Ham Close Exit Only

I was drawn into taking this photo by the new "Ham Close Exit Only" sign and it also gives me an excuse to post an update on the Ham Close redevelopment where two of the first blocks have gained a second storey.

Enticing paths

While I can appreciate Ham Lands intellectually for its biodiversity, I am not a naturalist and what stirs my heart there is the network of paths with unknown destinations.

Newark Lodge after another refresh

I posted a picture of Newark Lodge as it was being refurbished in 2011 but not of the end result then I missed posting a picture of the recent refurbishment in progress so it makes good sense to show it in its full glory now that the second refresh is complete.

If this was my house then I would be very pleased with the result. The grey band at the bottom of the lodge is new and is very effective.

Stokes House sign

I am sure that this is not the last picture that I will post of the impressive refurbishment of the wall to Stokes House in Ham Street; this is just to note the arrival of the house name sign above the gate. The sign does the wall justice.

Clifford Road trench

I like seeing things as they change, the jumble of construction sites and walking late at night all of which come together in this picture of below ground works in Clifford Road.

Improved visibility

Just over a year ago, the statue A Bird in the Hand by Keith Goodwin on the edge of Parkleys was made more visible by a fallen tree and its visibility has just been much improved by the trimming of all of the bushes in one corner.

Kensington Clock

This house in Lammas Road is noted for its collection of unusual objects and while some of them may be considered a bit kitsch there is no doubting the quality of this clock.

Different porches

The house on the left ruined the character of this section of Woodville Road so it is hard to criticise the mismatched porch being added next door, especially as elsewhere along the road a number of new porches have been added and they are all quite different.

This one also has the advantage of appropriately coloured tiles.

More posts demolished

It is little over a month since a series of posts were placed at the entrance to Great South Avenue on the north side of Ham Common and already the incompetent drivers of Ham have managed to destroy most of them.

I first reported the posts on 10 April, the very next day I posted a picture of the demise of the first of them, now several have gone on the west side, including the leading one with red and white tape on it, and another has been knocked out and partially replaced.

 

There were two posts on the other side but little evidence of them now remains.

Lammas Road sign moved

Once upon a time, this sign for Lammas Road was attached to the house behind it, just as the one at the other end of the road was before it too was moved.

I suspect that both moves were done by the property owners rather than any one official and while I welcome the signs' retention it would be good to see them placed properly.

Ham House hidden

This is the rear gate to Ham House, approached via Melancholy Walk, which usually offers a lovely view of the house through the gate but not when it is draped in plastic sheeting.

Ham Hardware

This shop on Ham Parade had been operating incognito for a couple of weeks until the arrival of a sign announcing, to nobody's surprise, that it is called Ham Hardware.

Three dead trees

These three trees along the edge of The Copse may be dead but they still make a dramatic impression with their dark twisting branches etched on to the grey sky.

White boxes

The hoardings have come down at 2 Ashfield Close revealing a rather unassuming set of white boxes riddled with glass. Despite being brashly modern it has little street impact but a good front garden could fix that.

PK72 AYA

This parking, outside The New Inn, looks reasonable until you see the one-way sign.

Glass sign

Distinctive houses deserve a distinctive sign and the modern houses in Riven Lane have certainly got one.

Rainbow door

It is impossible to miss this door in Lammas Road for all the right reasons.

Wall watching

In common with many other people, I walk along Ham Street frequently which allows me to monitor closely the works at Stokes House. At the moment my attention is captivated by the wall.

Great care has been taken to give the wall with its potted history a consistent appearance and also a structure and a finish that will last for many more years. It is a real pleasure to see.

Update on 33 Ham Farm Road

33 (and 35) Ham Farm Road is continuing its unusual combination of merging two properties into one, demolishing the original building apart form one room, building a large extension to the room and adding a garden studio (which is a habitable space) right next to the main house, all this undercover of extensive sheeting.

Update on 31 Ham Farm Road

After a false start or two over a few years, work has restarted in earnest at 31 Ham Farm Road. Windows have been removed and a trench dug.

Update on 25 Ham Farm Road

Work has been going on at 25 Ham Farm Road for about a year and seems to be drawing towards a close. Part of the front elevation is now visible and it is an interesting mix of glass and black panelling, just like the roof lights. I suspect that I am going to like this house when it is finished.

Update on 23 Ham Farm Road

Ham Farm Road remains a centre of construction projects and I walk past them all most days just to keep an eye on progress. This seemed like a good moment to do an update on all of them, starting with 23 Ham Farm Road.

I thought that the only works proposed at the front of the house was a new porch so I was surprised to see two steel girders firmly installed on the front boundary (possible over it as there is a strip if Ham Common on that side of the road, hence the set-back walls). It will be interesting to see what develops. 

New trees in Church Road

I thought that the saga of Church Road ended with the recent planting along the boundary only to discover that trees were part of the plan too.

Petersham Avenue welcomes Spring

I walk along Petersham Avenue regularly (and every other path in Ham too!) and on this occasion it looked even more stunning than usual with the new Spring growth lining the path. 

The colours almost look unnatural but the image is untouched (except for whatever clever stuff the iPhone does whenever you take photos).

Work starts at St Richard's

St Richard's was consecrated in 1966 and has been an iconic building in Ham ever since. Age has taken its toll and a major restoration project is proposed if the necessary funding can be secured. Meanwhile work has started on some lesser repairs.

Wall repairs

Ham (and Petersham) benefits from a profusion of characterful old brick walls and I am glad to say that they are generally very well cared for and most have a visible history of sympathetic repairs and extensions. The latest example of this careful management can be seen in Meadow Close though the property is in Ashfield Close.

Richmond's Twinned Towns

Ham Parade has gained information boards on both sides and this one on the west side describes Richmond's two twinned towns, Fontainebleau and Konstanz.

I know little of Fontainebleau, and am content with that. Konstanz is a different matter. I spent a few good days there in 2018, travelling there and back by train and via a few other places. I loved Konstanz and if ever there is a need to send an ambassador from Richmond there then I am willing to do my bit.

The Manor of Ham

The recently installed bench in the southeast corner of Ham Parade has been joined by a information board giving a quick summary of the history of The Manor of Ham. 

A lot of it will be familiar to anyone with the slightest interest in the history of Ham but there are some less known pictures and it is very well put together so even if you know your local history it is still worth your time going to read it.

New shop on Ham Parade

A new shop has come to Ham Parade, sandwiched between the two Mervyn Smiths in the unit last occupied by a Princess Alice Hospice shop.

It is clear from the unobstructed glass frontage what it sells, though its name is still a mystery.