Tuesday, July 10, 2012

New Tricks/Old Fossils


New Tricks is a TV show from England that I really enjoy.   Three retired policemen are paired up with a very beautiful 50-something Detecive Chief  Inspector.  They investigate unsolved crimes and open cases.  The wonderful thing for me is to observe the background behind them and see where they have been filmed.   Recently, we saw the episode, "Old Fossils" and I was very pleased  to discover that this episode was filmed at The Natural History Museum in London, England.  Now, you may think...oh, Georgia Girl, I'll bet you have been there so many times, you must know it like the back of your hand.  HA! That could not be further from the truth.... I have only gone PAST this building, only once, and that was many years ago, but it is such a beautiful building, that the memory of the facade has stayed with me all these years...

The Natural History Museum was completed in 1880, during the marvelous time of the Victorians.    Oh, the Victorian era!  Don't even get me started on how much I love the architecture of that time!  The  Houses of Parliament?  I think that those buildings should be on a par with the Eiffel Tower.  I really love them, the first time that I saw them, they just took my breath away.  I love them so much that I felt afraid that when they built the London Eye, that it would detract from the beauty of the Houses of Parliment which are just across the river Thames.  As it is, I don't mind The London Eye, it makes it easier to see the Houses of Parliament from up above!
Oh dear, where was I before I got distracted by the Houses of Parliament? (Oh, and Monet loved them too, he painted them in all kinds of weather, so I am in good company, you know.)  Yes, The Natural History Museum...anyway, in this episode, it is obviously a Victorian building that the characters are walking through, and suddenly they are walking through a very modern building, quite beautiful and it appears that there is a white cocoon in the background.  I guessed that this must be a new addition to this Museum and I was correct!  It is the Darwin Centre which was completed in 2006.  If you would like to read about this fascinating Musuem (it is FREE!)  the web site is  www.nhm.ac.uk

There are so many new buildings in London. The one that just opened up this month is the tallest building in all of Europe. (For now, anyway!)   It is called the Shard, because it looks very much like a  shard of glass balanced on its side.  (Much like the building that you can see from St. Paul's that is called "The Gherkin", the name alone tells you what it looks like!)  I am sure it has lovely views of London, but I wonder what people think of it?  Would it inspire a lovely memory forever?  I read the quote from the Italian architect and when he asked if he thought people would like it, he said that he hoped that they would because, " When you do something like this wrong, you are wrong for centuries".

The photo above is of an Anglican church in Eastbourne, built during the late Victorian Era.  It is All Saints Church and has a wonderful history behind it...my husband and I attended a Sunday Worship Service here and one of the ladies afterwards was kind enough to give us a leaflet telling the history and also allowed us to take photographs.  The building is beautiful but the church is actually the people, and they were very warm and welcoming to us.   You will see a post about this church soon! 

In the meantime, I hope that something will spark your curiosity while you are watching a TV show or movie filmed in England, because they have such beautiful buildings and scenery, you might just be able to visit that very spot that you are admiring.   (You might want to pay a LITTLE attention to the story, sometimes, I have to rewind because I get distracted by the lovely background!)

30 comments:

  1. Love the design of the church!

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    1. Hey Paul!
      It is a beautiful church and one that many people go past and never think twice about it, I am sure.

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  2. Ah, Kay, we are once again similar in that we love a series for its location(s) :-) Midsomer Murders is the one I watch with a keen eye on the background. On the (fan) website http://midsomermurders.org/ there is not only an episode guide, news, lists of cast and characters etc., but also a full locations index with pictures of all the buildings and villages and pubs and mansions where the filming took place.

    As for the Natural History Museum - it is, as you are aware of, even more beautiful inside than out. The ceiling in the entrance hall took my breath away when I first went there some time in the early 1990s!

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    1. I didn't know about the fan website for Midsomer Murders, but I find that interesting. I love that show.
      Alas, I have never been inside the Natural History Museum, I only went past it, but just the outside was memorable for me.

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  3. The children used to love going to the Natural History Museum when they were younger. We would spend all day there, so a real bargain when you consider it is free to go in!
    A few years ago I won a prize in the village raffle of a visit to the Houses of Parliament, and lunch with our Member of Parliament. It was a very impressive tour, seeing places we had seen many times on the television, including the House of Lords and the House of Commons. When our MP found out husband was an Interior Designer he took us to some other rooms, not normally seen by the public, to ask him what he thought of them. It was a really interesting day.

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    1. Of course, Tracey, you would know this museum very well! Perhaps you could do a post on it and tell about the wonderful architecture of the Waterhouse Building? I was a little hesitant to talk much about it, after all, I am not that familar with it!
      And how nice that you were able to see rooms not normally seen. And what DID he think of them? I'll just bet he was impressed!

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  4. The new buildings are awful, the older ones marvellous. There again when they were built people said the same thing......

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    1. I understand that it is not possible for all the architects to call me and ask my opinion on what is best for London but I really wish they would.

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  5. Hi Kay. When I saw the title of the blog, I had assumed you were trying to teach Richard something new!!

    Years and years ago, I had a job as a file clerk in a Government Minister's Office and, one day, the boss took me and some of the others for a guided tour of the Houses of Parliament. As we stood in the entrance lobby, he pointed out that the patron saints of the four countries of the UK were over each of the doors. He said that if you go past St George, you'll get to the House of Lords, because the English are very posh. Go past St David and you get to the House of Commons, because the Welsh like to talk and talk. Go past St Patrick and you get to the street outside, because the Irish never wanted to be here anyway. Go past St Andrew of Scotland, and you get to the bar....

    Take care,


    D

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    1. Hey Dave!
      Goodness, I hope you told your boss that you were not amused by his politically incorrect observation! No, wait you can't tell your boss that, can you? Amusing story, thanks for sharing it! (And I wonder if I might be Welsh?)

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  6. The Natural History Museum is magnificent! I always pay a visit when I'm in London. I haven't seen the Shard yet, but I must say that the Swiss Re building- the Gherkin- is one of my favourite modern pieces of architecture. It really is stunning.

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    1. Hey Sulky Kitten!
      The Gherkin is indeed an amazing building, but I can't help but wish that it was in Atlanta, Georgia! (After all, we need a beautiful modern building more than you do!) And I find it funny that it was called that, just by that name, you would know immediately what building it refers to...just like the album by the Beatles called The White Album, the title was really The Beatles, but since it was totally white everyone called it...The White Album!

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  7. It's been so many years since i've been, but i agree with loving the older buildings. The newer ones take getting used to. Even here, where i live, the old buildings look best to me.

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    1. Dear Mimi,
      I appreciate beautiful architecture so much. Being from the South, so much of our beautiful buildings have been destroyed by war, storm or wrecking balls.

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  8. I love old buildings, Kay. Because my city is quite old, we have many historical buildings here. Some are homes, some have been turned into museums, etc. I hope to photography some at one point to share with you all.

    I've only spent one day in London (spent a few hours between flights) touring it and I loved it! That was many years ago. I hope one day to spend a few days there and really get a good tour of the place. And lots of photos! Oh, to be able to travel around the world...what a dream...

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    1. Dear Martha,
      I look forward to the photos of historical buildings from Kingston!
      Like you, I wish I could travel all over the world!

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  9. Hi Kay,

    Loved your post on Victoriana. I too love their buildings but have you ever looked up - their chimney stacks are amazing. Sor many different shapes and sizes. I had never looked skywards until my husband said that I was missing so much by just following my nose! You try it - you will be amazed at the wonderful architecture.

    The Shard is just beautiful. When the sun sets on it, it is wonderful. I believe that you have to add to the skyline of London. After all St. Paul's Cathedral was modern once.

    By the way, I am half way through Stone Mountain Book and really enjoying it.

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  10. Dear Pat,
    Oh my dear, you have no idea how I scrutinize each and every building that I see when I am in England. To be honest, I do the same thing with everything that I see in the natural world too.
    Richard sent me a book many years ago called " Discover Unexpected London" and that sent me to many places there and a good many of those unexpected places were very high up! In fact, on our last trip, we have several shots of chimney stacks!
    I will take your word for it on The Shard. I have only seen it in photos and while it doesn't look as if it belongs, perhaps if there are more sharp, glassy buildings around it, then it will be more at home.
    St. Paul's Cathedral is magnificent and will always be so. :-)

    Glad you like the Stone Mountain book! How do you like the photo of them having a meal on top of General Lee's shoulder? Amazing!

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  11. How I would love to visit the Museum of Natural History in London - I can only imagine the treasures it holds... someday! I checked out The Shard - it is indeed an impressive building - one pic I looked at was taken at street level - in a word: WOW!

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    1. I can spend my whole time in London just in the museums. The British Museum is amazing too, I was surprised at the Rosetta Stone. I had seen photos of it, but to see it was so incredible. I am sure the Shard is awe-worthy, with great views and the sunset reflecting on the glass would be lovely, but it somehow looks messy to me in a way that I can't explain.

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  12. What a lovely museum, I hope to get there some day! I also love architecture, and you can't beat the detail of the Victorian era!

    Have a lovely weekend!

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    1. HEY MARY! Glad you like the Victorianss too. Let's go see all the museums in the world! Are you game?
      Hope your summer is going well.
      xx

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  13. Hi, Kay, I too love British dramas on TV or DVD, and always check to see where the locations are.

    One of my favourite historic homes to visit is Squerrey's Court in Westerham, Kent. It is used as the location for the very first episode of Foyle's War, "The German Woman."

    The house, Chenies, in Rickmansworth, Herts., is used as a location for many TV dramas. It figures in a couple of "Midsomer Murders" episodes, and in a recent episode of "Lewis." It was also used for filming part of "Little Dorrit."

    Seeing if I can figure out what's been used as a location is part of the fun for us!

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  14. Hey! Thanks so much for your comment! Since I can't see all of England, I will have to know it from watching British TV shows. Oh my, I love Foyle's War, Midsomer Murders and Lewis!
    Have you ever seen 84 Charing Cross Road? It was a movie made from the book and it is excellent! I was so excited to see that when they visited the sea, it was Eastbourne! I INSIST on having my photo at the same spot where Anthony Hopkins and Judi Dench posed for a photo! (The Eastbourne Bandstand).

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  15. Sounds as if we are kindred souls. I love visiting spots I may have read about too. Somehow, it makes the books/movies/tv shows seem more "real!"

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    1. Oh yes, perhaps we are! ;-)
      Do you know that I love non-fiction books and am fascinated by history. Oh dear, you may have inspired me to do a post, if "I only had the nerve", sorry, I am thinking of the post that I just did!

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  16. I love seeing the English TV shows. Which reminds me... I've been wanting to watch Iron Lady. Thank you for the reminder.

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    1. Hey Kay!
      Do you know that I haven't seen that movie either, but I would like to. I love Meryl Streep, don't you? I hope you saw her in that Me and Julia movie, she was amazing!

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  17. Wow, New Tricks sounds like a show right up my alley.

    I have never been across the pond, but would certainly be lost in all the history that is there--fascinating place.

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    1. You should check your local listings. New Tricks is shown in the Atlanta area on 8 or 30/the PBS station, which means no commercials. YAY!
      You would love the history, I am sure of it. And the land is so ancient too, you can tell the difference right away.

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