South Lodge details

This is a section of the back of South Lodge, as seen from Bishops Close, and I chose it for its neat clutter. 

There is a lot going on in the picture with the mix of windows, a brick wall with decorative details and some repairs,  proudly black pipes and a fire escape cutting through the middle, yet the honest design of the original house shines through and maintains a sense of neatness.

South Lodge signs

1A and 3A South Lodge are round that back and are accessed via Bishops Close. They are earier to find now thanks to this clear and prominent sign.
 

For comparison, 4A (on the side of the lodge) has an older sign. This is equally attractive though slightly less clear thanks to age and the size of the house number.

Wider driveway

The entrance to South Lodge on Ham Common has been widened by a meter or so by replacing some of the lawn with stones. It is only a small change but it is another sacrifice of nature to satisfy the needs for people's lust for cars.

Spared railings at South Lodge

South Lodge is one of the very best buildings on Ham Common so it is a shame that it is largely hidden behind vegetation and cars. However, these decorative railings on the Bishops Close side are easy to see. The railings used to be above all of the low wall but all the rest were removed when iron was collected for the war effort. Their lucky escape then gives us pleasure today.

South Lodge

South Lodge on Ham Common is an attractive building and because of that I have photographed it many times. The sign on the entrance is attractive too so I do not know why I have not photographed it before. It is as stately as the lodge, just as it should be,

Tinkering with South Lodge

Bishops Close is another of those annoying roads that does not actually lead anywhere but at least it offers different perspectives of South Lodge, the front aspect of which stares across Ham Common. Walking up there recently I noticed a few changes.

The side entrance had been significantly neatened and given a fresh modern look. It was somewhat at odds with the front of the lodge but as it looked in a different direction that was fine. The new works were sympathetic to the old bricks and that was all that mattered.

Bishops Close kinks around the back of South Lodge and offers views into the rear courtyard. This had also been considerably neatened and improved with crisp paving, tidy railing and some large pots.

South Lodge

South Lodge is one of the grander grand houses on Ham Common. It's days as a hunting lodge are long gone and now it survives as a collection of flats, though it goes out of its way to hide the fact.

South Lodge on Ham Common

The walk around the edge of Ham Common is always enjoyable as it reveals many interesting buildings from small neat cottages to grand lodges like South Lodge.This sits neatly on the short north side of the Common and keeps itself a little distant from the road behind a small garden.

Bell tower

South Lodge on the north side of Ham Common is a fairly attractive building overall and the most attractive feature is the grand bell tower which impresses with its size, decoration and brisk white paintwork.

Ball finial

South Lodge on Ham Common almost seems embarrassed by its earlier grandeur as it tries to hide the ball finial on the rear gate in a tangle of branches.

Drifting leaves

The southerly wind is scooping up the recently dropped leaves on Ham Common and dropping them against the wall to South Lodge.

South Lodge

I like this view of the back of South Lodge, taken from Bishop Close, because it shows a curious mix of windows and doors that is a complete contrast to the uniformity that the front of the building presents to Ham Common.

South Lodge on Ham Common

South Lodge is on the north side of Ham Common, on the corner with Bishop Close. I presume that it was a lodge at some point, i.e. a single dwelling, but now it is collection of flats pretending to be something grander.