Bollards on Parade...

Horse Guards Parade...

Attention, we are in central London looking towards Horse Guards Parade where most of us are used to seeing the annual event of Trooping the Colour which is Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II official birthday parade.

If we take a look at these mighty bollards (above) you'll notice that they happen to be a strong (near oil drum size) cylindrical flat top shape. More importantly they are retractable and allow ceremonial events to take place but also protect this most important space/parade ground and surrounding area. Unlike a wall bollards do allow pedestrians the freedom to move freely whilst deterring unwanted vehicular access and some threats of terrorism.

Please note this venue will be used for the London Olympic games and immediately after Trooping the Colour on the 16th of June 2012 this beautiful/historical parade ground will be transformed into the beach volley ball venue. The Olympic event will close the Household Cavalry Museum from June the 18th until the 30th of September.

Poppy bollards...

Our #guestbollard feature on the blog/site today is this beautiful photograph/picture of two (red stripe) stainless steel bollards which can be found outside the St George's Hospital Tooting with these wonderful colourful poppies in the foreground.

May I thank @corrie_corfield on the twitter for this photograph/picture.

Bollards of London...

PS if you are about in London for the Jubilee celebrations this weekend please do click on the Jubilee logo to the right hand side of this post and you'll be linked directly to the official Jubilee website.

City of London Cannon Bollards...

The collection...

A different view...

Looks like a cannon...

Muzzle with cannon ball...

Why no red band...?

I've said it before and I'll say it again driving a taxi-cab around London takes you to parts places that the vast majority of people never see or visit.

Last night I parked up in Swan Lane to catch some fresh air by the river Thames and came across this amazing collection of six bollards which stops vehicle access to an area by the embankment and in front of the Fishmongers Hall riverside elevation.

If we take a look at the picture (top) from left to right we can see the modern but traditional Corporation of London bollard complete with crest/badge/emblem. It is though the 2nd/4th and 6th bollards that create much interest. They look like they may well be actual 'cannons', look at the body solid and tapering inwards then the muzzle flaring outwards with a slight tiered end with a cannon ball top finish.

I'll be contacting the Corporation of London over this find and will see if they can furnish us with more information and maybe find out what secrets these bollards (cannons) may hold with a little help from Patrick Baty.

If you get the chance to walk/cycle or drive over Tower Bridge you'll notice the beautiful Jubilee colours which is a fine example of some of the work that @patrickbaty (on the twitter) does.

Bollards of London...

Return to Prescot Street E1...

Prescot Street E1...

We have returned to Prescot Street E1 to take a look at this rather pleasant looking black/white bollard in Tower Hamlets bordering with the City and Tower of London.

The bollard rises vertically from a solid square base after approximately a foot we see that the body tapers inwards until we can see an octagonal shape is formed from the body which then peaks to a shallow pointed top.

If you look closely at the bottom of the main body there is lettering which I couldn't make out so I'll be returning and taking or doing a little 'brass rubbing' to make all the lettering out clearly.

This happens to be the 251st post (bollard) and can I say a huge thank you to all of you who have followed on the twitter, commented and viewed this blog/site over the last days/weeks/months and years.

Bollards of London...

The 250th Bollard(s) of London...

Atherstone Mews SW7...

Welcome to the 250th post (bollard) and what a beautiful picture (above) we have of a Atherstone Mews, London SW7. The three simple ball shaped bollards sitting inside of the yellow line on the lovely cobbles mark a border but also protect the property they sit in front of from strikes/damage by motor vehicles.

With this blog/site reaching the 250th post (bollard) I thought it would only be right and proper to take a little look at some of the wonderful bollards I've come across over the last three years.

If we head back in time some of the original bollards were 'cannons' and we can find examples of actually 'cannon' bollards in London but not to the extent that some people have claimed in the past. Many bollards in London are designed to look like cannons and generally the cylindrical domed shaped column is still a common design. However if you take the chance to look at a few of the pictures I've selected below you'll notice/see that the design is varying and many of the bollards featured on this blog are pretty dandy/ornate.

From the battlefield/naval ship to the pavement and maybe one day an exhibition/gallery/book displaying/describing the best of bollards/#boll-art who knows what the future holds. I know one thing we've managed to turn an object of war into an object of street furniture and art.

From left to right (below) I've chosen/featured the City of London, Mary-le-bone 1757, The Parliamentary Estate, a beauty in Clerkenwell, an up-ended Cannon, #boll-art in Peckham (South London), 'LONDON' (just love it), 'Bollard Face', Imperial Saw Mill, Royal Bollard, Holborn, New Cross, Clink, Regent's Park, Temple, National Army Museum and a Cannon in Cannon Lane Hampstead.

Can I take this opportunity to thank you all for visiting this blog/site and for the many of you who have submitted #guestbollards, re-tweeted the many posts I've directed your way on the twitter and the select few of you who will remain nameless for now who in my opinion are an inspiration. 

Bollards of London (250th)...

PS onwards to the 300th and beyond and please do take the chance to have a look and contribute to my new blog/site 'Bollards of Britain'.

Parliamentary Estate...

City of London...

1757...

Clerkenwell...

Cannon...

Peckham Boll-art...

London...

Bollard Face...

Imperial Saw Mill...

Royal Bollard...

Holborn...

New Cross...

Southwark/Bankside...

Regent's Park...

Temple...

National Army Museum...

Cannon Lane Hampstead...

Russell Square WC1 (249th) and Guests...

Russell Square WC1...

Whilst driving past the north entrance of  Russell Square WC1 the other day I noticed this rather pleasant looking bollard. It happens to be circular based with a tapering body that leads to a near full shaped ball top. Just under half way up the body we see what looks like a wedding band/ring especially due to the fact it is painted gold. Another smaller sized band is placed just under the top.

Russell Square has gone under a transformation over the last 18 months and the local council Camden should be congratulated for creating a better environment for people/cyclists and motorists, it's not often this happens in a city the size of London.

London has a rather large amount of street furniture and the next post on this blog/site will celebrate the fact I've reached the 250th post even though the majority of the bollards have only been found right in the heart of London.

Out of the blue I was sent yet another excellent photograph (below) by @clareangela on the twitter and I simply could not resist putting this picture of a bright green but very 'bog' standard looking bollard up. Look at the pavement and then if we can admire that chunk of bricks just sitting there waiting to be reunited with the rest of the wall. Another very arty example of #boll-art and certainly a brilliant #guestbollard.

St Leonard's Road E14...

Norwich...

My final #guestbollard has been featured over on my other blog/site 'Bollards of Britain' and what a fine ornate dandy bollard this is to so may I take this opportunity to thank @kenhurst on the twitter for this simply wonderful picture of a Norwich  City Council bollard.

Bollards of London (249th)...

Stainless Steel (248th)...

What a pair...

A Stainless bollard...

We are at Lukin Street E1 which happens to be in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets where I came across these rather pleasant modern clean looking stainless steel bollards.

The yellow brickwork is pretty new and belongs to a local school and these bollards line/mark the border of the building. A very simple design which consists of a cylindrical shaped body with a shallow domed top. If we take a look at the pictures (above) I think we can agree the look is modern and it works extremely well within this particular setting/street.

Bollards of London (248th)...

Wapping 'Boll-art'...

Phoenix Wharf Wapping...

We are on Wapping High Street which happens to be a riverside residential part of London with a very rich dockside past/history. Can I thank @vickyflores @WappingLondon on the twitter for this excellent picture of a very old bollard/cannon.

The picture is a fine example of 'boll-art' but also an excellent black/white photograph.

Sometimes it's better to let the picture do the talking.

Our #guestbollard feature on this post is an amazing piece of visual/sound artwork involving 'bollards' by @Thereminbollard on the twitter. Please do visit their website www.thereminbollards.com they describe the work has a 'sound sculpture' and it certainly is an amazing use of a bollard/object that most of us would normally just walk past.

Bollards of London...

Royal Borough of Greenwich...

Royal Borough of Greenwich...

Caution Bollard...

With a special thank you to @itsyourlondon on the twitter for this fine example of a bollard (top) from the newly named 'Royal Borough of Greenwich'. The bollard just happens to be painted in a royal blue colour complete with two ridged gold bands and a crest/emblem/badge facing towards the road.

The bollard can be found on King William Walk at the entrance of a passage way to Greenwich Market. Its a tallish slender cylindrical shaped bollard with a domed top.

The #guestbollard feature on this post (above) isn't a bollard but it's a sign which is rather obvious in its message, a bit like a bollard you'd think ? Thank you to @sarahloveslists on the twitter for this wonderful picture/sign.

Bollards of London (with a Caution)...

Maryon Wilson Park to the 'Bollards of Brazil'...

Maryon Wilson Park...

We are in Maryon Wilson Park Charlton thanks to the @Mr_Chas on the twitter who found this beautiful weathered/aged bollard (above) which just so happens to be our 245th post (bollard). With a two tier square base and the layered tapering circular base to the then rising column (which is weather beaten) that tapers outwards with one ring/band and then forms a wider shallow dome top head.

I really do love this ornate 'green' looking bollard that appears weathered due to its environment within the park.

From Charlton South London to South America for our #guestbollard feature in Parati, Brazil thanks to @nancyo on the twitter.

Take a look at the stone bollard immediately below standing/planted on a beautiful stone cobbled road. The bollard is octagonal in shape and rises vertically and then reduces in size on the upper third of its body where it rises and then the sides morph/merge into a nearly smooth slightly domed shaped top. We can see the iron/steel work that is placed over the top/head of the bollard with a chain attached that effectively keeps traffic out of this area/road.

I really do like the look of Parati, Brazil, you can see the European/Portuguese influence in the buildings the colours/perspective of the picture (bottom) really does seem so inviting. Who would have thought we would have travelled from South London to South America via a set of bollards.

Stone bollard...

European influence...

Parati in perspective...

Bollard of London (and Brazil)...

Carlton House Terrace SW1...

To the left...

Here we are at Carlton House Terrace SW1 between the Mall and Pall Mall in one of the most beautiful parts of urban London.

If we take a close look at the picture (above/below) we see these beautiful ornate iron railing/gates and to the left/right of the iron fence we seen these rather small stone/concrete white painted bollards protecting the iron work from damage by motor vehicles.

The magnolia painted buildings in the background with grey stone/cobbles and the dark matt black fence/railings with its very own white stone border/bollards just look perfect and certainly display a level of care/maintenance one would expect to find this close to Buckingham Palace.

To the right...

If we take a look at our #guestbollard (below) provided by the wonderful @bathcat on the twitter we see an urban red brick environment with a boxing gym next door to this rather cute looking tapering stone/concrete small bollard. We shall take a closer look at this bollard from Sheffield tomorrow at my other blog/site 'Bollards of Britain' where this will take its rightful place with many other bollards found outside of London.

On a slightly different note I just received an email with some pictures of 'Bollards from Brazil' ! South America here we come just in time for the the 250th post (bollard).

Stone #guestbollard...

Bollards of London (244th)...

Bow Common Lane E3...

Bow E3...

This blog/site is fast approaching its 250th post (bollard) and recently with your help we created the #guestbollard feature which then enabled me to create 'Bollards of Britain' which relies completely on people all around Britain providing wonderful pictures of these small posts know has bollards.

Today's bollard(s) are two concrete circular based with a smooth tapering body and a curved top. The bollards are certainly basic but the urban setting/picture is just beautiful. It's taken at an angle and cleverly uses the reflection in the puddle to create a colourful lightly rippled image in the lower part of the photograph.

This is a #guestbollard and can I thank the wonderful @clareangela on the twitter for this excellent urban photograph of two bog standard concrete bollards.

Bollards of London (the 243rd)...

Pump Up the Bollards...

Free air for bikes...

Pump up the Volume sorry Pump up the bollards well actually 'Pump up you bike tyres' if you are near the junction of Kennington/Lambeth Road.

Bollards are small posts and councils across London plant these objects for a variety of reasons. Well I'm still amazed at this find and impressed at the same time that a London council places a stainless steel bike pump on the pavement in the size of a pavement bollard.

If we look at the picture (below) we see that the 'bollard' bike pump is part of a bike rack bay/area.

With bike rack...

Bollards of London...

Mayfair Bollards...

A selection of Mayfair bollards...

Park Street Mayfair W1 where we have a collection of bollards protecting a building and gated area backing on the embassy of United States of America.

The large square based bollards taper and rise upwards creating an octagonal shaped upper body with a slight raised top that leads to a point/pinnacle.

In front of the pavement/kerb we see a temporary bollard complete with no entry sign with integral and temporary lamp light.

Bollards of London...