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Best Wishes for Christmas from The Folly Flâneuse

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Codger Fort (folly) in the snow cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Andrew Tryon - geograph.org.uk/p/3661902

I could wish to lounge about the Country in Search of Antiquity, and the Beauties of Nature: finding myself at an Inn, free, unembarrassed.
John Byng, 1789

Byng’s words were written in a different context, but how relevant they seem after a year of lockdowns which ended in tiers.

Thank you to everyone who has helped The Folly Flâneuse in 2020. With travel curtailed, and archives and museums closed, research has been something of a challenge, and the range of potential sites rather limited. I am therefore hugely grateful to all those who have given permission to use images, and helped with information to fill the gaps.

So until 2021, here is Codgers Fort, on the Wallington estate in Northumberland, one of the first follies to capture the attention of the Folly Flâneuse in her formative years. The image is courtesy of the wonderful geograph.org.uk project, which aims to collect photographs and information for every square kilometre of Great Britain and Ireland.

I hope 2021 brings you good news, the chance to see family and friends, opportunities to travel and explore, and above all good health.

The Folly Flâneuse is taking a short break and will be back in the New (and hopefully much improved) Year.

 

architecture, church, Essex, eyecatcher, Folly, garden, Northamptonshire, Uncategorized

An Air of Detachment: Stoke Park, Northamptonshire and Mistley, Essex.

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On recent sedate tours of Britain The Folly Flâneuse was intrigued to find two pairs of pavilions which had sadly lost their principal part. Near Towcester in Northamptonshire are the Palladian pavilions that once flanked a fine house. Meanwhile at Mistley in Essex the twin towers of a Robert Adam church have long since lost their linking nave. The surviving pairs are, however, far from forlorn and seem to be throughly enjoying their independence.

architecture, eyecatcher, Folly, landscape, North Yorkshire, Uncategorized

St Andrew’s Old Church Facade, Bishopthorpe, Yorkshire

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Bishopthorpe, a few miles outside York, has been home to the Archbishops of York for centuries. In the 1760s Archbishop Drummond added a new facade to the palace, constructed a gatehouse, and rebuilt the village church. His architect of choice was Thomas Atkinson, a respected designer but a curious choice as he was a Roman Catholic*. All three structures were built in a whimsical gothick style, much of the stone coming from the ancient former episcopal palace at Cawood, a few miles south. When first built the three buildings formed an ensemble around a small ornamental lake, sadly long since drained.