The 325th Bollard...

A Golden Top Bollard...

Thank you...

Maybe it was or is fate but I could not have asked for a better 'Golden' top bollard to celebrate the (rather slow progress) 325th 'Bollard of London'.

If you head to Cuthbert Street just off the Edgware Road and turn left into Adpar Street you'll find these tapering near cylindrical shaped bollards (top) painted predominately white with a gold coloured top. Reminds me of a pint of gold top milk although now I only ever have a splash of semi-skimmed in my tea or coffee.

A huge thank you to @Boll_Ards on the twitter for providing us with some very interesting and amusing photographs #guestbollards (above).

May I take the opportunity to wish you all a very happy break this Easter, don't forget the clocks spring forward at 1am on Sunday morning (Saturday night) and with it British Summer Time begins.

Bollards of London...

The 12 Bollards of Christmas, Nursery...

Two striped bollards....

On the second day of Christmas (bollards) a Nursery gave to us two rather colourful/cheerful looking striped bollards (I asked permission to take this photograph). It really does demonstrate what we could do with some paint and how people are able to brighten up what are rather bland looking bog standard bollards.

I pledge in 2013 to create a movement for/of 'Boll-art'. If people/councils are going to plant objects on our streets/roads (for whatever reason) let us allow colleges/school children/artists to brighten up bollards where local communities approve.

The #guestbollard feature goes from strength to strength and can I thank @OnlyJustHarry on the twitter for all his support and two cracking but very different bollards he found recently outside Salisbury Cathedral. If we take a look (below) we see that both are unique and with the stone bollard just below weathering/ageing well.

Salisbury Cathedral...

Another....

Bollards of London...

PS "On the second day of Christmas Bollards (Nursery) gave to thee two striped bollards and a unique Barristers bollard"

The 12 Bollards of Christmas, Lincoln's Inn...

The 1st bollard of Christmas...

On the first day of Christmas (bollards) the legal profession gives to us a rather unique looking bollard protecting a stone pillar which just happens to be adjacent to Old Square within 'Lincoln's Inn' one of the historical Inns of Chancery here in London.

I happened to drop a QC off the other day at Old Square and I was yet  again struck by the history, beauty and splendour of Lincoln's Inn plus this rather unique looking bollard (above) and the lovely Christmas tree below.

Adjacent Christmas tree...

The first Christmas #guestbollard from Chicago, USA...

A huge thank you to @meagburnt on the twitter for this beautiful #guestbollard photograph of a number of harbour side bollards in Chicago, USA.

Bollards of London...

PS "On the first day of Christmas Bollards (Barristers) gave to thee, one unique bollard"...

More Leaning Bollards...

Leaning bollard semi pebble dashed...

A very short break from blogging but be assured bollards are back and a huge thank you to all of you who have submitted #guestbollards rest assured they will be used on this blog, it just takes time to pick the right one for the right reason.

I recently popped down the Fulham Road and walked along Waterford Road where I came across these rather interesting looking pebble dashed bollards with another one leaning (just like the previous post).

It doesn't matter where I go in the UK I keep noticing these posts/bollards that appear to be everywhere in our cities.

With Christmas fast approaching in December (not November) I thought it would be a good idea to create the 12 bollards of Christmas with your permission/help !

In the meantime enjoy another 'leaning' bollard and please do keep those #guestbollards coming.

No Parking Private Estate...

Bollards of London...

The Leaning Bollard of Lambeth...

A Lambeth leaning bollard...

Welcome to Black Prince Road, Kennington SE11 where I found 'The Leaning Bollard of Lambeth' outside the The Black Prince Public  House.

We've seen a similar design (orange squeezer top) top within the City of London but a little thinner. This bollard though is leaning and could easily become an odd attraction for the area around us just happens to be part of the Duchy of Cornwall estate (Royal) and due to Kennington being rather close to the Palace of Westminster (Parliament) it is also known has division bell land with plenty of MP's living in the area.

The bollard is octagonal in shape and tapers upwards towards a band/ridged area which contains a star for each side/face of the octagonal body. We then meet another band/ridged area which tapers outwards with a smooth finished band/ridge before the bollard is finished off with a flatter looking orange squeezer top.

If we look at the lamp post and corner of the public house (above/below) both give us a vertical line and prove beyond a reasonable doubt that we have 'The Leaning Bollard of Lambeth' !

Black Prince Road and Public House...

A cracking collection of stone bollards from Rome...

A huge thank you once again to @LondonStone on the twitter for the excellent photographs of many bollards he sent whilst on a recent trip to Rome.

So our #guestbollards are from Rome and what a collection we have here. These stone bollards vary slightly in style/design but they all play an important part protecting the beautiful stone columns/brickwork and deterring motor vehicles from driving through the wonderful tall archway. Don't those cobble stones look beautiful.

Bollards of London (and Rome)...

The Goldsmiths' Company Bollards...

Goldsmiths' Hall bollard...

Welcome to Foster Lane EC2 in the City of London where only last week I came across this rather interesting looking bollard.

Take a close look at the square base with a tapering square based column/body sitting upon rising upwards towards an ornate square shaped head complete with the shield part of The Goldsmiths' Company coat of arms. The bollard is finished off nicely with a circular tiered rising area topped with a ball.

If we look at the photograph (below) you'll notice the eyelet to the right hand side which allows a chain to be attached and stops people parking on their land.

With eyelet for chain...

The coat of arms of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths'...

Boll-art in Paris...

The #guestbollard today is from Paris and provided by @bbonthebrink on the twitter with these rather wonderful blue bollards she found in Rue Yvonne le Tac, Paris 18th arrondissement.

I must say isn't it rather cool what you can do with a blue sleeve and some rather nice cloth/material.

Next #guestbollard will be provided @LondonStone and it'll be from Rome.

Black in the distance blue covered bollards in the foreground...

Bollards of London (and Paris)...

Signature Bollard E1...

A solid looking bollard...

I parked the taxi-cab recently and went for a walk around Fort Street E1 where I came across a number of unusual old and recent bollards.

The bollard (above) caught my eye for a number of reasons. Look at the solid/sturdy square base with a slightly curved area which morphs into a cylindrical base that rises vertically to a pretty tall height. The main body has three ridged areas with a near half cannon ball top finish. Painted black/white the bollard needs no reflective markers yet it does have the odd scratch/scrap form larger vehicles operating in this area which contains many narrow streets/roads/alleys.

If we take a look at the photograph (below) we can at the top area of the bollard a person decided to sign/place a signature with a red pen. I've looked closely and can certainly make out the second name of 'gregory' I'm just not that sure of the first. Is this London's first 'Signature Bollard' ?

Who's signature ?

Bollards of London...

Fort Street E1...

Metropolitan Borough of Shoreditch...

We have found this type/style/design of bollard (above) before with the lettering 'M B S' which stands for the 'Metropolitan Borough of Shoreditch. What I've never seen before is a bollard like this painted in the 'Corporation of London' colours which are white/red/black.

Rare to find an old Metropolitan borough bollard decked out in the Corporations colours, is this a case of a bollard grab ? If we look at the photograph (below) we see the the bollard next to a rather pleasant ornate  dandy lamp post.

Nice ornate lamp post...

If we take a look at the bollard (below) you may notice that it is plain compared to the majority of City of London bollards but it is also a little slimmer than the usual we find around and within the square mile.

Another different City of London bollard...

Bollards of London...

Devonshire Square EC2...

Devonshire Square EC2...

Back once again to the City of London and just behind the 'Heron Tower' you'll find Devonshire Square EC2 and these rather plain semi ornate bollards.

With an octagonal base and tapering body plus two ridged bands complete with a half ball top these bollards stand out and ensure most vehicles don't cut any corner. If we take a close look at the bollard above you'll notice a semi circular logo of sort and writing underneath 'Cutlers Gardens Estates Limited'. If we look at photograph (below) we see the bollards form part of the entrance to development and project a corporate image for the estate.

A pair with gate...

Chicago USA...

Now the #guestbollard feature is back and I've chosen two very different bollards to feature from two very different parts of the world.

Above we see a rather wonderful bollard complete with nose (it look likes a nose) found by @meagburnt on the twitter at Ohio Street Beach/Lake Shore Drive, Chicago USA.

Below we have some ornate chain linked bollards which have fallen over in St Petersburg, Russia found by @urberwoot on the twitter. I noticed that the Russian bollards aren't planted securely on the pavement but placed over a small protrusion in the pavement close to the kerbside.

St Petersburg Russia...

Bollards of London (Chicago and St Petersburg)...

Pavilion Street SW1...

Unique bollard...

We are back in Hans Town a ward within  the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea where back in 2009 I came across the beautiful 'Hans Town Bollard' literally opposite in Pavilion Street there sits planted firmly into the kerbside this rather unique looking bollard (post).

If we look at the picture/photograph (below) we see the bollard in its full glory/setting. The base appears to be square and set flush with the rather shallow kerb. A cylindrical base then rises but tapers with short tiered layers. A stubby column rises before it again tapers and the much narrower body/column rises until it flares outwards and then curves back towards what appears to be an ornate broken head.

Doesn't the red terracotta coloured stone/brickwork look beautiful.

Something missing from the top...

Bollards of London...

Return to High Timber Street EC4...

Concrete bollard...

We return to High Timber Street EC4 which runs parallel to Upper Thames Street in the City of London. I found these rather odd looking bollards made from concrete with a simple domed shaped top.

The body of the bollard has three cutaway areas  which add a decorative effective if nothing else.

What's the purpose of these bollards ? In my opinion just like the rather huge plant pots they protect the concrete columns by deterring motor vehicles from mounting/parking on the pavement and blocking the very narrow road.

Another view/angle...

R2D2  in stitches...

Cornish bollard...

One of the #guestbollards featured today just so happens to be covered with an 'R2D2'  knitted suit I'm sure this would impress the @deadlyknitshade on the twitter. I found this photograph on 'The Bollardorium' group on facebook.

The final bollard (above) is from Cornwall, a rather simple cylindrical design with two ridged rings/areas (painted gold) with a domed top finish. However we see a badge/crest/emblem of Cornwall upon the side with fifteen 'gold' coins within the shield. The bezants or gold roundels are from the coat of arms of the Duchy of Cornwall. If we take a look at the 'Civic Heraldry' site it confirms one of the many stories/tales regarding the coins/roundels or bezants and a ransom raised by 'one and all' to save the King's son payed to his captors.

Bollards of London (Cornwall and a galaxy far far away)...

Jacob Street SE1...

Jacob Street bollard...

Welcome to Jacob Street SE1 where I dropped a fare off the other evening and came across this rather interesting looking bollard.

The body of this body is cylindrical with a flared top (could be confused has a muzzle) and a half cannon ball top finish. The bollard looks older than what I believe it to be due to the erosion of layers of paint along with the rusting parts of the metal.

I'm sure many of you have heard or seen some of the pictures featuring art work on bollards (boll-art) well thanks to Ross Corben we have now found fabric based 'boll-art' featured on this rather interesting blog by a journalist based in Beirut, http://www.sietske-in-beiroet.blogspot.co.uk Looks like a rather interesting blog/site and the fabric covered bollards look pretty cool indeed.

Looks like but not a cannon...

Bollard with post/public notices...

A Fort William bollard...

The #guestbollard featured on this post was photographed/provided by @obotheclown on the twitter. He has found a most unusual bollard in Fort William, Scotland. If we ignore the body/base of the bollard and concentrate on the pentagonal shaped top/head and note the symbols/signs we can see on each face/side of the bollard top.

If you look at the photograph (above) you see a star and wavy lines (water) on two of the faces. If we look (below) we see a face of the sun, two axes and a moon (quartered). The axes interested me and it appears they form part of the crest for 'Lochaber District Council' which became part of the Highlands Regional Council in 1996.

Sun...

Axes..?

Moon...

Bollards of London (and Fort William)...

Smith Square SW1...

Wooden bollard...

Welcome back to Smith Square SW1 where I came across this rather pleasant but weathered looking wooden bollard.

The bollard marks a border of St John's of Smith Square. I love the tree/cobble stones in the background and think the autumn leaves create a rather beautiful look when lying on the ground next to the grey cobbles and large kerb stones.

If you look at the above elevation photograph (two below) you'll see the lines/cracks in the wooden bollard top with the cobbles at an angle on one side separated by the kerb with paving slabs on the other side.

Another angle...

Wooden bollard top...

Cambridge University Library book bollards...

The #guestbollard has been featured over at 'Bollards of Britain' (note Bollards of Britain is closing and all bollards will be featured over here on this site/blog).

Can I personally thank Mr Martin H Evans for this wonderful photograph (above) of the book bollards at Cambridge University Library, they are simply wonderful and certainly caused a stir when they were first planted.

Now Martin is also a highly intelligent chap and keeps himself rather busy and just so happens to have written many items including a piece on cannons/bollards that is the most accurate and definitive piece I've ever had the chance to read. Here is the link 'Old cannon reused as bollards' and hope you enjoy the read also.

Bollards of London (and Cambridge)...

PS please note I'll be taking a short break from posting on the site for the next week so please do take the opportunity to take a look through the 300 plus bollards of London.

Shelton Street WC2...

Odd shaped bollard...

Welcome back to Shelton Street WC2 with the junction of Mercer Street where I must pass this rather beautiful odd shaped bollard at least three to four times a week.

The bollard has an octagonal body/base which flares outwards rises vertically then tapers inwards to form a flat octagonal shaped top. Has you can see from the photographs (above/below) it is painted/finished in gloss black.

The greatest shame here is that local businesses/people believe it's ok to place bags of rubbish next to the bollard. It maybe this is an official collection point even so it blights a rather pleasant part of London.

Black gloss finish...

Rome bollards thank you @LondonStone

With the #guestbollard feature returning I'd like to thank @LondonStone on the twitter for the first of many wonderful bollards which will be featured here from Rome.

Bollards of London (and Rome)...