London – Albert’s gone all shy – –
Monday – the day dawns a bit cloudy with maybe a hint of rain – but I am not staying home. Kylie has had to go back to work so I head off to Kensington Palace and the gardens.
HISTORY LESSON : Kensington Palace in London is a working Royal residence.
Of great historical importance, Kensington Palace was the favourite residence of successive sovereigns until 1760 and it was also the birthplace and childhood home of Queen Victoria.
Today Kensington Palace accommodates the offices and private apartments of a number of members of the Royal Family. Although managed by Historic Royal Palaces, the Palace is furnished with items from the Royal Collection.
It is also the Palace where Diana – Princess of Wales lived before her untimely death in 1997.
It is a wonderful area. I walk over to the gardens where there is a lovely big pond. The birds and swans come and have a play in the water and then rest on the banks. It is a shame that it is overcast but the sun peeps out every now and again. Next I am off to discover Kensington Gardens and see what I can find further up the street.
Two of my discoveries are the Albert Memorial (below right)) and Royal Albert Hall. (below left)
HISTORY LESSON : This memorial is one of the great sculptural achievements of the Victorian era. It has a large gilded statue of Prince Albert (Queen Victoria’s husband) seated in a vast Gothic shrine, and includes a frieze with 169 carved figures.
The pillars supporting the canopy are red & grey granite. The canopy was completed in 1868 and the statue of Albert installed in 1875.
The most impressive groups of sculptures are the four continents – Europe; America; Asia & Africa; and the four industries – agriculture; commerce; engineering & manufacturing.
It’s a shame that the gold statue of Prince Albert at the Memorial is enclosed in blue sheeting. Wouldn’t you know it – restoration strikes again. So, it is not only in Egypt and Greece that this occurs.
Across the road is the Royal Albert Hall.
HISTORY LESSON: An arts venue dedicated to Queen Victoria’s husband, it opened in 1871 and has played host to many events including classical & rock concerts, conferences & sporting events.
It is oval in shape, measuring 272 feet by 238 feet around the outside. The great glass & iron dome roofing of the hall is 135 feet high. Around the outside is a great terra cotta frieze depicting ‘The Triumph of Arts & Sciences’.
I walk around these wonderful gardens – how lucky are these Londoner’s to have a such a treasure right in the midst of their city. A bit like us from Sydney and our Hyde Park. I then decide it is time to move on and end up at the Wellington Monument which is in London’s Hyde Park.
Apart from the huge monument, there is a triumphal Wellington Arch with Corinthian columns and on top of the arch there is a statue of Winged Victory in a magnificent chariot being pulled by regal horses.
There is also a statue of the Duke of Wellington sitting on his favourite horse – Copenhagen.
Across from this is also the Wellington Museum. So this part of the park is very ‘Wellingtonian’ one would say.
Clouds are coming over a bit too much for my liking so time to head for the shelter of home. The rain holds off for the walk from Kilburn station to Kylie’s and then it starts. How well-timed was that!
Highlight of the day : the inspirational Albert Memorial – still majestic under covers.
