5th November

It is always amazing to find a preserved Victorian shop frontage and this one is in Lewes. Richard Urry was a coal merchant and this was his premises. The town is known for its huge bonfire festivities and every year they issue a warning that people shouldn't travel in which is ignored by everyone. It turns our that Mr Urry got himself in a bit of bother back in the 1890s when he thought it wise to lob a burning barrel of tar into the River Ouse from the Cliffe Bridge. This spot of high jinks saw him locked up for the night in the Lewes police cells. Tonight the streets will be ablaze with flaming torches once again with the spectacle of all the bonfire societies processing along the streets. It marks the end of the 2026 bonfire season which started back in September and will undoubtedly go out with a big bang🔥🎇🎆

Arilx

Right under my nose.

Looking back through old blog posts I can see that I last popped into St Andrew's in nearby Nuthurst back in 2015. Many's the time I've gone past it since, but not felt any need to stop. However, as I was driving along that road again last week, I pulled up on a whim. As there was a gentleman sitting quietly in the pews I didn't tarry and just took a handful of photos of things I hadn't noted before. I rather liked the fluidity of this modern window when compared to the rather stiff and uninspiring Victorian ones there.

Nothing about it rang any bells and it wasn't until I took a closer look back here at GBT that I started to notice that there were figures within the streams of molten glass.

By now I was curious to find out who was the artist behind it. An online search soon gave me the name of Tom Denny and at that point the penny dropped. I have swooned over his work in Tewkesbury Abbey  https://gnatbottomedtowers.blogspot.com/2015/07/tewkesbury-abbey.html and in Gloucester Cathedral https://gnatbottomedtowers.blogspot.com/2023/04/gloucester-reimagined.html. It even reached the point his work is so recognisable that I didn't even need to check it was by him when I encountered more examples in Malvern Priory and Hereford Cathedral [see photos below]

This most recent find is an earlier example commissioned in 1994 and I think his distinctive style has developed to become more identifiable in more recent years. This is the only one in Sussex and there it was sitting right under my nose all this time in a country church in a tiny village a couple of miles away and I literally had no idea. The universe works in strange ways sometimes!

Arilx 

The Witchcraft and Vagrancy Act

 Here in Horsham we are lucky devils because we are able to enjoy three months of free music every Friday night over the summer which covers a wide spectrum of genres. Within that time frame the museum opens its garden once a month with an additional offering. At the last minute I got wind of a "spooky folk band" coming up from Brighton so we decided that day to go down and see what The Witchcraft and Vagrancy Act were about. Were they spooky? You can judge yourself from the photos below which were taken on a very bright July evening.

Were they any good? They were fabulous and definitely a sinister soulful take on traditional folk. I was intrigued when the main singer downed his violin and sat down with a jig doll. I somehow didn't expect it, but it was very fitting. This is the tune which accompanied the dancing wooden figure. I have kept this back to All Hallows as somehow the dark half of the year seems more fitting for their material. The Bonegrubber's Jig.

Arilx

Down at the chippy

Our favourite local chippy has got in on the Halloween mania. The guy who painted it works in the shop and spent days creating it. I love a bit of 👻 and might as well climb on the band wagon He's made a nod to the late Tim Curry who we sadly lost in August. It goes without saying that I came across the artwork when we were there buying a sneaky chippy supper for our recent wedding anniversary!

Have a great weekend.

Arilx

Gritty

Someone just couldn't resist🤣

Arilx

 

Prattle Broth

During the 18th and 19th century  whilst the blokes had the coffee houses, pubs and drawing rooms, the women were left with pots of tea and visitors with which to share a cuppa and catch up on all the news and gossip In a patriarchal society a cup of tea was dismissively referred to as prattle broth, scandal broth or cat lap. I love nothing better than catching up with a friend over a cuppa. A few years ago my friend Arty L bought me this beautiful cup and saucer as a surprise gift. We don't usually exchange presents, but she said she simply she had to get it for me because she knew I would treasure it. Too right!

Arilx

Influenced by....

During his lifetime Oliver Messel was the most famous and highest paid theatre set and costume designer in the country. His clothes were known for being eminently wearable on stage, light in weight and very practical. His work continues to ne influential and Nymans is currently exhibiting these dresses inspired by his work and created by students from Wimbledon College of Arts. Messel was a member of the family who owned Nymans before it passed into the hands of the National Trust. Beautiful.

Arilx