Fortune House

Fortune House sits proudly on the corner of New Road and Craig Road and has this modest nameplate on the Craig Road side. The ivy had just been hacked back substantially to reveal the sign which deserves to be seen.

A house waits its fate

Many of the houses in Sudbrook Gardens have been substantial updated, and extended, in recent years and this is one of the exceptions. It looks quite sad, almost as if it knows that somebody will see this as an opportunity site and the existing house just an obstacle to be got rid of.

Whatever the fate of the house I hope that the quirky blue gates remain.

Another lost garden in Petersham

I have nothing against the extension to this house on Clifford Road where it meets Meadlands Drive but I do not like the way that the garden has been replaced with a uniform impervious brick. A patter in two colours would have been better and leaving some space for planting would have been better still.

Glasshouses at The Palm Centre

At the far end of the newly opened section of The Palm Centre in Ham Street are the remains of an old glasshouse. It is somewhat dilapidated now but still exudes industrial charm. Not shown here are the gaps under the floor that I presumed were used to heat the building.

In contrast, this is one of the modern glasshouses in the main part of The Palm Centre, which I find equally charming.

The new Russell School takes shape

The new Russell School buildings have been quite some time in coming and they are finally taking shape.

I last took a picture of the construction just over a year ago and then all that existed was a metal shell.  That gave some idea of the scale of the new building and the addition of the walls and roof means that we now know what it will look like, at least when viewed from among the brambles along the lane leading to Ham Polo.

Weathervane at Ham Manor

I have simply no idea how this weathervane escaped my notice until now. I can only assume that either somebody has sneakily installed it recently or I had seen it before and assumed that it had already be included in the blog.

It resides on one of the buildings at Ham Manor in Ham Street, but not the main one.

A grand wall for a modest house

It is hard to describe this wall without using the word pretentious. Most of the properties along this stretch of Petersham Road have low brisk walls, often with an undulating top. Only this house has gone for the Full Monty with large brick pillars, stone finials and gold-topped railings. The overall effect is completely out of keeping with the house and the rest of the street.

Regular readers (there are some!) may remember that this house also featured here a few months ago for having a very boring front garden.

Wisteria in Wiggins Lane

Wisteria is one of the defining features of Ham and many houses use it to add Spring colour. One of the very best examples, and always worth several visits, is in Wiggins Lane off Ham Street.

Something ugly in Cedar Heights

I have been worried about this new house in Cedar Heights for some time because of the simplicity of the design - it still looks as thought it were drawn by a child. I reserved final judgement until it was finished in case some decorative features rescued it from its unbearable blandness but, if anything, the plain white finish has made it even worse.

It is a real shame as one of the areas more interesting and attractive modern buildings is directly opposite it.

All I can hope is that they build a large wall in front of it. Or paint flowers all over it.

Neat house in Sudbrook Gardens

I took a picture of this house a few years ago and it justifies a second appearance because of the way that the garden set it off so wonderfully this time. It made me stop as I was walking past (to check on the house demolition at the end of the road) and I wanted to share that moment.

The Palm Centre has expanded

I have always liked the Palm Centre and I pop in there from time to time just to enjoy the plants, glasshouses and garden ornaments. When I visit I explore every corner and on a recent visit I found that there were now even more corners to explore.

There always was a separate planting area almost hidden away in the north-west corner and when I went into that I discovered another large planting area off of that one. Ham Street lies beyond the brick wall at the back.

This section of the Palm Centre is vast and I have tried to show that in these pictures. At the far end they reach almost up to Orangery café at Ham House.

House demolished in Ham Farm Road

Last time I took this picture, just a couple of weeks ago, the house was still visible above the boarding and now it has gone. It will be June before the new Huf Haus starts to appear in its place.

Battered doors at Petersham Grange

I've featured Petersham Grange before because it is a distinctive and attractive house and I like this battered door too. The main entrance, just to the left, is wide and ungated so this door is not used.

New box and hatch door

Just as the path leaves Parkleys heading for Church Road the entrance to Beechrow is on the right and on the left this large box and hatch have just appeared. They are just beyond the smaller box and hatch door that have been there for many years and which I once managed to look in to.

Vetech Motor Services

The old signs for Vetech Motor Services were tatty and broken so they deserve to be replaced. The red makes the new signs very bold and eye-catching, especially for anyone waiting at the 371 bus stop opposite or emerging from Northweald Lane.

New gate in an old wall

A new gate is being built into the long and old wall that encompasses large parts of the Ham House estate at the east end of Ham Street. Behind the wall lies the Palm Centre.

Brash signs at Physio Extra

The Physio Extra gym in Upper Ham Road, at the north-west end of Ham Parade, has acquired some brash new signs that are somewhat out of keeping with the brick buildings. It is hard to avoid them when walking past, which I guess is the point.

139 Petersham Road

I like the way that every time that 139 Petersham Road has added new house numbers that they have left the old ones there. It is an interesting history of fonts and fashions.

Stunning window at Ham Village Centre

I am enjoying watching Ham Village Centre emerge from what was the Royal Oak on the corner of Ham Street and Sandy Lane. This window facing Ham Street is the most impressive feature so far.

Drawn into the window is a detailed historical map of the area and I find it impossible to walk past it without pausing to look at it.

This close-up shows just how detailed the map is. The public house (P.H.) in the centre of the photo is, obviously, the location of the Ham Village Centre.