Arch

This is another pretty quiet corner of Ham House that is easy to overlook, especially as it is usually passed on the way out.

Little Orchard wall

I think the entrance to Bute Avenue looked better when Little Orchard had bushes in front of its boundary wall and my admiration for the new wall is tainted by that comparison. It is a nice characterful wall with uneven bricks and two slight turns both of which help to soften the impact. It is just a shame that the hedges have gone.

Waiting for white

Amidst Cadent's clutter on Ham Street, one of the cottages is getting a little refresh and is waiting for some white paint to complete the work.

Tall wall

As part of the refurbishment of 17 Sudbrook Gardens, it has gained a front wall that is both unexpectedly tall and uncharacteristically light in colour. Some of the original wall can be seen on the right, behind the lamp post, and the contrast between the old and the new is vast.

Tall fence

The small development of House in Kestrel Close and Dukes Avenue were built around thirty years and for all that time the low timber fences have been a prominent feature so the decision of 27 to build something substantial and solid is bit of a surprise.

Replacement fence and hedge

Earlier this year I described how the lane past St. Peter's Church Petersham and on to Petersham Nurseries was being remade as a proper road and the last part of that work was to rebuild the combined fence and hedge on one side.

Fence in Sandpits Road

It is impossible to miss this new fence when walking along Sandpits Road towards Petersham Road and that is fine because it is a decent fence. The colour also goes well with the house.

It would have been even better if the wooden components of the steps had been replaced at the same time, they looked good with the old fence but do not match the new one.

A history in brick

This wall in Sandpits Road is hardly the oldest in the area but it still carries a lot of history told by the differently coloured bricks. The place where there used to be a gate is the most obvious feature and I also like the small arch over a former gap on the bottom left.

Wall works

Once upon a time there would have been a gate to Beaufort House between the pillars but it has been a brick wall for some time, judging by the age of the bricks and the installation of a lamp post in front of it. The boards hide whatever is happening to it now so that is something that I will be looking out for on a future walk.

Damaged wall

This corner of wall at Ham House shows a lot of history from the newer pillar on the left to the filled in gate on the left and with several repairs in the middle. Further repairs are needed and these will add to the wall's history for decades, maybe centuries, to come.

White windows

Strolling along Sudbrook Lane I was struck by these these recently painted white windows set in a lovely brick wall; it's an image well worth sharing. The newness of the paintwork is confirmed by the flecks of paint on the pavement.

Rear fence

These are the backs of properties in Randle Road as seen from the access road off Dukes Avenue whee something interesting is going on. 

The new trellice-topped panels look too grand for such a location (though they will look good from the other side) and the white sections seem to have been cobbled together from unwanted materials, presumably these will be replaced as part of the construction work being done in the garden.

Wall up

In July I noted that the wall to 50 Sandy Lane had been demolished and while it looked good without a wall it was likely that it would be replaced, and it has. 

And a very good wall it is too, thanks to the decoration.

Wall down

50 Sandy Lane used to have a front wall and something of an arch over the driveway and all that remains is two rows of bricks alongside the pavement. 

I actually quite like the idea of a hedge rather than a wall but I suspect that there will be a new wall instead.

Copse boundary

I am still unsure what is happening to the former Strathmore site on Meadlands Drive (but I am not interested enough to find out) and while what is going on in the site is a mystery the new boundary fence is not.

It is a nice fence too and well suited to the location. At the moment it is slightly obscured by the temporary barriers and there is little vegetation in front of it so it will look even better soon.

More wall repairs

Possibly inspired by the impressive wall works at its neighbour, Stokes House in Ham Street, Bench House is undertaking some wall repairs of its own.

Wall work completed

Now that it is finished, I will almost miss checking up on progress on the wall to Stokes House in Ham Street as it has been a pleasure watching the painstaking work being done well. The compensation is that the completed wall is a delight.

I also like that it does not look brand new, even though it is.

Not white

The rule here is clearly that fences must be white so it is a shame that somebody has chosen to break ranks and pick a different colour. The one saving grace is that it matches the front door but that is not a good enough excuse.

Wall work

The wall work at Stokes House in Ham Street continues to interest me and it has progressed noticeable since I last posted a picture of it a couple of weeks ago. It has gained caping stones along the top and a slightly wider section along the bottom.

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.