New entrance to Little Orchard

The is the new entrance to the rebuilt Little Cottage from Bute Avenue. While not remarkable in itself it is markedly different from the previous entrance which was a gate with railings set back from the road with hedges on either side.

The new solid gate and the lack of greenery in front of the wall makes this a more austere and less welcoming entrance.

Petersham Road resurfacing

The closure of Petersham Road over night for resurfacing has caused a few problems with access, which is why I ended up taking this photo at 1:30am while walking home from Richmond because there were no buses.

I presume that this work is necessary but that does not make the regular closures and restrictions on this road any less annoying.

Incidentally, Petersham Road was fully resurfaced in 2014. It may have been done again since then but without me recording it.

On entering Petersham Lodge Woods

It is easy to overlook Petersham Lodge Woods as River Lane and the towpath let you pass easily but it is worth making the effort to step inside and this is the serene view you get on entering from River Lane,

Dominic House in Sudbrook Lane

The changes made over the years to Dominic House in Sudbrook Lane have been small but noticeable. The driveway used to be paved and was smaller. The garden is reduced as a result and the row of semi-spherical trees that used to define the house has been reduced from seven to three.

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.

Clarendon SEND School is austere

I was fortunate to walk past the new Clarendon SEND School on Meadlands Drive when both gates were open to allow a large truck out and the man on the gate was away from his post guiding the truck out and away; that gave me a decent view of the frontage for the first time. I am not impressed.

As an office building this is fine but as a school I think that it is too austere and unwelcoming. I appreciate that is sits in a sensitive area but I do not think that is a good enough excuse.

Fairlawn extends

Fairlawn is hidden away at the far end of Petersham Close. The building on the left is original (as are the shutters) but its neighbour on the right and their roofs are new,

2 Ashfield Close

Cars parked on the drive had thwarted all of my previous attempts to take a full-width picture of 2 Ashfield Close following its extensive refurbishment so I was glad to finally find it car free. The house is both distinctive and attractive.

Clarendon SEND School rises

The new Clarendon SEND School building is well underway and while this is the back of the development it is also the closest that you can get to it, as it is set well back from Meadlands Drive. From here it looks to be a staunchly traditional building with rectangular walls comprised of uniform bricks.

This may not be very exciting but it is appropriate for the area and is much better than the multi-coloured panels that many schools went for a few years ago, including the Kingston Academy extension on Richmond Road in Kingston.

Another view of The Manor House

I posted a view earlier of the works at The Manor House in Petersham looking from Montrose House and this is the view from River Lane. I suspect that the house will look much the same as it did before once all the work is finished but in the meantime it looks good covered in scaffolding.

New surface

The reason that the lane past St. Peter's Church Petersham has been closed to traffic is obvious once you turn the corner towards Petersham Nurseries where the dirt track is being covered with asphalt.

No Parking

This is the lane past St. Peter's Church Petersham and it is also on the way to Petersham Nurseries which is why it is normally full of parked cars on one side with other cars trying to either enter or exit the area.

It is also a main walking route to Richmond and part of the popular Capital Ring Walk so having parked cars there is really annoying. and it was really nice to find them gone pending works in the area.

Works at The Navigator's House

Something is happening to The Navigator's House in River Lane, next to the footpath to the sea scouts and beyond. The obvious guess would be a garage though that is not quite what it looks like.

Previously there was an interesting building there (which I failed to photograph due to never finding the gate open). This had two storeys with the upper level looking like a shed being constructed out of wood and with a window.

The Manor House in Petersham

The Manor House sits on a prominent position on Tommy Steele Corner (I still call it that) and the only way to appreciate it properly is to cross the busy road to stand by the main entrance to Montrose House.

It looks as though the work being gone is just minor maintenance but I will cross the road against once it is finished to see the end result.

New path and more

Now saved from planned demolition, 14 Cedar Heights is being visibly improved. The rather formal path to the front door is perhaps the most obvious change and it is easy to mis that where there are now brown weatherboards there used to be white render.

Cedar Heights / Petersham Gate

The two bus stops by Petersham Gate have been renamed to "Cedar Heights / Petersham Gate", for reasons that escape me.

Clearly Petersham Gate is much more of a landmark than Cedar Heights (I suspect that many people living in Ham do not know where Cedar Height is) so I see no point in including the street name as well, much less the need to put it first and in larger text.

Footpath closures

I am not aware of any work that needs doing to Meadow Close so I will be interested to see if there are any noticeable changes when it reopens. The same comment applies to nearby Hazel Lane which is closed on 3 November.

1-9 Sandpits Road

I have long wanted to posy a picture of the cute cottages in Sandpits Road but have always been thwarted by their inaccessibility (sunken plots, fences and trees) and my unwillingness to pry into private areas, I could just go up to the fence and take a photo over it but that would be to intrude. 

I was forced into trying to take a picture of them because they are included in the modernist architecture guided walk Perambulation Nº27—Richmond to Ham by Stefi Orazi.

What you can see of the cottages is pretty enough, thanks to the windows, and there is the added bonus of finding that one of the cottages has decided to be cream rather than white.

Woodbine Cottage

Somehow I have overlooked Woodbine Cottage, despite posting a few pictures of the garden I have never posted one of the house before, so I am pleased to correct that error.

Petersham Road is an awkward and generally unpleasant place to walk (road too busy, pavement too narrow and uneven) and I only use that route to look for new or interesting things and passing Woodbine Cottage the whiteness struck me first and then it was the lovely windows. The partial screening by trees add a welcome sense of mystery.

A last look

14 Cedar Heights is looking very rundown and neglected for a good reason, it is about to be demolished. I have been expecting this for almost a year and am looking forward to seeing this house fall and a new one rising to replace it.