Polo player

We were given a tour of all of the facilities at Ham Polo Club on the Ham United Group (HUG) Annual Architectural Tour 2026 but we skipped this statue so I have no idea who this is or even if it is somebody specific.

Its placement is rather out of the way and I hope that it about to be moved somewhere more prominent, as it deserves.

Bird post restored

The metal bollard in Sudbrook Lane that a driver knocked out of place earlier this year has been restored and so has the decorated fake tree attached to it. Birds are again the residents of the tree though I expect this to change from time to time.

Celebrating Wimbledon

This hedge at the Common end of Ham Street is something of a local landmark and I have posted a picture of it before when the two spheres became Christmas puddings. Their current transformation into tennis balls is stylistically simple but technically difficult as the two curvilinear ovals on each sphere have to be approximately the same size for the effect to work properly.

It is always good to see people making an effort like this to brighten the area even if all it takes is a little bit of white tape.

Townscape

I do not know if this colourful tile is a representation of a specific place, a general area or a fiction but it is a welcome addition to Beaufort Road.

Two statues

Two very white and active statues of Venus and Mercury stand either side of the central entrance to The Wilderness behind Ham House.

Little birds

Every walk along Sudbrook Lane is brightened by this decorated post which changes several times a year. The current display is of little birds, perhaps a portent of spring.

Remembrance

This dramatic memorial dominates the middle section of Back Lane, in a good way.

Butterflies

I really like the way that the decorations on this post are refreshed periodically, this time with butterflies.

Otter

It is always worth walking down what look like less interesting roads because, sometimes, you find interesting things like this otter.

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.

Easter pole

This is the third time that I have featured this pole; first it was decorated with Little Ponies, then it was Christmassy and now it is dressed with eggs for Easter.

Two birds

It is always nice to spot something unusal and also attracive in a front garden and I like these two birds.

Red cow

Swiss Bread bakery and cafe in Ashburnham Road has become and important part of the local community in the five years since it opened and while the staff and the produce are the main ingredients of their success the decorative features help too. Most of these are inside the shop but the red cow normally stands attentively outside.

Christmas pole

When I posted a picture of this post earlier in the year it was delightfully decorated with My Little Ponies and Batmen, and now it has adopted a seasonal look with twigs from a fir tree stuffed with model deer.

Happy faces

One of me golden rules for collecting these photographs is to regularly walk every road in Ham, including all the no-trough-roads like Randle Road which wanders a short distance off Craig Road. Even quiet places like this have interesting things to see and changes to note.

These three happy faces above one of the doors was well worth the walk into then out of the road.

Sculpture at Hardwicke House

The front garden of Hardwicke House has gained a new sculpture (presumably created by the owner of the house) and I like it. It sits proudly in its setting with the trees and bushes gathered around it as if in worship.

Prom Pop Up

Ham Parade is suffering with a mix of empty and dead units so it is good to see some fresh artwork brightening it up a little.

Gate to Pond House

When Pond House (on the north side of Ham Common) was refurbished in 2013 I posted a picture of it that showed off the front fence but neglected to include the matching gate, a mistake that I am very happy to rectify now.

It is a simple design but it does enough attract appreciative attention and avoids being garishly fussy. It is perfect for the house and the location.

A Bird in the Hand exposed

A Bird in the Hand, by Keith Goodwin, stands on the extrance to Parkleys and for many years it has been all but concealed by the vegetation around it, which I assume was not the original plan. The recent tree work in that section of Parkleys has opened up this view from Upper Ham Road.

The statue is best observed side-on so I am not sure that removing mature trees to create this view was a good idea,

Elysium by Ellie Drake-Lee

This was probably my favourite piece in The Art Of Nature exhibition at Ham House and this setting did it proud.