Chinese Bollards...?

Is this a bollard with a Chinese influence for I found these the other week whilst travelling through the London Borough of Bromley. They were planted around the perimeter of the roundabout know as the Chinese garage.

Let us a take a close look at the design they seem to be your average size made of concrete with a pebble dash effect surface but it is the top two thirds that give you this odd oriental look. The cone shaped top with concrete ball just looks a little Chinese to me.

Who would have thought we would have found such a odd looking bollard in the leafy green suburb of Bromley.

Yellow Topped With Chains...

The most common type of bollard to be found in rather large numbers is this style used by the Westminster City Council and the Royal Parks. Here though this style of two thirds ribbed is used to define a boundary and to separate pedestrians and vehicles along Stories Gate by the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre.

Notice the yellow coloured top plus the black and yellow chain now interlinking the bollards. It really amazes me the lengths we go to mark boundaries within the capital. We may well be a global hub for banking, finance and even the home of democracy but we must be up there with the gods when it comes to bollards.

Welcome to a Nation of Bollards...

Rather Large Bollard or a Dalek ?

Well you could be forgiven for thinking this is a Dalek for it is a rather large looking bollard sitting right by the traffic island which houses a underground public toilet. In fact on closer inspection this isn't a Dalek, it is an ornate Victorian cover for a ventilation shaft probably from the toilet beneath. Looking at the head of this "bollard" it could easily become a giant juicer ?

I do like the very ornate railing behind and this for me is what confirms that this is after all a vent shaft with a very victorian bollard shaped vent shaft. The actual panels on each side of this object are in fact patterned grills which allow the free flow of air.

If anybody knows better please do leave me a message in the comments section.

Back To Bollard HQ...

Yet again I'm drawn back into the City of London to take another look at the vast range of bollards they appear to plant and create all over the square mile. The type we see in the picture is a ultra slim or thin pavement bollard which we tend to find in or should I say upon the narrow pavements of the many narrow streets and roads of the city.

Its colour is exactly the same as the latest vintage fatter bollards with the white top red stripes and stars plus two thirds of the way down the body we find the crest/coat of arms of the Corporation of London. The attention to detail is just wonderful and worrying at the same time, but I must say when it comes to bollards the City of London would give any place in the world a run for its money.

Bog Standard Camden Bollard...

Here we have a plain black bollard with three rings or rims and the standard half cannon ball top. This particular bollard is placed on Goodge Street to deter and prohibit motorists from driving up onto the pavement and along passage way.

This bollard is just simple and because it is not coloured it tends to blend in with surroundings and you tend not to notice or see this type. The beauty of this type of bollard is the bland boring shape and dark black colour.

What Have We Here Then...?

This must be one of the most garish coloured bollards I've ever seen and I'm still not sure why the bollards of Leadenhall Market are this peculiar colour.

They almost appear pink with the standard red areas but silver stars just under top red ring. The City of London or should I say the Corporation of London crest is still present on the bollard but his time facing in the direction of the kerb and not looking out towards the road.

I've also noted that this bollard is planted firmly into the kerb stone and not planted upon the actual pavement. This market dates back to the 13th century and many a tradesman as made his/her fortune working the streets of this city called London...

ello ello ello...!

What have we here then ? Well it is a bollard upon a cobbled pavement in Gerald Road SW1 outside a former Police Station, (Gerald Road Police Station 1846-1993.) but this cheeky looking bollard resembles a member of the boys in blue and certainly along with the blue plaque upon the wall of this house reminds us of the local history.

Now who put this bollard there I do not know but a colleague of mine in conversation mentioned this one to me and I must say this is certainly one of the most interesting bollards in London to date. I do love the the detail upon his helmet and the rather stern looking face.

Evening all !

A Royal Bollard...

A Royal bollard which signifies we are on the property of the Crown estate and in fact we are just off the Marylebone Road leading to Harley House which is in the confines of Regent's Park.

What a bollard we have here though rather square, rectangular in shape, slightly dumpy looking when compared to the usual height but one must say it is in perfect condition with a jet black gloss paint job and the distinctive lettering of Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth the second. Notice also the ribbed effect again on the bottom two thirds ? The ribbing is more than likely there to deter people from placing stickers or ad's.

This bollard may well be marking the border of the crown estate within the park...

A Wandsworth Wooden...!

A London borough of Wandsworth wooden bollard can found in the more residential parts of the borough. Like all councils here in London they too plant cast iron one's which you tend to find on or near main roads. This particular bollard is new and looking like the cement as just dried so it was only recently planted.

In the distance you'll notice how grey and tarnished they look after a period of time, after all these objects are open to the elements. The design of this bollard is very simple with only a grove nearer the top for no apparent reason. What concerns me though about this type of bollard is the fact somebody logged a tree which was planted in the ground, this tree wood (excuse the pun) then be machined and eventually turned into a bollard to be planted back in the ground ? Couldn't the council have just planted a small tree if they really felt the need to use an object to prevent people parking on the pavement.

In fact along this stretch of Latchmere Road SW11 you can park on the pavement (brick part), restrictions permitting of course.

Bollards of London (Brixton SW9)...

I'm in South West London, Brixton, Shannon Grove SW9 where I've come across this Zebra stripped concrete bollard. In fact this piece of street furniture is looking tired and I'm sure it has a few tails to tell if only a few scrapes with the odd car or two.

Now here lies the quandary should a local council who is strapped for cash really be planting bollards all over the borough for once you plant you need to maintain or do you just plant and let them decay for want of a better word.

In fact what is the purpose of this bollard for it sits on this part of Shannon Grove in complete isolation merely merging with the background because of the decaying paint job and lack of maintenance.

Honourable Artillery Company Bollard.

Well there I was dropping a fare outside the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) when I noticed the pavement bollard had a different looking crest upon it.

So what is different about this bollard well it is a HAC bollard and considering the original bollards were cannons it is ironic that a artillery company is placing or should I say planting bollards outside the main gate. The bollard though is jet black and smooth in colour with two red rings near the top and bottom. Above the bottom red ring we see the letters HAC and above it a rather beautiful crest.

You may have noticed the upper red ring and the larger almost bulbous head...

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Bollard...

What do you expect from London's most wealthist of borough's but an ornate very different looking bollard. This type is full of pattern and detail and certainly a quality bollard, just look at the four roses that appear almost two thirds of the way up.

But I must ask did you notice the the borough's initials on the lower half painted in gold and in rather fancy lettering, "RBK & C" all placed upon each other.

I must say this bollard is looking slightly worse for wear and it looks like it is in need of a little maintenance for the we can see near the top the red colour of the undercoat.

Bollards...!

Zebra Bollard with a Bell Attached ?

Well here we are in Charlton Street NW1, a traditional working class estate filled area of Central London.

Now we have seen the Zebra style of bollard before in Cubbit Street N1 but it seems here in Camden they can trump the Zebra by attaching what appears to look like a rather large bell ?

But if we look closer at picture you'll notice that once again the road has been raised so it is level with the pavement and logic would dictate that many a truck as taken a few of these bollards out so the council more than likely thought "how do we protect the bollard from damage" and somebody decided to place a zebra coloured half part wrap around bell end to protect the bollard from damage.

We must have money to burn here in the UK if we can spend vast sums on street furniture like this because this junction starts to defy logic and common sense...

A Working Bollard, New King's Road...

I was heading back into central London via the New King's Road and hey presto what do I find but a very simple looking pavement bollard that is made to resemble a cannon. If you take a close look at picture you'll notice the domed top with three rings (two near top one near base) which have come in very handy for this chap advertising a car wash.

I must say this is a very rare sight to see an actual bollard with a dual use. The bollard here is designed to stop motorists from driving upon the pavement because the council thought it was a great idea to raise the road so it is level at this junction making life easy for the pedestrian. This chap though must be totally board standing there with a sign takes full advantage of the bollard and has securely strapped his sign upon.

Must say not a bad price for a basic car wash either considering we are in Chelsea...