Before we get to the Memorial itself - and in keeping with our recent street furniture theme - these are the yummy bases for the flagpoles. I find them incomparably spiffy.
Anyhoo … Happy Memorial Day to my American friends.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Memorial
Here we are again in Norwich. And as it's Memorial Day for our Colonial Cousins across the pond I shall wish them a wonderful and moving day of remembrance and shall post some views around our War Memorial Gardens, just re-opened after refurbishment.
Before we get to the Memorial itself - and in keeping with our recent street furniture theme - these are the yummy bases for the flagpoles. I find them incomparably spiffy.
Very 1927, and decidedly un-warlike in their subject matter. I love them. Yay for peace and scantily clad maidens dancing erotically.
Here is the Memorial itself, designed (like London's Cenotaph) by Sir Edwin Lutyens after the Great War (that's 1914-18 for the Colonials).
If you stand in the doorway of City Hall the Memorial lines up beautifully with the Castle. The urns at the ends will hold eternal flames once the whole thing is fully recommissioned ready for Armistice Day in November.
There's a nice modern sculpture behind it, overlooking the Market. Complete with slacker types posing for your pleasure.
At one end of the garden walk is the Guildhall, star of many a blog post in the past.
At the other end is St.Peter Mancroft …
And the Forum.
It's a lovely place to sit in the sun, especially as it is only yards from all the shops. Here's our Lynn doing just that (I did email her to ask if I could use this photo but as she hasn't replied I'm using it anyway). Hee hee.
Anyhoo … Happy Memorial Day to my American friends.
Before we get to the Memorial itself - and in keeping with our recent street furniture theme - these are the yummy bases for the flagpoles. I find them incomparably spiffy.
Anyhoo … Happy Memorial Day to my American friends.
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9 comments:
You know, for a curmudgeon who occasionally makes fun of Americans you're being awfully nice to us today. Even I didn't do a Memorial Day post. And a photo of Lynn! It doesn't get more special than that.
This is the most I've ever seen of Norwich. It's got a lot more modern architecture than I had realized, and more open space - plaza-type area. Sunny.
Thank you. Lovely. Couldn't be better. Rah!
Thank you, Petrea. I'm a sucker for war memorials and anything to do with honouring service personnel, coming from a family with RAF, Navy and Army history (I was the black sheep, becoming an architect).
Norwich is indeed beautiful; lots and lots of open squares and parks and some admirable modern architecture in among the mediæval stuff. The "Norwich" link at the bottom of the post will take you to far more Norwich photos than any sane person would ever wish to see. If you come over here, bring your walking shoes, there's lots to see.
Lynn was kind enough to email me and give me permission to use her photo … er … just after I'd posted it anyway. Never trust a man.
"Yay for peace and scantily clad maidens dancing erotically." ... on poles. Yay!
Love the "tour" you've taken us on. The Forum looks like a fascinating building. I like the walking areas, seeing people about.
My grandfather fought in the Great War. There is a special memorial for those who died in World War I in Kansas City, MO; his name is listed there.
Well spotted, Vic. I'd missed the flag pole link.
Maria, it truly does. Sculpture is the only way I get to glimpse perkiness these days. Sigh …
Ms.M, not so much a tour as a stroll of about fifty yards.
The Forum is pretty nifty. Out front is a big square where there are markets and funfairs and ice skating and all sorts of other faff throughout the year, and inside is a huge exhibition and craft fair space. The library is at the back of the building and the BBC studios are all down one side (you can go watch the live news shows through glass walls), with community radio and TV on the other side. There's a restaurant and at the entrance a huge (and very good) coffee bar with a grand piano and dance floor.
Wow! Your grandfather came over to help us in the Great War? That is awesome. The Doughboys are hugely respected here. I'm glad he's commemorated back home.
Wow! I didn't think the Brits really acknowledged our Memorial Day, especially considering we have groups like Daughters of the American Revolution. : )
Katherine, as a rule most US holidays are ignored over here, but I'm a sucker for military memorials so I thought I'd join in.
All I know of the Daughters of the American Revolution has been learned from old New Yorker cartoons so that's probably a skewed - if hilarious - view.
I'm looking over all your pretty pretty Norwich pics and saw pretty pretty Lynn! Way to sneak her in Dive!! I'm so glad you two can get together once in a while. I wish I could walk around with you too! :)
Me too, Shan.
Lynn came to Norfolk for three days to care for her parents and ended up staying three months! She is driving home this very day, but we will definitely meet up again soon.
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