Redchurch Street, London E2 Bollard(s)...

Zebra striped classic bollard...

Welcome to Redchurch Street London E2 and a series of bollards that happen to be different in design but all zebra striped.

We have a rather sturdy square based bollard that rises vertically and then tapers to form an octagonal tapering body shape that is topped off with a circular ornate narrowing curved near door knob item that finishes off this slightly oversized piece of street-furniture that is a bollard.

I do love the zebra striped paint job and the backdrop in the picture which happens to look extremely urban with graffiti coloured shutters.

Bollards of London...

The Waltons and some Bollart...

Kensington Bollard...

We are at the junction of Walton Street and Walton Place in the 'Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea'. I found this white painted bollard which looks like any other 'RBK&C' bollard except for the white colour.

If we look at the picture (below) we see the lettering 'KB' which would refer to the Kensington Metropolitan Borough Council please click on link and scroll up/down and take a look at the former borough councils crest/emblem. In 1964 the 'Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea' (scroll down on site to see crest/emblem/history of borough) was created by merging Kensington and Chelsea borough councils.The lettering therefore allows us to date this white painted dandy looking bollard to pre 1964. If we take a look the bollard picture (above) we see it's certainly fitted well with its own stone/kerb mini bollard for protection.

A different emblem/crest...

Compare the emblem/crest...

Compare the lettering and just look at the effort that goes into the arrangement especially below on the more common 'RBK&C' which you'll find dotted around the Royal Borough. Love the fact they use gold coloured paint. Back to the featured bollard and just take a look at the picture below and you'll notice the centre body of this ornate bollard where we can see what looks like roses and an odd pattern that resembles a long eared rabbit.

Looks like a Rabbit...

A Collage/Montage or 'bollage'..

Finally the #guestbollard is an example of some 'bollart' with a collage/montage or could that be a 'bollage' created by @mattfromlondon on the @twitter who happens to be editor of the excellent Londonist please note this 'bollage' did appear in London's Timeout and I can certainly see why.

Bollards of London...

Bollards of York Gate, Regent's Park and Beckenham...

George the 4th Bollard...

York Gate Regents Park is a wonderful entrance to one of London's Royal Parks and right at the junction of the gate and the Marylebone Road you'll across this beautiful 'George the 4th' bollard that is in immaculate condition and has certainly aged rather well due to many coats of paint and a well maintained crest/crown coupled the the roman numerals 'IV' denoting the 4th and the letters 'GR' denoting George Rex.

A contemporary look...

If we look at the picture on our left we see the central reservation of York Gate looking towards York Bridge and the junction with the Outer Circle of the park. The bollards are very simple cylindrical in shape and above average height for a bollard with two gold painted bands with a half ball nipple top finished painted in gold. The main body of the bollard is painted a gloss black colour and certainly kept clean and tidy looking.

If we now look at the picture below we see the top of the bollard with an above elevation picture and may I say or even suggest could this be the first piece of 'bollart' in London and displayed on this blog/site ? Look closely at the picture and you'll see the curved John Nash designed buildings and myself reaching out with slightly stretched (bent) arm with camera taking this very above elevation photograph. Yes 'bollart' in action...

Bollart..

From Regent's Park to Beckenham which is now part of Greater London and a big thank you to @gnorthfield on the @twitter and these two fantastic photographs of our #guestbollard found by the street name 'King William IV Gardens'. The bollard is made of iron and carries the name of the area 'Beckenham' vertically and topped/bottomed with a maltese cross.

Beckenham...

King William IV Gardens...

Bollards of London...

Blandness of the Bollards is it time for 'Boll-art'..?

From post to bollard...

I grew up in Kennington/Walworth the Elephant & Castle and part of that process was living on a council estate. At the top of Kennington Lane near the junction with Kennington Road/Newington Butts I came across these posts (blue/sky blue) which quickly evolved into a bog standard set of blue/sky blue soon to become a darker blue bog standard pavement bollard (picture above).

Local councils tend to go a little crazy with colour schemes at times and always create some of the worse. I don't think it's deliberate but I do think an opportunity could be created for tenants and their children and possibly even the local primary/secondary schools even the many art colleges here in the capital. Remember graffiti wasn't just expression or boredom it was a visual statement highlighting the blandness created by those in authority. I'm not a fan of people tagging trains but I do like public art created by those who live and work in the urban environment.

Take a look at the picture below and just think what the imagination of young minds could do livening up these three rather boring bollards with a little 'boll-art'. What are those stone car like looking objects on the well maintained grass area in the background, odd.

What is that on the grass..?

Changing of the colour...

If you take a look at the final picture (above) you'll notice that the colour of the posts/bollards has changed and in a true soviet style matched the fence/railing behind.

The bollards are here to stop people from parking on the pavements and allow fire access to the estate but I'm more convinced than ever that a little of 'Boll-art' may improve the scene.

Bollards of London (bring on the 'Boll-art')...

London, Paris and the Cyclops 'Boll-art'...

A rare stone/concrete City of London bollard...

Self employment allows you to take time off when you're main job isn't that busy and this is exactly what I did earlier this week and went 'bollard' hunting in the day light through some of the more obscure narrow lanes of the City of London.

Within 10 minutes of my excursion into Middlesex Street E1 I found 2 stone/concrete City of London bollards that are (in my opinion) very rare because of the material used. The colours of the bollard denote that they're City of London (plus location) and if you take a close look at the picture you can see some damage to the red ridged area which is porous and certainly not metal.

I really do like these 2 bollards and don't they look fantastic with a recently applied fresh coat of paint.

Middlesex Street E1...

 

Parisian bollard art...

In a week where we have witnessed France and Great Britain co-operate on many fronts I'm pleased to say a big  hello and thank you to the French owned company Sinoconcept for supplying the blog/site with these wonderful #guestbollard pictures (boll-art) by an artist in Paris who just happens to have his own website LeCyklop and it's certainly worth a visit.

I must say these bollards are rather bog standard but the 'boll-art' (new word like 'bollardarian' credit @peter_watts on the twitter) certainly brings the urban street furniture to life. Be nice to see schools or art colleges in London create a little 'boll-art'. About time we dumped the American graffiti that has become a little boring and predictable.

Cyclops bollards...

A new word 'boll-art'...

The final picture (below) is of the bollard that was featured has the 150th on this blog/site which I just happened to Cartoonize can I say what a great bit of free fun software on the world wide web.

A fun site...

Bollards of London (and Paris)...

The Twisted Bollards of East Dulwich and Vauxhall...

East Dulwich Bollards SE22...

London is a diverse city full of places/people that somehow merge into one to form a huge place called Greater London. If its places/people are diverse then so must be the bollards.

Well I've taken a little time off pushing a taxi-cab around London and I came across these twisted/patterned bollards of East Dulwich and Vauxhall. Both are very different and they certainly don't fit the 'cannon' type design we are used to seeing in the more central conservative (in taste/politics) borough's.

Let's take a close look at the East Dulwich bollards (pictured above/immediately below) they are made of a metal and twisted. They remind me of the rope used by tug boats. With a smooth rounded top, painted black and a narrow pale pink twisting line coupled with the odd dot for good measure these bollards certainly liven up the edge of the pavement/kerb and given the local parade of shops an identity beyond their own front doors.

Bollards with a twist...

Bollards with Rail...

We now move swiftly towards Vauxhall and these wonderful plastic/composite material bollards that are very different in look and shape. They certainly liven up an area outside a block of flats called 'Bland House'. Well the flats look fine and some of the bollards have become part of the railings (pictured above) with majority placed/planted by the pavement/kerb (pictured below).

What makes these bollards unique is the material and shape. what makes me link them with the East Dulwich bollards happens to be the twisted pattern that appears on sides of these Vauxhall bollards.

Composite material...

Bollards of London...

Clink (Southwark) 1812 and The State Hermitage St Petersburg, Russia...

Keppel Row...

Zebra stripe...

I have worked a taxi-cab in London for over 14 years and in the last 2/3 had a keen interest in these odd looking objects called bollards. Having driven up and down Southwark Bridge Road on many occasions I was surprised to find a pair of 'Clink (Southwark) 1812' bollards at the pathway Keppel Row and junction of Southwark Bridge Road.

What do we know of these bollards (street posts), well in 1786 an Act (Local Act, 26 Geo. III, c. 120.) was passed and a commission was established under this and subsequent Acts. In 1812 the 'Clink' Paving Commissioners ordered 60 of these post which were made by Messrs. Bishop & Co.

The design of the bollard speaks for itself, cylindrical, ridged and with a semi-circular cannon ball top finish. It is great to see them in a good state and certainly maintained well. The area known has the 'Clink' is now part of the London Borough of Southwark and the local area is now called 'Bankside'. These street posts/bollards form part of our local heritage/history of this ever changing city and the story behind many of these bollards never ceases to amaze me.

My only one complaint with the pictures (above/below) is the rubbish/refuse bags just left in Keppel Row.

Clink 1812...

Wonderful bollards with rail...

Black/white/red...

We continue our #guestbollard feature with the most decorative bollards I've ever seen to date (pictures above and left) which happen to be placed outside The State Hermitage Museum once again I must thank Patrick Baty who just happens to be an Historical paint consultant and an all round fascinating man.

These bollards (with rail) are simply wonderful and such a find. The shape of the body/head is unusual along with the black/white/red diagonal paint pattern.

If you look closely at the bottom picture you'll notice how intricate/delicate the cobble stone work had become whilst installing/planting the bollards.

Bollards of London (St Petersburg, Russia)...

PS if you fancy a look at more bollards around Britain please do click on the link Bollards of Britain where you'll find a new blog/site dedicated to the many that will and can be found around these shores.

Water Pump Bollards of Bedford Row and the Red Sphere of Atlanta...

Water Pump Bollards...

We are at junction of Bedford Row and Sandland Street in the London Borough of Camden where we find this beautiful disused water pump which now happens to be a converted street lamp surrounded by three zebra stripe bollards.

The bollards perform a very simple task of protecting the water pump (now street lamp) from impact from motorised vehicles. I must say that the whole setting look of this area/picture is simply wonderful. The brick work, the box sash windows, the bricked up window even the small circular island the water pump/bollards sit upon.

The bollards are black/white in colour and upon closer inspection of the body we find the lettering St P/S.W.D/1826 (see second picture below) something we found upon a bollard on Highgate West Hill. At first glance you may think all three of the bollards are identical but look closely and you notice that the bollard to the left of the water pump (above) is a different more modern design.

St. P/S.W.D/1826...

A closer look...

What a face on the water pump...

I can't not mention the face plate (see above) that is attached to the side of the water pump what a grim looking even scary face. Look closely and you'll see that the plate contains four screws. Now with a title 'Water Pump Bollards of Bedford Row and the Red Sphere of Atlanta' sounding more like the latest 'Harry Potter' film it must be time to take a look at our #guestbollard feature supplied to me by the lovely @nancyo on the twitter.

What a bollard (what a sphere) which can be found at the Target Store, Atlantic Station, Atlanta, GA, USA a huge red ball/sphere, simply wonderful. I must say I do like the plastic bodied shopping trolleys and it seems no matter where you go the trolley problem exists.

Red Sphere of Atlanta...

Bollards of London (and Atlanta)...

PS do please take a look at our new blog/site Bollards of Britain more of the #guestbollards of Britain will be appearing here soon.

The Foundling Estate and French Bollard Art...

I wasn't sure what this animal was at first...

Foundling Estate...

It's a Lamb on the drain pipe and bollard...

We are at the junction of Guilford Street and Mecklenburgh Place WC1 where I came across this rather interesting looking bollard.

Its design is rather simple with a cylindrical reasonably tall body but the upper ridged white painted part has a tale to tell about the local area know has Coram Fields which just so happens to house the wonderful Foundling Museum. Please note if you happen to be a licensed London taxi-cab driver admission is free on production of your badge and bill.

The bollard has a picture of an animal on one side and I wasn't quite sure what animal/creature it happened to be but after a quick visit to the museum (40 Brunswick Square) it was clear the animal upon the bollard is a Lamb. The Lamb can also be found adorning the upper part of the drain pipes of the museum (see picture above). The building has a rather nice exterior and you'll find a statue of Thomas Coram has you approach the museum.

The word 'Foundling' intrigued me and upon purchase of the excellent guidebook to the museum this word is defined within the second paragraph of the introduction "foundling" a child of unknown parentage, abandoned by its mother. That would be a 1722 mid 18th century definition today I think we would replace the word mother with the word parents. Thomas Coram was a great man he had a vision and certainly the determination to help young children. He led a one man 17 year campaign to create a Hospital for the Maintenance and Education of Exposed and Deserted Young Children, in 1739 The Foundling Hospital/Estate was created right here next to the bollard pictured above.

Below is the return of #guestbollards which will run throughout February and we certainly have three cracking bollards here, well in France.

French bollard art...

I must thank Andrew Haycock who sent me a couple of fantastic French bollard pictures and the one featured above certainly brought a smile and a little cheer to my face. Urban art is everywhere and a good sense of humour too.

Bollards of London (and France)...

PS you can see more #guestbollards at Bollards of Britain a blog/site inspired by you...

St Mary-le-bone Bollards...

Marylebone Bollard...

St Mary Le Bone 1757...

We are in Ashland Place off Paddington Street in London's rather pleasant trendy area know has Marylebone.

The bollard in the picture (top) is nearly 5ft tall with a rather large square block base that that curves ever so slightly to form a tall/solid looking cylindrical shaped bollard. The top is capped off with  the near traditional style cannon ball top and we can see the three ridged areas on the main body.

If you happen to take a close look you can just about make out some lettering which is near common on bollards found in this district/ward of Marylebone (St Mary-le-bone) and throughout parts of the City of Westminster (a London borough).

The picture above is of a much older bollard and we can see clearly from the lettering painted in gold the words 'St Mary-le-bone' and a date 1757. I've mentioned this on a previous post could this be a mid 18th century bollard ? We shall try to find out and confirm at a later date.

Now by pure coincidence Robert Elms of bbc London 94.9 fm was discussing on his show on Friday (03.02.12) the correct pronunciation of the word/name 'Marylebone' according to my ears was/is 'Mary-le-bone'. Now if we take a look at the wonderful website of the Londonist I think they've reignited the debate all over again and proved the Mayor needs a better proof reader of his election literature and London needs to decide once and for all how to pronounce the name 'Mary-le-bone'. Personally I think the bollards have the right answer.

Bollards of London...

PS please do when you get a chance take a look at the new blog Bollards of Britain with it's very own twitter account @bollard_britain

Shoreditch to Memphis Tennessee, USA...

Calvert Avenue Bollards and Bin E2...

A closer look...

Outside the FedEx Forum, Memphis Tennessee, USA...

We are on Calvert Avenue E2 not 100 yards from Arnold Circus Bandstand (part of the Boundary Estate 1890) which has been returned to it's beautiful former glory by Patrick Baty who I had the greatest pleasure of meeting this week at our very own British Museum in Bloomsbury WC1.

If we take a close look at the top picture we see two of these rather odd shaped/ornate bollards that have a few openings near the tops. I must say isn't it sad that people walk past these two bollards and then choose to stuff litter into the bollards tops even though we can see the London Borough of Tower Hamlets have placed a litter bin on the pavement/junction in the background of the picture. Honestly if we think for a second people haven't dropped the litter on the pavement they stuffed it into the top of a bollard but not used the bin provided. Take pride in your land/environment where you live and then no matter who's in power locally or nationally you'll always be able to hold your head high whether its boom time or austerity.

If we look at the second picture we can clearly see an odd shaped hollow octagonal top that is capped off with a near door knob shaped finish. The bollard has a good sturdy square base that tapers slightly from each each of it corners, yet again four sides turns into eight and then the hollow over sized top is put in position and caps the bollard off rather well. On the front of the bollard you can see a studded part that is the shape of a pyramid, I must say I like these bollards and the surrounding Boundary Estate especially the bandstand.

From Shoreditch to Memphis Tennessee in the good old USA for our #guestbollard feature which just happens to be a real gem of a 'basket ball' bollard which was found by the Ashby's outside the FedEx Forum home of the Memphis Grizzlies their local NBA basketball team and home to the Memphis Tigers who are the local University basket ball team. What a bollard and what a venue if you click on the link and surely linking professional sport to college/university is the way to go with any sport if you want/wish to achieve excellence. I must say this is one hell of a 'slam dunk' of a bollard, sorry I couldn't resist.

Bollards of London ( and Memphis Tennessee, USA)...

Holy Trinity Minories Commission 1854...

A Contemporary Looking Bollard...

After reaching the milestone of the 200th I've reached a very odd shaped bollard with a tale to tell that appears to be steeped in local church history. The Church closed in 1899 not much is left if we take a look at the picture on Church Bells of the City of London I must say what a lovely website.

The bollard has a rectangular base and rises upwards, around its middle it expands slightly and upon the front/face we can just about make out the letters H.T.M then the word 'commission' followed by the date 1854. On the original pictures I took of this type/design of bollard it was a lot harder to actually make the date out so remembering my school days I popped back to my taxi-cab removed some paper/pencils and did a little 'brass rubbing'. After posting the picture on the @twitter it was the opinion of @patrickbaty @Bebejax @AboutLondon that the date was '1854'. I then enhanced the photograph which you can see below and I must say it does read '1854', what would the world do without 'brass rubbing', @twitter and good people. The bollard then rises further and topped off rather neatly with these beautiful smooth edges/corners.

The design of the bollard is clearly not of the mid 19th century but the date is certainly significant. Black/white zebra stripe with a mini stone bollard embedded into the kerb which protects the original bollard from kerb strikes (top picture).

Holy Trinity Minories Commission 1854...

A bit of Brass Rubbing...

Book Bollards Cambridge University by the Library...

Continuing the successful theme of #guestbollards I have an absolute cracker provided by Martin Evans, Cambridge and I must say these book bollards are simply wonderful.

Due to the interest and significant number of bollards that happen to be outside the confines of greater London I've set up a new blog/site Bollards of Britain and an associated @twitter account @bollard_britain over the coming weeks/months any #guestbollards (if you give permission) or ones I find on my travels/journeys throughout Britain will start to appear on this dedicated site.

Could this be another another reason for Scotland to stay part of the Britain ?

Bollards of London (and Cambridge)...