theonlyD800inthehameau
Photography by theonlydeadheadinthehameau
Thursday Doors: St Junien – decrepit
Posted on February 23, 2017
For the fourth and (I promise) final instalment of doors from St Junien I’ve saved – depending on your point of view – either the best or the worst ’til last. They’re certainly among the tattiest, and that’s fine by me.
Actually, this first one isn’t too bad:
but these next three; oh dear:
Lastly, a double helping of double doors. The second one looks like it’s tipping me the wink:
Thursday Doors 23 February 2017
Thursday Doors: St Junien – Open to the public
Posted on February 16, 2017
For this third instalment of the doors of St Junien, as a change from the doors of private residences I’ve confined myself to some of the public buildings of the town.
To begin with, the old municipal offices which still stand opposite the new Mairie and admin block:
The main church of St Junien is a Collègiale. To be honest, the interior isn’t particularly impressive in my opinion, although the main doors are worth a look. As it’s now surrounded by newer buildings, it’s difficult to get a complete view in one shot (well, it is with the lenses I’ve got), but this close-up gives you the general idea:
To the left of the main entrance of the Collègiale is this unloved gate:
This is the Salle des Fêtes; in the UK it would probably be called the Assembly Rooms or something similar. The large ‘cartouche’ above the windows tells us that it was built between 1898 and 1900, following a vote of the local council in 1897. There then follows a long list of the members of the municipal council who approved the construction. Fascinating.
And finally, on a much smaller scale, is this unpretentious construct that sits in the middle of a roundabout on the main road through the town. Open to all passing birds, presumably.
Thursday Doors 16 February 2017
Thursday Doors: St Junien (2) – Colour
Posted on February 9, 2017
Last week’s initial instalment of the doors of St Junien were, with one exception, a pretty drab bunch (unless you happen to be a big fan of brown, of course), so this week I thought I’d feature some more colourful examples:
Even if the colour isn’t necessarily to your taste, someone is clearly making an effort…
…no matter how narrow the door you have to work with:
Next, a couple of more faded examples:
And just for a change, to finish this week a set of gates:
Thursday Doors 9 February 2017
Thursday Doors: St. Junien (1)
Posted on February 2, 2017
St Junien is one of the major towns of the Haute Vienne département and claims to be (or have been) the glove-making capital of France. Leather gloves, that is; they’re quite particular about that.
As with many other similar conurbations, there is a medieval centre that has become increasingly surrounded by more modern, and largely featureless, developments. Be that as it may, a recent ‘doorscursion’ provided plenty of photographic opportunities that will keep my ‘ Thursday Doors’ contributions well-supplied for the next few weeks, so here is the first instalment.
This ancient wooden door is set into what’s left of the old city walls:
By contrast, this house is obviously occupied and well cared-for:
as is this:
This one is more colourful than the norm:
Although these last two are a little more careworn:
(The white street sign in the last image is in the Occitan language, which was what was spoken round these parts until French became the official language of the whole country after 1789.)
Thursday Doors 2 February 2017
Thursday Doors: Thiers (4th Time Around)
Posted on January 26, 2017
I know we’ve already had three helpings of doors from Thiers but that particular seam hasn’t been fully worked out just yet, so here are a few second round draft picks.
And I didn’t even follow this road down the hill…
Thursday Doors 26 January 2017
Thursday Doors: Burano
Posted on January 19, 2017
Things have stayed pretty local as regards Thursday Doors over the past few weeks, so just for a change, somewhere a little more exotic – and colourful – this time.
There are two principal islands in the Venetian Lagoon: Murano, which is famous for its glass-making and Burano, something of an artists’ hangout and probably best known for its brightly-painted houses.
which of course means colourful door surrounds, even on the more decrepit examples:
Albeit that there’s a reassuring drabness about this example:
Although this must be the hands-down winner – Charlie Chaplin and all:
Thursday Doors 19 January 2017
Thursday Doors: More from Mezieres
Posted on January 12, 2017
Back in November I posted images of some of the doors and gates to be found in our local village of Mézières-sur-Issoire. Those two posts by no means exhausted the local possibilities, however, so here are some more from Mézières.
The local economy is still predominantly agriculture-based and the largest open space within the village is not the statutory place de la Republique, but the Marché des Ovins – the sheep market. These first three doors are to be found there:
This barn is just down the road from the church; you can’t beat a door within a door:
Although this one is obviously no longer still in use:
And finally – just to prove that the village does still have such things – an occupied private house:
Thursday Doors 12 January 2017
Thursday Doors: Tranquility Base
Posted on January 5, 2017
Over the past year or so I’ve posted a number of pictures of doors that are to be found in Tranquility Base, my working title for the little hamlet we live in. Thus you’ve seen Emily’s Henhouse and Bernard’s Barn, amongst others.
Now, I certainly don’t want to give the impression that everything in Tranquility Base is falling down, but here are a few more very local doors, beginning with front and side view of what may once have been a shed that belongs to our nearest neighbour:
Fortunately, this barn is in rather better condition:
Although it’s a bit dodgier round the back:
This one doesn’t see much traffic either:
Nor do these doors, which many years ago would have served to keep the pigs shut in:
Thursday Doors 5 January 2017
Thursday Doors: Lesterps (Part 2)
Posted on December 29, 2016
For the second instalment of doors from the village of Lesterps, we’re going a bit downmarket, beginning with this gloriously ramshackle garden shed…
…which doesn’t look much better from the side:
This one is in slightly better condition…
…and this one’s positively pristine:
But this is just a fire hazard:
Here’s my favourite though. Probably the most pointless door in the world. Not only is it a doorway with no walls on either side, but it’s open. It must be (fanfare) the 2016 Ramshackle Door of The Year.
Thursday Doors 29 December 2016
Thursday Doors: Lesterps (Part 1)
Posted on December 22, 2016
Lesterps is yet another of those charming old villages that surround Tranquility Base at a distance of an approximately twenty-minute drive. It’s best known for its very large 11th century church (more specifically, it’s an Abbatiale, which means there must once have been an Abbey there), which dominates the village, to the extent that it’s virtually impossible to get a proper photograph of the whole edifice. The image from Google Earth at the bottom of this post gives some idea of its relative scale.
This is the main door:
and this is one of three substantial archways, which I think qualify as doors for this purpose:
This walled up doorway on a building just acrooss the road from the church could well be a remnant of the accommodation of the monks who must once have lived here:
Elsewhere, this house (also opposite the church), with its massive beam, looks like it might once have been a byre, housing livestock:
We visited Lesterps last weekend for the Marché de Noel, so here’s something in the Christmas spirit. You’re welcome.
And this is quite possibly the smallest door in the entire commune. It’s at about head height but it certainly doesn’t look like a shutter, and I can’t imagine it’s the meter cupboard:
Next time, more from Lesterps – including some very strong contenders for Ramshackle Door of the Year.
Thursday Doors 22 December 2016
PS here’s that screenshot from Google Earth:
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