Old Buildings you'd like to have seen

[Gareth Hughes]

There's a "your favourite old building" thread currently on the forum, so I wondered, which, of the many old buildings that are no longer with us, would you most like to visit if you had the chance to climb into a time machine?
Two of mine here:
View attachment 1

The first, because it was the most outrageous bit of gothic revival architecture to date in 1823 (though probably less so now - remember this was built, and collapsed, 50 years before St Pancras - though it was also renowned for its owner's licentiousness); the second because it was one of the last of the Lancashire post mills, a unique local type of which none now exist - and it looks like being in it, while it was working in a strong wind, must have been a pretty thrilling (and dicey) experience - "don't stand in the back-left-hand corner...crash!".

 

[Nemesis]

Gosh, where to start!

This one:

http://www.arch-ant.bham.ac.uk/bufau/buildings/Projects/Beaudesert%20Hall/beaudesert_hall.htm

http://lh.matthewbeckett.com/houses/lh_staffordshire_beaudesert.html

And if there is one which I have seen but is no longer with us and I could bring back it's this:

http://sine.ncl.ac.uk/view_structure_information.asp?struct_id=1424

http://www.timmonet.co.uk/html/body_swan_house.htm

 

[fjpdesigns]

I'd start at Nonsuch Palace, and probably spend quite a long time there.
http://www.answers.com/topic/nonsuch-palace

http://www.pbase.com/nonsuch/nonsuch_palace

 

[Nigel Watts]

Speaking as a Londoner:

John Soane's Bank of England before Herbert Baker got his hands on it
Old London Bridge complete with its houses (and the pre-fire City in general)
The original Waterloo Bridge
Whitehall Palace before the Holbein mural was destroyed
Picadilly and neighbouring streets when they were still dominated by the palaces of aristocracy

The sad thing is, apart from London Bridge and Whitehall Palace, all these were destroyed by development in the 20th Century (not the Luftwaffe), so were all preventable.

 

[yamin]

Seems such an interesting place, and such an interesting history (see link below - Landmark Trust are going to save it). Used to be a restaurant run by a couple of men who employed a very grumpy waiter, who served with a parrot standing on his shoulder, and was rather rude to his customers - so my parents tell me, who used to eat there and live just down the road .http://www.landmarktrust.org.uk/future_landmarks/AstleyCastle.htm

 

[Nemesis]

Actually yes - Nonsuch would be on my list, as would Manderley. It never existed of course except in the imagination.

But as with Beaudesert and Nonsuch, the name must rank amongst the most romantic and beautiful - which is why I chose Beaudesert.

 

[Nemesis]

And on a more prosaic note, at least name wise although the building itself I believe to have been a fine one, the Coal Exchange. (Another Lunnon one for Nigel? With links to my native north-east.)

http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1961/feb/09/london-coal-exchange

http://www.victorianlondon.org/buildings/coalexchange.htm

http://www.eustonarch.org/betjeman.html

http://www.pmsa.org.uk/sos/gallery/citydragon.htm


http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/time/time1.htm

 

[Penners]

No contest. The abbey at Bury St Edmunds, in its heyday.

The cathedral around which the entire abbey complex lay was vastly bigger than it is today, and was apparently the second largest building in Christendom.

http://www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/buryabbey.html

 

[Penners]

But also, on a more vernacular note, the mill that used to stand across the road from our house (which was the miller's house - visible in the background). The mill was demolished, I understand, in the 1950's.

 

[Cloudscape]

Most of all, at the moment, I would have liked to have seen my house in its previous lives. Like in the movie 'The Time Machine', I'd like to watch it change around me, through the centuries.

One (big) house that comes to mind otherwise, is Park Hall in Oswestry. During the first half of the 20th century (at least) it was the main building of an army camp, until the house burned down and was removed completely. When the ruins were being demolished, anything worth having was given away or sold. Our dining room has some of the parquet flooring from part of the Hall that was used as an officer's mess.

 

[Moo]

Most of all, at the moment, I would have liked to have seen my house in its previous lives. Like in the movie 'The Time Machine', I'd like to watch it change around me, through the centuries.

Ditto !

 

[Penners]

We're lucky enough to have been given a number of old photos of our house, including the mill one above. As well as that one, we also have some lovely shots of the mill owner, Mr Richardson, in the first decade or so of the 20th century.

View attachment 1

and his daughter (name unknown)

 

[DaveBrigg]

If your miller is Benjamin Richardson, that must be his daughter Mary Jane, born approx 1895.

 

[Gareth Hughes]

If your miller is Benjamin Richardson, that must be his daughter Mary Jane, born approx 1895.

Certainly politer than "bike" which is how she's been known until now, according to the caption...

 

[Flyfisher]

Lovely photo of the miller. I wonder if he dressed up for the photo or if he was just caught by the front door in his everyday casual wear?

 

[Penners]

If your miller is Benjamin Richardson, that must be his daughter Mary Jane, born approx 1895.

OK Sherlock - how did you come by that information?!

Certainly politer than "bike" which is how she's been known until now

Unfortunately, none of the village swains of the day is still with us to confirm or deny....

I wonder if he dressed up for the photo

I should imagine that, in those days, having your likeness took was a big event, so I doubt that this is a candid "gotcha" moment. We also have this rather charming shot of him with his wife, in the garden. Smart hats, leather gaiters (?) and all!

 

[Nemesis]

Note it's summer, roses in bloom, Mrs R in her summer frock.

But Mr R is still wearing his three piece in thick tweed.

 

[Penners]

As a gentleman should!

 

[Nemesis]

No, only for shooting.

 

[Penners]

Judging by the bulging buttons on Mr R's waistcoat, I'm not sure that he did much tramping about the countryside.