Answer to Photo Quiz No.43: Queen’s Avenue Bridge over the Basingstoke Canal in Aldershot

David Parsons knew the answer. Good on him. It’s one of the lamp posts on the bridge over the Basingstoke Canal on Queen’s Avenue in Aldershot.

Queen’s Avenue is a long straight road, on which are many things to interest the passer by, with historic Army barracks, monuments, a museum, churches, and Army sporting facilities, including the bridge.

The bridge was in a very poor state of repair in the 1990’s, with rusting deck supports. The Ministry of Defence funded its restoration to enable the bridge to carry traffic up to 40 tons. The Basingstoke Canal Society website describes the history of the bridge, along with many photos of it. Here are my photos, click on images to expand.

Photo Quiz No.43: What does this lamp decorate

This lamp lovely decorative lamp is somewhere not too far away. It’s not in Surrey Heath, so, where can it be seen? Answer later.

Answer to Photo Quiz No.42: Queen Mary’s Steps by Ministry of Defence

Apologies for being a touch late in posting the answer to the latest Photo Quiz. I note that Dr Grumpy and Cllr Adrian Page both knew the answer. Bright sparks, both.

The steps and terrace in the photo are know as Queen Mary’s Steps. They provided access for Queen Mary II and her officials to reach the State Barge on the Thames. They were part of the Palace of Whitehall, the official London home of the royal family from 1538 to 1698. The palace burnt down by fire. British History Online describes the history of the steps.

The steps can be seen on the Thames embankment side of the Ministry of Defence, not far from the Houses of Parliament. The descriptive plaque by the steps says,

In 1691, Sir Christopher Wren designed for Queen Mary II a terrace overlooking the Thames in front of the old river wall of Whitehall Palace built by Henry VIII.  This terrace, projecting about 70 feet into the bed of the river, was about 280 feet long.  As it involved the destruction of an earlier private landing stage a curving flight of steps was made at each end to give access from the Royal Apartments to the State Barge.

In 1939 excavations for the new Government Building revealed the river wall of the Tudor Palace, the later terrace wall and the Northern flight of steps.  The upper portion of the steps has been repaired and can be seen.  A reconstructed length of the terrace can be seen immediately to the left of the steps and a rebuilt section of the river wall behind and above the terrace.

Here’s my photo of the steps, and a photo of the steps being uncovered in 1939, [click on images to expand]

Answer to Photo Quiz No.41: Memorial to General Edward Abbot Anderson

Photo Quiz No.41 asked about a memorial in Surrey Heath, inasmuch do you know to whom it memorialises, and where it’s located.

Visitors to the Arena Leisure Centre in Camberley will certainly know, because it’s located by the path leading to its entrance. Rather than repeating everything appearing on the memorial, the photo below shows that it is a memorial to General Edward Abbot Anderson. It was raised by public subscription for ‘The General’ being a respected resident of Cambreley for 43 years. Click on image to expand.

I think it needs a bit of TLC – a letter to the council from me requesting it.

Photo Quiz No.41: What and where is this memorial

Apart from our war memorials, Surrey Heath is not richly endowed with memorials.

We do have some, and this is one such. Do you know whom it memorialises, and where it’s located. I’ve blurred a few dtails from the image – not particularly successfully.

Answer to Photo Quiz No.40: Posts at the West End war memorial

We’re off to the shops – back later, possibly stressed, so can’t promise to reveal the answer until much later. Update: Back from shopping, actually, surprisingly relaxed.

The unusual posts stand in front of the West End War Memorial. I know nothing about the posts, which I know I should, since I asked a question about them. Looking at the copyright photo in Exploring Surrey’s Past, it shows the posts surrounding the war memorial when erected in 1923, and moved in 1972 to its current location at the junction of Church Road and Windlesham Road. The war memorial is Grade II listed. Click on images to enlarge.

 

Answer to Photo Quiz No.39: The statue of The Little Girl at Lord Pirbright’s Hall in Pirbright

I’m sure many of you, dear readers, will have said to yourselves, “I’m sure I’ve seen this statue, but can’t quite remember where”.

The answer is it’s the statue of The Little Girl at Lord Pirbright’s Hall in Pirbright. Pirbright Parish Council website says of the statue,

The Little Girl Statue: Lord Pirbright donated the statue and drinking fountain to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1897.

Did you notice my Photoshop skills in evidence as I’d carefully removed the legend on the statue. This photo shows the statue in a wider location. Click on the image to expand, if you’d like to read the legend on the statue.