Signs for horse-riders

New signs have appeared in Ham Lands in the area by Ham Polo and Ham House to guide horse-riders. These direct them to the small fields off Meadlands Drive where they can warm up with some brisk trotting. I like the simplicity of both the signs and the posts that display them. 

Attractive extension in Lock Road

I have walked past this house on the corner of Lock Road and Craig Road many times and while it was always charming enough it was never remarkable. Then suddenly it changed with a confidently modern extension which I find both attractive and fitting.

The design fits the space neatly and the wood is bold and proud. I also like the little details, such as the number 42 etched into the glass.

Old fire engine at Ham Fair

I went to Ham Fair as usual this year, it was on 13 June, and while there were interesting things to see and do lines of tents do not make for interesting photographs so the fair would have escaped this blog entirely if not for the small collection of vintage fire engines on show in the south-east corner.

They were provided by the The London Museum of Water and Steam in Kew and I spent some time talking to their director. It had been a few years since I had last gone to the museum and much had changed since then, including its name.

The new Ham Glebe takes shape

Ham Glebe in Church Road is now one of the places that I walk past regularly to see how the buildings work are getting on. Quite a lot of time was spent clearing the site, driving a few piles and sorting the drains out and now the construction proper has started with the laying of the concrete base.

A thing to note is how close the new building is to the woods at the back and to the sides. There is not that much more space at the front of the house either and most of that will be taken by the drive and parking spaces.

A growing house in Ham Farm Road

One of the local developments that I am keeping a regular eye on is this one in Ham Farm Road. It is approached via a long lane, close to the junction with Upper Ham Road, and the two houses there are set behind, and hidden by, the other houses in the road.

With various extensions the house has at least doubled in size but the new roof and rendering so their best to hide the differences between the old and the new parts. It is a fairly simple design and I think that works well. It also closely matches its neighbour on Upper Ham Road.

As the building work has continued a large gate now blocks this view. 

Buffer's Stop

The Locksmeade development is an interesting collection of buildings, spaces and paths that while very different from the rest of Ham in appearance are completely in keeping with their landscaping and permeability.

Taking advantage of that permeability, and using one of the paths through the development recently, I spotted this new house sign. Everything about it is right. I love the gentle font, the little picture and the sympathetic colouring.

Chalk angel and other happy things

I like the path that runs through Royal Park Gate connecting Dukes Avenue with the river because it bends just enough to stop it being boring but not too much to feel like a detour and because it lies within a wide natural avenue of grass and bushes.

This time that I walked along the path it was even prettier thanks to the efforts of some chalk artist, or artists, who had been busy drawing jolly things like a rainbow, an angel and a butterfly on the pedestrian side of the path.

Round windows in Lock Road

I do not know if these windows have always been like this but I have only just noticed them. That is why I keep walking the same roads and keep looking all around me. There are always new things to see and old things to notice for the first time.

It is not uncommon for houses to have one round window, often to light the stairwell or landing, but two are much rarer, and that is why they caught my attention.

Uncluttered view of Ham House

I do not often take photographs of the front of Ham House for two reasons, I find it overly fussy and there are normally lots of people in the way. So it was a nice surprise to look the font of the house looking so lovely on a recent walk.

It was not deliberate (I am not that organised) but I found myself walking past just as it was closing which had the double benefit of removing people from the scene and of bathing it in late afternoon sunshine.

I still much prefer the back of the house though I will now admit that the front has its charms too.