Royal Arsenal Woolwich SE18...

Royal Arsenal...

Welcome to the Royal Arsenal Woolwich which is now home to many people and the 'Royal Artillery Museum'.

Just inside the entrance at Warren Lane Gate I came across these wonderful looking cannons sitting upon a wheeled frame. The history of the Royal Arsenal dates back to the 16th century with the first ordnance stores set up under a directive by Henry VIII. In 1805 George III visited the Warren and gave it the title of the Royal Arsenal. In 1967 the Royal Ordnance Factory closed with the loss of thousands of jobs. Today the site has been redeveloped and is now a beautiful place to live beside the river Thames.

If you take a close look at the picture (below) you'll notice the similarity to the cannon bollards found in 'Cannon Lane, Hampstead NW3' take a look at the muzzle and notice how it flares outwards. If we then look at the picture third from bottom we see the end of the cannon and again we can compare this to a bollard found in the City of London 'Bollard Hunting (part two)' by St Helen's Bishopsgate.

The history of these objects we find upon our pavements is rather rich indeed and who would have thought that some objects of war would have been recycled then planted on our streets/roads.

Another angle...

Seen this before..?

Looking at the muzzle...

Self propelled gun...

Brighton bollards...

The #guestbollard (above) happens to be a rather beautiful picture of some red ornate bollards in front of the Brighton Fishermans Museum. Can I thank @chrissypeekaboo on the twitter for the photograph (above) and those featured on 'Bollards of Britain' #thankyou.

Bollards of London...

PS you may be wondering what is a picture of a self propelled gun doing on this post ? Well just like the bollards have altered design/shape and style so have the cannons.

St Barnabas Street SW1...

Green bollards...

Welcome back to Pimlico and St Barnabas Street SW1 where I found a small collection of green bollards of varying size/design.

Why the colour green you may ask, well if you look closely at the picture (above) you'll see to the left of the picture an empty property which was  once  (until recently) a rather well known Pimlico restaurant called 'Roussillon'.

The outside of the former restaurant is painted magnolia with green painted border underneath the window along with green plant boxes and bollards.

If you take a look at the collage (below) you'll notice the different size/design of bollard but also the plants over growing and weeds appearing at the edge of the area where the pavement meets the brickwork.

It's sad to say that urban decay/decline can happen anywhere once a recession bites and those with the money decide to stop spending.

A closer look...

Bollards of London...

Cursitor Street EC4...

Where's the sign..?

We are back in the 'City of London' at the junction of Chancery Lane and Cursitor Street EC4 where I came across a pair of bollards that look odd due to one of them having a large circular shape cast on the upper part of the body directly beneath the decorative ornate top.

Why would the corporation of London, the City produce a bollard which happens to be an odd shape ? The answer is rather simple this piece of road is now paved and they may well allow access for bicycles when the scaffolding and work is finished on the adjacent building. So the circular part of the bollard above would have an appropriate traffic sign placed upon it.

I am always pleased to work around the City of London and marvel at the architecture and sheer splendour of the old/new that clash then merge the historical past with at times an uncertain bold future.

The City is the headquarters for bollards with many fine examples from the odd cannon, those we see (above/below) and on many other posts within this blog/site. If you happen to be in London take a closer look at the street furniture around you especially if you happen to be within the City of London.

The odd couple...

Bollards of London...

Sprimont Place SW3...

Stone bollards...

Sprimont Place, Chelsea SW3 where I came across these rather pleasant looking stone bollards outside the beautiful brick built apartments.

The stone bollards have a square base with a body that tapers whilst rising vertically and topped off with what is becoming rather common, a shallow pyramid shaped top.

Each of the bollards are linked by a spiked black painted chain creating and protecting the border.

With chains...

A Reflection...

The #guestbollard feature is back (above) and what a photograph we have here of a reflection of a bollard in a shop window in Paris taken by the @nancyo on the twitter.

Simply wonderful.

Bollards of London...

Brick Street Mayfair W1...

Brick Street Bollard with a cracking base...

Welcome to  Brick Street Mayfair in the heart of London where I came across this rather sad looking concrete bollard (above) with a three quarter circular cracked base.

If we take a look at the picture (below) you'll notice it happens to be a more traditional looking bollard surrounded by a back drop of bricks.

Another Opposite...

Bollards of London...

Battersea Bollards...

Bollards and Bike Racks...

#guesbollards...

Welcome to Lavender Hill in Battersea where I found these two bollards next to the 'Battersea Arts Centre' and bicycle rack(s).

The bollards (top picture) are ornate with an octagonal shape base which rises vertically towards a lip/ridge which then has a tapering ridged area before we come to a cylindrical ribbed column part of the bollard. The top is a shallow dome shape with a curved concave area/surface below.

The blog/site is fast approaching the 300th post (bollard) so what better time to start posting #guestbollards again. If you take a look at the picture/photograph (above) supplied by the @bathcat on the twitter of bollards found outside a house in Castle Square, Tenby. Please do take a closer look at these bollards over at the 'Bollards of Britain' blog/site.

Bollards of London...

Upper Cheyne Row SW3...

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea...

We are at Upper Cheyne Row SW3  (around the corner from Cheyne Row and 'Carlyles's House') where I came across these rather thin pretty plain looking white painted bollards.

If we take a look at the base we see it is cylindrical with a ridged area and narrower body rising vertically with two semi-ornate ridged areas and finished off with a domed/cannon ball top.

Take a close look at the pictures (below) and you'll notice the local council ' The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea' takes its responsibility of this narrow open space seriously. This is a well run council but then again this is an extremely wealthy borough when compared to many others within in Greater London.

Tall white thin bollard... 

Help to protect...

Bollards of London...

EC1...

Round stone bollards...

Welcome to Gloucester Way EC1 where I came across a row of round stone bollards that finish off an urban setting/scene in a rather cold but beautiful way. With all the vertical and horizontal lines of the surrounding area the round stone bollards break the architecture of 1970's up and gives the eye something a little softer to focus upon. Note the bollards also stop vehicles entering the area/space.

We see in the background blocks of council flats, street lamps with bright lights shining down onto the pavements and private roads within the estate.

These bollards stand out due to the street lighting/shadow they cast around themselves which changes depending on where you stand in relation to the light.

Bollards of London (Council Estates)...

Knightsbridge...

Embassy bollards...

Welcome to Knightsbridge a very pleasant rather wealthy part of the capital where I came across these ornate looking bollards that happen to be similar to to those we find in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea but on closer inspection they are very different. Please compare by clicking on the link 'The Waltons and some Bollart' you should notice that the egg cup/acorn top is similar along with the ornate middle but the body on the bollard (above/below) is ribbed/ridged with many more rings/ridges at the base.

Note this part of London is actually still in Westminster and not the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Its also home to the 'Libyan Embassy' here in London.

Bollards with chains...

Bollards of London...

Horse Guards Avenue SW1...

Spot the bollard(s)...

Welcome to Horse Guards Avenue and the junction of Whitehall SW1 where we happen to see the back of the statue of the 'Spencer Compton 8th Duke of Devonshire' standing upon a huge plinth which ensures we all have to look up at the Duke rather than him being on a much lower plinth where we could stand next to and maybe take a better picture.

Back to the bollards if we look at the pictures (above/below) you'll see in front of the left hand side of the plinth a small tubular black covered/painted bollard  containing the 'keep left' sign. However on the right hand side of the plinth and island it sits so gracefully upon you'll notice two stone bollards that protect the plinth from traffic turning from Whitehall into Horse Guards Avenue.

If we take a closer look at the picture (below) we see a little more clearly that the bollards have square bases rise vertically and have what looks like a couple of groves carved into them near the shallow pyramid top.

Whitehall SW1 is the home to our nations government and many bollards have been planted in recent years to protect buildings from 'attack'. I must say that the work has been carried out so that is does not detract from the beautiful buildings that surround whilst walking/cycling or even driving in the area.

Please do take a look at the crest/carving on the back of the above plinth the detail is simply beautiful.

Keep Left and Stone...

Bollards of London...

London's Borough Market and London's 2012...

The bollard of the wall...

London's 'Borough Market' is certainly worthy of a visit and a little look beyond the bars/eateries. A simple stones through from the Market you'll find 'Southwark Cathedral' the remaining parts of 'Winchester Palace' the 'The Golden Hinde' and  last but not least these rather amazing bollards that certainly need further investigation and join a list that actually require/need sampling to assess their age/date.

The picture (above/below) is of a bollard that happens to be sunk into the wall of a building which due to many coats of paint looks pretty old but not easy to date.

Another angle...

Urban clearway...

The Gloriana and Crayon bollards...

The bollard (second from above) isn't as old as the others but it does carry a typical London urban clearway sign and creates a dual use of this particular design.

The #guestbollard today is from within the Olympic park where we can see the tall 'Crayon' like bollards with the beautiful Royal row barge the Gloriana moored safely. Yet again I must take the opportunity to thank @WildGooseLeys on the twitter for this great picture. Its also appropriate to thank her for all her hard work has a gamesmaker at London 2012.

Talking of the Olympics I must mention that @vivyouell on the twitter is taking part in the closing ceremony tonight, good luck and enjoy the moment.

Can I thank all the Volunteers, members of our Armed Services, Emergency services and all members of Team GB for an Olympic games like no other.

Bollards of London 2012...

Ladies and Gents...

Ladies...

London never ceases to amaze or reinvent itself and here at Bevington Road W10 I came across what appears to be a renovated Victorian public toilets which just so happen to be underground and placed within the centre of the road.

The railings are splendid and when the toilets are open for public use the gates are opened to allow access to the stairs and at each end of the paved island we have a black painted tubular steel bollard complete with circular 'keep left' traffic sign (white arrow on blue background) and an up lighter which is placed in front of the bollard but within/upon the paved surface.

If you happen to be in the Bevington Road area and you are thinking of spending a 'penny' take a moment to admire the Victorian splendour and the rather modern looking 'keep left' bollards.

Gents...

Bollards of London (Ladies and Gents)...

High Timber Street EC4...

The City of London...

Welcome to High Timber Street EC4 in the 'City of London'  where I came across a collection of bollards made by the company 'Furnitubes' which protect the pillars/base of the walkway/road crossing.

These bollards are a general type that we tend to find dotted across the capital. The distinctive red rings combined with the black/white paint identify it has the City of London. I was interested in this collection because it is rare to find non-ornate bollards within or at the edges/boundaries of the square mile.

I do love the picture (below) and I'm of the opinion that the stone/brickwork came first and the bollards were installed/planted afterwards. Note the disruption to the stonework by the sunken bollard.

The bollards or the bricks...

Bollards of London...

Kendal Street to New Zealand...

Odd looking bollards...

Welcome to Kendal Street W2 where I found two rather unique looking concrete bollards to the right of the building.

The bollard has a circular base and top which is smaller than the base and therefore gives us a tapering body. Although these bollards are unique they are very simple and actually fit in with the 1970's buildings that happen to appear to the north of Kendal Street.

Still hard to believe this is the 277th post (bollard) on this blog/site and I still haven't really wandered beyond the central London boroughs.

Unique looking...

The #guestbollard feature has proved to be an extremely popular feature and has certainly help spread the word/world of street furniture. Recently I was contacted by the author of 'Bollards of Buffalo' an excellent blog/site across the pond. On the twitter @drbarbstweets only recently put up a post on her mighty fine blog/site 'Dull Village Life' where you'll find a recent post about the local bollards.

Today's #guestbollard feature is from Wellington, New Zealand and can be found outside the Town Hall. They were designed by the artist 'Mike Murray' and depict the 'ponga fern' which is called the 'punga peke' which happens to be the Maori word for 'new life'. I'm not an expert on New Zealand culture but the lady who sent me this wonderful picture and so much information about the ornate bollards (below) certainly is. Please do take the chance to have a look at her excellent blog/site 'Giselle's Journal'.

Wellington, New Zealand...

Bollards of London (and New Zealand)...

Dancing, Singing Bollards...

Dancing, Singing Bollards...

Welcome to Regent's Park Road and the junction of Gloucester Avenue where I found these rather dandy stone/concrete bollards complete with 'ears' eyelets and even rusting padlock (see bottom picture).

The bollards appear to be made of concrete and are octagonal in shape which then morphs into a domed /semi-circular finish. The 'ears' eyelets are obviously there because chains were used to link each bollard and create/mark the border of Cecil Sharp House which just happens to be home of the 'English Folk Dance and Song Society' which just so happens to be a point (or two) on the 'Knowledge of London' (exam that all London taxi-cab drivers have to pass).

See sign above...

Take a close look at the picture (top) and don't just admire the beautiful bollard but also note the lines/angles and conflicting symmetry of the wall/brickwork adjacent to the bollards and the pavement.

Casting a shadow...

Bollards of London...

Fetter Lane EC4 Trilogy...

Fetter Lane/New Fetter Lane EC4...

We are finally back at Fetter Lane/New Fetter Lane EC4 to finish the trilogy of posts started by @THEpastamaster on the twitter with these two previous posts 'Delivery of the Bollards' and 'City of London, Windsor to San Francisco' where we can see that since April the bollards have been planted/painted even marked with a scratch or two.

Whilst looking at the picture (above) you may have noticed the statue on  a plinth which happens to be of 'John Wilkes' important to take a close look at the statue if you happen to be passing.

I happened to take the photographs of the finished bollards (above/below) but I thought it was important to once again mention the @THEpastamaster on the twitter with a beautiful photograph (bottom) #guestbollard which he happened to find near the White Swan Public House in Twickenham. Don't the flowers on the right hand side look wonderful.

Perfection from the City of London...

Near the White Swan Public House, Twickenham...

Bollards of London...