Lone fisherman, big bridge - # 08/141

Late evening sun, massive tidal drop, railway bridge, small fisherman: Strand on the Green, with Mortlake brewery in the far background

....and here's the "strand"- # 225

I had hoped to end the week with a beautiful sunset at Strand on the Green, but computer crashes, lost photos, and the lousy, cloudy, unusual weather have conspired against me.

However, here is "the strand". I showed the high tide at the start of the series. Here is the current low tide. At the centre the water is still deep enough for traffic.

I make a guess that this helped to create Strand's development and history. Barges could come up river on a full tide, and at Strand they found an excellent place to lie flat and safe for convenient unloading/reloading. They could then carry grain and agricultural products back into London. As I said, I'm guessing, but it does make sense.

A walk through time- # 224

There's a lot to see when you look towards Kew Bridge from Strand on the Green.

The Strand settlement itself is ancient, and was always a convenient spot for shipping and crossing the river.

We can see Kew bridge, first built in 1759 and twice renewed; just beyond that, some modern offices and apartments built on cleared industrial land. The tall tower is an important Victorian water pumping and treatment site built as part of the mighty sewerage and water system of the nation's Capitol. It houses huge steam engines and is now a pumping engine museum. Beyond that we see the tower blocks of Brentford, built to replace dwellings lost during war time bombing (Brentford was an industrial area). And just beyond the tower blocks, but out of sight, are the "iconic" 1930s buildings of the "Golden Mile" described in earlier posts.

Anglo-Dutch friendship at Strand on the Green - # 223

Here, again, we see the high steps and walls to keep the high water out. The brick work indicates the age of the house. The style is intriguing.....it's clearly English 18th Century but with a Dutch overtone. Next door on the left we can see a purely English style.

I wonder what deeper research would reveal? Was this the house of an Anglo-Dutch merchant who had founded a good business in the area and shipped his goods by barge after transferring from larger ships down in London?

Whatever the answer, it's a pleasant sight as we walk by the river.

Technology for the improvement of society - # 222

Walking along the tow path at Strand on the Green we pass under the railway. The so-called North London Line and the District Line cross the river here, going towards Richmond.

The brick, stone and iron structure is lavishly decorated: yet another demonstration of the desire of the Victorian railway masters to create structures that were enjoyable as well as practical.

Super security for brave and bold revellers - # 221

Here's more on the flood defences at Strand on the Green; that elegant yet eccentric Thames-side community.

Questions about yesterday's steps and doorway have been answered on that post # 220.

Here, in # 221, you can see the massive door that protects the downstairs bar of the "City Barge" pub. Naturally there is also an upstairs bar well above the water line. The food is excellent, the beer is first rate, and the atmosphere superb; ideal for crafty photographers.

The City Barge claims to have been on this site, under various names since at least 1484.

Don't bring your wet boots into my hallway!- # 220

Strand on the Green is clearly an old riverside wharf area with merchant's houses and warehouses often incorporated into one, coming close up to the river mooring point for the loaded sailing barges.

The things to note in this photo are: the massive base wall to protect from the high water, the unusual steps up to the raised door, and the typical elegant 18th Century fan light over the door. Every fanlight is unique. I will go so far as to wager that you will not find two alike throughout the length and breadth of England. The houses along the this waterside date mostly from the early 1700s, but some sites have a written historic record from as far back as the 1400s.

Notice also the debris from the recent high water right up against the wall. The water had gone back less than 20 minutes before my arrival, as you saw in yesterday's picture of the wet tow path.

Strand on the Green goes under the microscope - # 219

I've done four postings of views of this small riverside community close to Kew Bridge.

The first was taken from Kew Bridge towards Strand on the Green: http://richmonduponthamesdailyphoto.blogspot.com/2007/02/myths-are-perpetuated-but-camera-never.html

It's a charming and puzzling place where the houses are build right alongside the river with special raise doors to keep out floods. Here you can see the early 18th Century terraces close to the towpath, and you can see how the high tide has flooded over and made the pavement wet and totally inaccessible for a half hour or more.

This view is looking back to Kew Bridge from where I took the first photo. More will follow.

Enjoying the company of others - # 216

Around Richmond there are many excellent and very old inns that still retain many of their original oak beams and walls that are hundreds of years old.

I am trying capture the atmosphere and quality of these places, but this involves research and hard work - as you can imagine! Several repeat visits may be necessary.

Strand on the Green is an interesting riverside settlement that is also "under my microscope".

Here is my rendering of "The Bull's Head", a very old riverside pub at Strand on the Green, near Kew Bridge.

Cafe Rouge, Strand on the Green (for Richard) - # 193

Richard at http://zurich.dailyphoto.forthmedia.com/dailyphoto/ is a great inspiration for me, because he is an fine photographer whose pictures, mainly in B & W, "speak" to me in a special way, personal to me.

Richard loves Strand on the Green near Richmond and I am in the process of collecting several shots for him.

There are few atmospheres and "ambiances" more enjoyable than the old-style French cafe. "Cafe Rouge" replicates this nicely, and at Strand on the Green they have found a suitable building to work the magic for us. Admire the little decorative motif around the edge, and appreciate the way the designers have sympathetically cleaned up and presented the 1900s "corner triangle" style building.

I tried this in B&W, but it didn't work so well. It needs the warm red. I wonder how Richard would have captured it.

Camera; he speak truth. Frenchman lies - # 53

Post # 32 discussed the efforts of the French Tourist Agency fighting, and losing, the battle in which they promote the whole of France against Richmond upon Thames. Posting # 32 also attempted, with outstanding success, to plant confusion in the minds of City Daily Photo addicts. Here is another view of Strand on the Green seen on a brilliant sunny day from the Richmond side of the Thames