This photo quiz is, I consider, a pretty tough one. There are four plinths in Trafalgar Square, not including Nelson’s Column of course. Who or what is depicted on the four plinths. Answer later today.
For the answers to the Photo Quiz I have posted photos of the four plinths with the names on the statues, below them are the original quiz photos in thumbnail size. For more information about Trafalgar Square see HERE, and about the fourth plinth see HERE. Click on photos to enlarge.
I wonder how many of you will know where this statue can be seen, and how much do you know about it? I feel sure that there are some regular quizzers who will know. Meanwhile, all will be revealed later today.
Easy to miss this plaque. So where can it be seen? Answer quite a bit later today.
Apologies for lateness of supplying the answer. The plaque is on the wall next to the fire exit in Grace Reynolds Walk in Camberley’s The Square. Grace Reynolds Walk, in case you don’t know where it is, is the entrance to The Square directly off Camberley’s High Street.
Reading Ruth Hutchinson’s comment here, there may well be a similar plaque in Caird Hall – the home of the Frimley and Camberley Cadet Corps – I don’t know
You’ll surely recognise this as a letter box. Where is it, why is it that shape, and why green to boot?
Answer:
It is a Penfold letter box in Haslemere’s High Street. It is a replica of a mid Victorian design and was installed in 1994. The designer of the Penfold letter box was John Penfold, born and resident in Haslemere. The box is coloured green, as it was prior to the the standardisation of red in 1874.
It’s almost impossible to beat commenter Speedicus Triplicatum in my Photo Quiz. His comment, shown below, is so thorough I’ll not bother to add much to it.
Its a Penfold design (circa 1866):
Penfold’s box – or the Penfold, as it became known – combined simple design with functionality. Hexagonal in shape, it was adorned with acanthus leaves and balls, a far less ornate design than some of the elaborately decorative boxes which had come before it. But the cost of producing Penfolds was high, and a cheaper and plainer standard box was introduced 13 years later.
However, many of the features initiated with the Penfold boxes remain in use. Penfolds were produced in different size to accommodate different volumes of mail, as pillar boxes still are to this day, and Penfolds were also the first boxes to be manufactured in the new standard colour of red, in 1874.
Such is the popularity of Penfolds that the BPMA and Royal Mail frequently receive correspondence from members of the public who wish to see damaged boxes in their area repaired, rather than replaced with a new box. Some original Penfolds are considered so significant that they are listed, giving them special protection under the law.
I asked whether you knew where this sculpture of an Elephant can be seen. The answer is between the up and down escalators on the Jubilee line concourse at Waterloo station.
The elephant is the work of Kendra Haste, who specialises in animal sculpture. London Underground acquired the sculpture in the late 1990’s and Waterloo Station has been it’s home ever since. There are reasons as to why there an Elephant at Waterloo, and Londonist has the full story in Why Is There An Elephant In Waterloo Station?
The 49th Photo Quiz asked where this statue could be seen? It’s a sculpture in bronze and cor-ten steel by Sean Henry, entitled Seated Man, 2011. It can be seen on platform 1 in Woking railway station.
I saw it from platform 2, while waiting for a London train, and was initially mildly discomfited by it. Had to visit the statue to find out more about it.
Below the photo of the statue, I’ve posted a photo on the adjacent plaque that gives more information. Click on image to expand.
This, the 48th Photo Quiz, is, I consider, the toughest challenge to date. Of course, if you know the answer it’s not difficult. Detailed answer below.
The answer to Picture Quiz No.48 is the Holy Well of St John the Baptist Church, Bisley.
It is situated beside a footpath, accessed opposite Clews Farm in Clews Lane, Bisley. There’s a parking spot by a gate at the beginning of the path. Alternatively, take the short path from the Church, over a field, to reach the well. Here’s part of what the notice says,
“The St John the Baptist’s Well is a grade II listed building and belongs to the Church of St John the Baptist which is situated a short distance Northwest of here.
Reputedly the well has never run dry nor frozen up. It has provided a dependable supply of fresh water for centuries and was mentioned more than 300 years ago by John Aubrey, a Surrey antiquarian [1626-1697], who wrote, “near the church is a spring called St John the Baptist’s Well. The dedication made me curious to try it with galls (oak apples) which turn it to a purple colour. It is colder than other water in summer, but warmer in winter.”
Earlier still, there is evidence from the Pyrford Charter Bounds (956 AD) suggesting that a church had been constructed near the well wen Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire.
…..The spring water from the Holy Well contains significant amounts of dissolved iron and was once said to benefit sufferers from eye trouble and various other complaints but its reputed healing powers have probably been tested in recent times. It is certainly not recommended to do so these days. …The stonework is mainly of heathstone, a sarsen stone found locally and is used in the construction of parts of many churches in this area”
