that there are only the two rather than a proper series – ICC please note that two tests DO NOT CONSTITUTE a proper series).This will require England not to adopt a “what we have we hold” approach.

INFOGRAPHICS

I have a variety of infographics to share this time, starting with a couple from people in favour of keeping the hunting ban…

FHB Keep The Ban

I take a very strong line on disability rights both here and on aspitweets and my next infographic is in keeping with that.

DHC

Those of us fortunate enough not to have had to use a food bank may wonder what exactly they provide – check this scary infographic to find out…

Foodbanks

My last two infographics both relate to a smear campaign being run by the Daily Mail against Labour leadership contender Andy Burnham (which has naturally influenced me in his favour!)

DMAB

ABXs

LINKS

I shall start with an anniversary, courtesy of Faraday’s Candle. The birthday girl is astronaut Sally Ride.

Having started on a science theme, two more links, the first of which introduces the second. The twin themes are asteroid strikes and probability:

1) Intro piece

2) The whole shebang

THE IRISH GAY MARRIAGE REFERENDUM

I found the result of this referendum very exciting, and I was not the only one, as these two links, one from the Independent and one from Patheos make clear in their different ways:

1)Indy

2)Patheos

TWO FINAL LINKS

My last links both refer to important social issues, one to our railways and one to the bedroom tax. First of all, I thank the Liverpool Echo for this article about the much loathed bedroom tax. Secondly, The Mirror provided this marvellous article about Network Rail.

PHOTOGRAPHS AND SHARING

Just before putting up my final few images I would urge you all to share this post or at least the parts of it that appeal to you. My thanks to all of my followers.

DSCN6263 DSCN6264

These maps all come fron the front of Harry Sidebottom's "The Caspian Gates" which is a marvellous read and a book I would recommend to anyone.
These maps all come fron the front of Harry Sidebottom’s “The Caspian Gates” which is a marvellous read and a book I would recommend to anyone.

DSCN6267 DSCN6268 DSCN6269 DSCN6270

I saw this picture on twitter and was very struck by it, so here it is.
I saw this picture on twitter and was very struck by it, so here it is.

Special Post: Tooting Bec

Yesterday I put up a post about South Kensington, as possible start to a series about London, each post focussing on a particular station. Today I am going from a very well known destination (South Kensington) to a (justifiably) obscure one, Tootinbg Bec.

The station is served only by the Northern Line, was opened in 1926, and has two surface buildings, both faced with Portland stone, which face each other diagonally across a busy intersection. It is a ‘heritage station’ (just below being actually listed). It features in this blog only because it was the nearest London Underground station to the house in which I grew up. There were three railway stations at a similar distance from the hosue (Streatham, Streatham Common and Tooting)

At this distance in time my memories are restricted to the children’s bookshop (Bookspread) that was in between the station and our house, and the commons (Tooting Bec and Tooting Graveney commons) which were also on the route between the station and my house.

Final Preparations for Tomorrow’s Auction

INTRODUCTION

This will be a briefer than usual post as I have less to share than usual (I set off for work this morning part way through a post, which I will finish this evening once I have got home.

TOMORROW’S AUCTION

James and Sons’s May auction (we have one live and at least one timed auction every month) takes place tomorrow at The Maid’s Head Hotel, Norwich. A full catalogue can be viewed online and you can also sign up to bid online if you cannot make it to Norwich.

As well as getting the van loaded for tomorrow, any last-minute queries had to be attended to. This did result in some good images to liven things up a bit…

186-218 Tails

These two were the scans from which most of my edited images were taken (as you will immediately observe, one had to be redone)
These two were the scans from which most of my edited images were taken (as you will immediately observe, one had to be redone)

Now that you have seen the original scans, here are the iomages that I emailed to various clients and then uploaded onto the-saleroom.com:

This image and the next two are of lot 186
This image and the next two are of lot 186

186H 186T

Thisn image and the next two are of lot 200
Thisn image and the next two are of lot 200

200H 200T

This image and the next two are of lot 218, showing in each case the whole container.
This image and the next two are of lot 218, showing in each case the whole container.

218 218T

AFTERWORD

That concludes this post. I am now going to do a survey for the Autism Research Centre, more details of which can be found here. The survey itself can be found here. There will be a proper sized post coming later today…

Special Post: South Kensington

EXPLANATION

This is a whimsy on my part. While I was out walking this morning I had an idea come to me about London, specifically as a public transport user covering London on a station-by-station basis (for those not terribly familiar with me, I grew up in London), and the one the came into my mind, partly because one of fellow bloggers is visiting London and will almost certainly be making use of this station was South Kensington. If it works well I will try to come up with others.

DSCN6262

South Kensington is served by the District, Circle and Piccadilly lines, the first two since 1868 and the third since 1906. As a destination it means one thing to me: museums. I cannot really say much about the Victoria and Albert, but the others, namely The Natural History Museum and the Science Museum are both old favourites of mine (there used to be a Geological Museum as well, but that has long since been amalgamated with the Natural History). Either would merit a visit, or if you are up for really giving the brain some exercise, you could do one in the morning, have lunch (a picnic in Hyde Park if the weather permits) and then do the second in the afternoon.

There is an underground passageway from the main station concourse to the museums, with clearly marked exits for each museum, or you can do the walk at surface level, passing some decorative wrought ironwork as you leave the station.

To complete the post I have two pictures of recent London Underground maps (actually the same map, but the second picture zeroes in on the central area)…

DSCN1451

???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Cricket and Things

INTRODUCTION

As well as my main piece this post will include some good links and some photos.

CRICKET AND THINGS

Thanks to two splendid innings (Cook, finally out this morning for 162 and Stokes, an 85-ball century yesterday) England have pulled off a remarkable turnaround putting themselves in a position from which they might actually win this match. Moeen Ali has just gone, leaving England 343 ahead with one second innings wicket standing. If New Zealand are minded to have a crack at the target we could have a superb finish.

The weather is nice enough, though cloudy, to be sitting outside.

Anderson has just been bowled meaning that New Zealand will need 345 to win in 77 overs. The highest ever total in the final innings to win at a test match at Lords is 344 by the West Indies in 1984, so if New Zealand get these they will make history.

On now to some links…

LINKS

To start with, a link to Charlotte Hoather’s latest post.

DWP LINKS

I have three links in this section, one to a post on johnnyvoid, one to a DPAC post and one to an official government:

1)the johnnyvoid post on sanctions.

2)the DPAC post

3)the official document.

RELIGION

Two links here, one to an article about the Catholic Church’s response to the Irish referendum on gay marriage and one to a piece from atheist republic about proof:

1)The piece about the gay marriage referendum.

2)Atheist republic and science, proof and theories.

PHOTOGRAPHS

I have some excellent photographs from in and around King’s Lynn to share with you. Mentioning sharing, i hope that some of you will share some or all of this post…

This beer mat was given to me by a friend in Norwich.
This beer mat was given to me by a friend in Norwich.

DSCN6224 DSCN6226 DSCN6229 DSCN6230 DSCN6231 DSCN6235 DSCN6239 DSCN6240 DSCN6242 DSCN6245 DSCN6250 DSCN6252 DSCN6257

An attempt to capture tadpoles swimming in the upper Purfleet.
An attempt to capture tadpoles swimming in the upper Purfleet.
A close up showing a couple of tadpoles.
A close up showing a couple of tadpoles.

DSCN6260 DSCN6261

England Staring Down Both Barrels

INTRODUCTION

As well as a personal account of yesterday’s cricket I have my usual selection of links, infographics and photos to share with you. Enjoy the ride…

ENGLAND STARING DOWN BOTH BARRELS

England bowled reasonably well yesterday, taking the least eight Kiwi wickets for 220, the fly in the ointment being that this was from a starting position of 303-2 and therefore still left them facing a first innings deficit of 134. This was compounded by the loss of debutant opening batsman Lyth and the no 3 Ballance in the reply. To give themselves a chance of escaping England need to still be batting by lunch time tomorrow (and probably a while after as well).

This England team, with Moeen Ali batting at no 8 and therefore being considered a front-line bowler, bore all the hallmarks a team selected with avoidance of defeat in mind, rather than going for victory, and the lack of bowling depth told in the New Zealand innings. Just to make one thing clear: Moeen Ali is a fine cricketer, it is just that he is not by any stretch of the imagination a front-line spinner (and his county, Worcestershire, have never used him as such).

Struggling like this against New Zealand does not bode well for the main meat of the summer, the visit of the oldest enemy.

INFOGRAPHIC

Just the one infographic today, concerned with the Irish referendum on gay marriage:

MR

LINKS

My first two links concern disability hate crimes, the main article having been shared widely on twitter (13 RTs and counting since I posted a link to it). The first of the two links is to the post on Vox Political that put me on to the story (although I must register a mild protest about VP’s current policy of putting out vast numbers of small posts – it seriously clogs the inbox) by way of acknowledging my source. Here then after that preamble are the key links:

1) Vox Political Intro

2) Guardian Article

The natural follow on from this is an article from Welfare Weekly about the scandalously high unemployment rate among disabled people.

My next two links both concern Autism. The first is a petition via 38 degrees which I urge everyone to sign and share. The second is a link to a post about a research project for which I have already signed up and I urge other autistic people to do likewise.

My last link is to a petition being run by change.org calling for 16 and 17 year-olds to be able vote in the EU referendum. Since I would extend all political votes to this age group I had no hesitation in signing and sharing, and I hope that others will follow my example.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Only a few pictures to share with you today (I take this opportunity to thank everyone who is still with me and urge you to share any or all of this post)…
DSCN6212 DSCN6213 DSCN6216 DSCN6217 DSCN6218 DSCN6219 DSCN6220 DSCN6221 DSCN6223

The Weekend Approaches

INTRODUCTION

As well as my main piece, I have some very interesting and important links to share, several infographics and of course lots og high quality pictures.

THE WEEKEND APPROACHES

The weekend is upon us. I am particularly looking forward to being able to actually listen to some of the test match, having not been able to do so either yesterday or today. England’s policy of stacking their team with batting paid off at first as they were able to recover from a disastrous beginning (30-4) to reach a respectanle 389, significant contributions coming from Stokes, Root, Buttler and Moeen Ali. The downside of the selection policy, a lack of serious bowling options (for all his position at no 8, and hence officially being selected as a front-line spinner I do not rate Ali a serious bowler) is being cruelly exposed by the Kiwis, who are currently 235-2.

INFOGRAPHICS

I have three infographics to share with you today, two on the Human Rights Act and one on poverty…

HRA Rights

Poverty

LINKS

First up, an article published on Huffington Post by Kevin Healey.

Next we have a petition from change.org calling for the manufacture of disability toys.

An important link for those with an interest in mental health.

A very important and challenging piece about GPs, in the form of an open letter, courtesy of julijuxtaposed.

A wondeful post about a beautiful corner of Cornwall complete with stunning pictures, from smallbluegreenwords.

My final offering in this section is a piece from Cosmos Up about life on exomoons.

PHOTOS

To finish along with my hopes that you will share some or all of this post are some photos…

DSCN5832

The next five photos feature a display board at Fakenham Library.
The next five photos feature a display board at Fakenham Library.

DSCN6121 DSCN6122 DSCN6123 DSCN6124

Three pictures of decorative plates in the window of a charity shop.
Three pictures of decorative plates in the window of a charity shop.

DSCN6126 DSCN6127

My final set of images is the full gallery of lot 705 in our June sale
My final set of images is the full gallery of lot 705 in our June sale

705a 705b 705c

Great Centenary Charity Auction

INTRODUCTION

As well as the title section I have some important links to share with you.

THE GREAT CENTENARY CHARITY AUCTION

The Great Centenary Charity Auction will be happening at Fakenham Racecourse on June 28th, with the first lot going under the hammer at noon. It looks like there will be something in the region of 700 lots in total at this auction, and another auction is intended for March next year. Official posts will be appearing on the greatcharity website, while the twitter and facebook pages also merit attention. I have been attending to the imaging of stuff for this auction and I have some splendid pictures to whet your appetite…

This lovely uniform (first three images) is lot 225
This lovely uniform (first three images) is lot 225

DSCN5837 DSCN5838

T
T

DSCN5857 DSCN5858 DSCN5865 DSCN5866 DSCN5867 DSCN5868 DSCN5890 DSCN5891 DSCN5892 DSCN5893 DSCN5894 DSCN5917 DSCN5918 DSCN5919 DSCN5924 DSCN5925 DSCN5926 DSCN5927 DSCN5929 DSCN5930 DSCN5931 DSCN5932 DSCN5953 DSCN5954 DSCN5964 DSCN5965 DSCN5973 DSCN5974 DSCN5975 DSCN5976 DSCN5977 DSCN6021 DSCN6031

It has been exhausting work doing all this imaging, but I am confident that the end result will be worth it.

LINKS

My last post, about the Hanse Festival was reblogged by mapsworldwide and here by way of reciprocation is a link to their own post about the same festival.

A mother and her children are facing homelessness because she understandably refuses to live in the same area as her violently abusive ex-partner and Barnet council indefensibly refuse to make her another offer. Read the full story courtesy of Sweets Way Resists and please take action.

A potentially good news story concerning Hale Library courtesy of Altrincham Today.

Finally, to end this  post, a couple of curios from Cosmos Up:

1)A story about a new type of galaxy that should not exist.

2)The latest on antimatter.

I hope you have enjoyed this post and will share it.

The Hanse Festival

INTRODUCTION

For those who do not know the form with this blog, I will start with the bit that gives the post it’s title, I will also be sharing some good links and as part of the post there will be pictures…

THE HANSE FESTIVAL

I did not get to see much of the Hanse festival because of being busy with stuff for the Great Centenary Charity Auction, of which more in later posts. However, I got a few good pictures, and got to take part in a community breakfast outside the guildhall.

DSCN5571 DSCN5572

The first of many pictures featuring the Kamper Kogge or aspects thereof.
The first of many pictures featuring the Kamper Kogge or aspects thereof.

DSCN5574 DSCN5575 DSCN5576 DSCN5577 DSCN5578 DSCN5579 DSCN5580 DSCN5583 DSCN5585 DSCN5586 DSCN5587

There was a very enjoyable concert in King’s Lynn Minster, featuring music from composers with Hanseatic associations (Handel, Telemann, Bach etc). As part of this, the group playing the music had been working with children at Whitefriars School, and had developed the catch line “Crazy composers making music for you and me” which added an extra element to the festivities. Here are some more photographs…

DSCN5591 DSCN5592 DSCN5594 DSCN5602 DSCN5603 DSCN5604 DSCN5606 DSCN5609 DSCN5610 DSCN5611 DSCN5613 DSCN5614 DSCN5615 DSCN5617 DSCN5618 DSCN5620 DSCN5621 DSCN5623 DSCN5624 DSCN5625 DSCN5627 DSCN5628 DSCN5600

LINKS

Just a few links today. First of all, following on from a piece about a music performance, here is something from Charlotte Hoather. Having devoted this post to a community celebration, the Hanse Festival, here is a piece from a community coming together in the effort to save their library, the folk of Hale, Greater Manchester. The Independent occasionally provides good stuff, and this piece about cavemen and gender equality is an example. Last and in the chief place is a link to a wonderful open letter to Katie Hopkins written by Kevin Healey.

CLOSING REMARKS

I hope to have all enjoyed this, and that you wlll share either the whole post or this bits that you have particularly enjoyed. My final remark comes in pictorial form:

TY3