308/365 Jurys Inn

And the verdict is... Derby's skyline has recently been spoilt by the Westfield Centre and this new hotel. There are some lovely old buildings in Derby, there are some less attractive ones as well, but this is something of a blot on the landscape, a thorn between two roses - Derby Cathedral and St Mary's Church.

(PC safely moved, but it won't talk to the internet, so I'm processing images on the PC as that's where all the software is, but blogging via the laptop, which will talk to the internet!)

301/365 QUAD has landed

From this angle it almost looks as if the QUAD building has landed from outer space in Derby's Market Place. Incongruous next to characterful old architecture, it actually stands almost opposite an ugly modern building - the Assembly Rooms.

Jodie and I went on the wheel. Its half term week and the last chance to go on it, and the weather was uncharacteristically mild, lots of children were running round the fountain.

(Day 300 - not long to go now!!)

272/365 Arcade

Looking through the entrance to the old Market Hall towards the Market Place. And from the Assembly Rooms past QUAD towards Morledge.

265/365 Quad meets Wheel

The Derby Wheel reflected in the side of the QUAD in the Market Place today.

249/365 Toll House, late summer

The Toll House always looks lovely in summer with troughs and window baskets planted. See 98/365 & 33/365 for Spring & Winter shots of this house.

220/365 Gate

I captured this beautiful gate at the rear of St Werburgh's Church on the way back to Bold Lane Car Park with Jodie this afternoon. The church hasn't been a church for many years but looking at this image, you wouldn't guess this was in Derby's city centre (downtown) right next to a concrete multi-storey car park! I was trying out my 40D :0)

142/365 Heads

This is part of a sculpture on Friargate in Derby. I have driven past these heads so many times and finally went to photograph them today and find out via the wonderful www who put them there and why:

"This is the reform bill heads sculpture, by Timothy Clapcott, and was installed in 2000 as part of the Sustrans development of the National Cycle Network. Derby City Council and Sustrans contributed equally to the commission, to help give the route identity and help cyclists and pedestrians orientate themselves. The heads are crowded together, jostling and jeering, reminiscent of the 1821 Reform Bill riots."
(From http://www.picturesofderby.co.uk/)

We visited Roland & Suzanne (see 102/365) this afternoon, well, actually, we only went down to see the new kittens ;0) More kitten-fest pics here.

98/365 Toll House in Spring

In 33/365 this tree was dusted with snow. I just had to stop on the way past it today to get this shot of it before the blossom is fully open. As I said back then, its one of my favourite trees. Today though, I took some more detailed shots of the Toll House itself. The folk who live there have 2 huge dogs with deep gruff barks to match! I think they might be great danes.

The downstairs window used to be a bay window but a vehicle crashed into it in the 1960s, you can see the brickwork is different where it has been repaired.

33/365 Toll House in winter

There is an old Toll House near where I live and across the road from it is one of my favourite trees, which will no doubt feature here again as the seasons progress. We have had a decent snowfall which is lying like frosting on a cake along the branches. The Toll House behind is now a private house and a listed building. Built in the mid-19th century, it was restored in 1976.

See http://bygonederbyshire.co.uk/articles/Toll_House,_Kedleston_Road,_Derby_-_then_and_now

I had hoped to find more info, but this is all there is! (Let me know if the link doesn't work!)

29/365 Derby City Centre (Downtown)

Today I went into town and was determined to take some pictures while I was there. These are just with the p&s on (yet another) grey day, but show a little slice of Derby. For those of you following this blog from across the pond: the yellow cars are taxis - Derby's cabs went yellow from what had been over a century of traditional black several years ago; the image top right shows Derby Cathedral's tower through the fog (I'll take a better one later in the blog, promise); bottom row centre features a clock in an area called The Spot which has a fancy chime at the top of the hour. And finally, no, the fish bar and restaurant isn't mine! ;0)