Comments on: William Kent’s Arch In Bow

By: Crystal

Crystal — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 17:19:59 +0000

Re: Colin Cohen remark: Northumberland House isn’t a William Kent house – he was responsible for the arch alone. The house was Jacobean, but went through several restylings, James Paine, the most known. It didn’t necessarily get better: if you compare the Canaletto with the photograph, by which time the house is sadly being encroached upon by commercial shopfronts, you’ll see that the cupolas at each end were once in happier proportion to the house’s immense frontage.

By: Robert

Robert — Wed, 15 Apr 2020 09:00:15 +0000

Charming.

By: Martyn Holland

Martyn Holland — Wed, 15 Apr 2020 07:22:22 +0000

Thank you for this little gem and for the picture of the arch in bloom. I actually work at the Bromley by Bow Centre and so (until recently) passed through the arch daily. I’m working from home outside of London at the moment and feeling the poignancy of seeing these blooms as I first saw them exactly a year ago today.

By: Pamela Traves

Pamela Traves — Wed, 15 Apr 2020 03:19:48 +0000

Thank You for these Lovely Pictures. I would Love to walk through Them.????????

By: Cohen Colin

Cohen Colin — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 13:04:02 +0000

Northumberland House was a bit of a loss! I had no idea there had been a Kent house in the middle of London, despite the V&A exhibition I really only think of him in terms of gardens

By: Di Corry

Di Corry — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 12:58:26 +0000

Thank you Gentle Author for this beautiful sight and for sharing it with us all, balm for the soul.
I can almost smell the wisteria……..
Please keep well and take care when out and about, you are a very important part of our ‘survival kit’ especially during isolation!

By: JIll Wilson

JIll Wilson — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 12:35:11 +0000

One of the books I have been reading during lockdown has been the excellent biography of C R Ashbee by Alan Crawford which gives a very good insight into all the different things that Ashbee was involved in, including the Watch Committee which became the Survey of London.

His efforts to make people aware of all the great buildings which were being needlessly destroyed were vital in saving buildings like the Trinity Green Almshouses – and continues to be an inspiration to the East End Preservation Society today.

By: Ken

Ken — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 12:09:46 +0000

Have often paused to admire / contemplate the arched entrance to the alms houses when passing..nice to view it thus

Ken

By: Mary

Mary — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 10:05:12 +0000

The elegance of the wisteria complements the arch perfectly, although I am sure originally, it would have no such adornment.
We have a white wisteria on the front of our house and it is just about to flower. I look forward to it every year as the perfume is wonderful, and will enjoy it even more this year.

By: Chris Webb

Chris Webb — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 08:37:37 +0000

The Canaletto appears to be looking south east from the base of where Nelson’s Column is now, so Northumberland House is now the site of Waterstones.

I think the current building was used as the office of whatever shady organisation Harry Palmer (Michael Caine) worked for in The Ipcress File. Quite a grand Parisian looking building, honey coloured stone rather than the more usual Portland.

I used to have a wisteria but the whole lot came crashing down under the weight of water during a thunderstorm, bringing bits of brick and gutter with it. Not happy!