Three Towns Forum
The Local => Local News & Discussion => Topic started by: Trojan on September 15, 2010, 06:31:04 am
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I was wondering what the gargoyles (if they are gargoyles) on Trinity Church represent? One looks like the head of a King, and another the head of a female.
I found this explanation which relates to the grotesque gargoyles in the bottom photo: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gargoyle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gargoyle)
Any ideas or info welcome.
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Stan might have some knowledge of those.
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It's one of those things I have kept meaning to look into but never quite got round to it. Perhaps this is the prompt I needed.
I will see what I can do.
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Maybe they are just bog standard gargoyles i.e. no one in particular. There's one on St. D ;David's cathedral the dead spit of Harold Wilson! ;D
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I photographed this one in the Marble Church in Bodelwyddan, great piece of work:
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2666/4237594280_1c8c243958.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/davellandudno/4237594280/)
Stony faced? (http://www.flickr.com/photos/davellandudno/4237594280/#) by SnakeCorp (http://www.flickr.com/people/davellandudno/), on Flickr
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Installing 'Gargoyles' on to religious buildings was a medieval device intended to frighted evel spirits away.
They often doubled as drainage channels and water spouts from lead guttering.
What you have photographed are actually ordinary ornate sculptures, which were usually of Saints, but if not are usually something to do with the monarchy of the day, the patrons of the cathedral or church, ...or sometimes even the stone-masons themselves who carved them.
There are actually some hilarious ones inside Selby Abbey, Yorkshire ....where the masons carved out characatures of the monks who lived there in obscene poses....and hid them round corners where they wouldn't be discovered for a while.
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Trago Mills stores in Devon / Cornwall has gargoyles modelled on the local politicians due to a long standing battle with the local council _))* seems like a good idea :D
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Went round the Orme to look at what they are doing with the new building at Abbey Lodge. I was amazed to see what looks like a circle of standing stones between what will be the house and the cliffs edge. Anyone know if it is genuine? Is it on any old maps? Few feet away from what is left of the Bishop's Palace so don't know if access to public is available. Hopefully if it is genuine there is some sort of preservation order on it. Maybe it's just a folly? ???
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A place to natter about interesting constructions and erections...
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I think you could have phrased that a little differently! _))* :laugh:
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Errr...now you come to mention it :o :o
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_))* You got that one in before me Quiggs.
However, I have a feeling that Ian's tongue may have been planted firmly in his cheek when he typed that sentence. :leer:
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WWW
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_))* You got that one in before me Quiggs.
However, I have a feeling that Ian's tongue may have been planted firmly in his cheek when he typed that sentence. :leer:
He obviously had a hand on in it! L0L
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Trago Mills stores in Devon / Cornwall has gargoyles modelled on the local politicians due to a long standing battle with the local council _))* seems like a good idea :D
Reproduction Gargoyles are available in the National Trust shop at Penrhryn Castle, which is a nice day out and not so far to go! $wales
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saw them there the other week and there's an excellent railway museum there too D)
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Dear all,
I am interested in carrying out some research on the perceptions held by Llandudno/Colwyn Bay/Conwy residents towards renewable energy and the wider marine environment. The research initially involves a short questionairre, followed by a photographic exercise for willing participants.
I have carried out this research in a number of sites and I am particularly interested in this area as ther are and will be large wind farm developments, which I am sure as generated some interesting opinions/feelings etc.
Any willing participants can contact me on sean.lindsley-leake@plymouth.ac.uk
Many thanks
Sean
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OOOOOOOHHHHHH don't get me going on THAT subject.
Windfarms, bah HUMBUG!
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Does anyone know more about the councils drive to get more under-utilised homes into their rental scheme to reduce council house waiting times?
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2011/01/04/conwy-council-to-find-100-homes-for-rent-55578-27927533/ (http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2011/01/04/conwy-council-to-find-100-homes-for-rent-55578-27927533/)
I may have a house they can use but the article doesn't make it clear whom in the council to talk to about offering up a property for this use. Any ideas?
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http://www.conwy.gov.uk/doc.asp?cat=4172&doc=26127 (http://www.conwy.gov.uk/doc.asp?cat=4172&doc=26127)
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http://www.conwy.gov.uk/doc.asp?cat=4172&doc=26127 (http://www.conwy.gov.uk/doc.asp?cat=4172&doc=26127)
Hmm, the house in question isn't empty, just not occupied 365 days a year but it certainly is a place to start. Thanks for the link!
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Ha ha typical. The email address isn't valid. I got an error message:
This is an automatically generated Delivery Status Notification.
Delivery to the following recipients failed.
housing.strategy@conwy.gov.uk
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You could try the general enquiry address:
housing.enquiries@conwy.gov.uk
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MrFalafel,
The name of one of the officers involved in this project is David Lowe.
If the general email address fails, please contact David at:
david.lowe@conwy.gov.uk
The Empty Homes scheme is for properties that have remained empty for sometime, and the scheme provides options for owners/landlords to bring them back into use for residential purposes.
But they are still worth contacting to see if you particular situation can help.
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Thanks for the contacts you guys! I've also been in touch with Fletcher Poole :D
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Contact Robbie Howarth in the junction as well, huge amount of property on their books and been going for years.
Haggle them down to 10% on the costs of managing the property if you go ahead, goes for fletcher poole as well.
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Felt sorry for parents with youngsters at Ysgol Porth y Felin today, the school failed to open after the Christmas break because of a boiler problem. It maybe a good idea to check if it's open tomorrow before sending/taking your child.
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Contact Robbie Howarth in the junction as well, huge amount of property on their books and been going for years.
Haggle them down to 10% on the costs of managing the property if you go ahead, goes for fletcher poole as well.
Thats good advice Cartier...
In these times of tumbling house prices (and they are) ..and the inability to get mortgages, I reckon the letting agents and estate agents need to take a cut n fees, and get real with rents and prices .... otherwise many of them will be out of business very quickly.
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Considering that it is Estate Agents and their fees that contributes to the ever increasing propertry prices I totally agree with you. It is about time that there was more stability in pricing in general and particularly in the housing market. ZXZ
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As regards property prices, people have got accustomed to the idea that they buy a house and then make a large profit on it when they sell. Sadly, those days are gone, I believe. At best, I can see stagnation in the housing market for the next 5-10 years, at worst, a slow but relentless decline in property values. Prices have become so detached from average earnings that it needs a large fall to realign them. A 3 bedroom semi should cost no more than about £70,000.
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I'm not certain, but I seem to remember that the ballooning of house prices is London-led. What's happened in the past, anyway, is that foreigners have bought homes in London, paying well above the odds, and that has led to a lot of folk becoming very cash-rich, very quickly, which in turn has sparked a ripple effect, as they buy houses for their relatives or in different pars of the country and so on. There are several examples that I know about here in Llandudno.
The most common event has been those in the public services- teachers, nurses, doctors, etc., who've had modest semis in London, sold up and bought small mansions here. That sort of thing simply fuels the price rises, and has the ridiculous knock-on effects that we're seeing, where our own young folk can't possibly afford to buy.
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House prices are meaningless if there are no buyers. I've had my house for sale for the last 3 years, have knocked the price down many times and have followed the advice of many different estate agents and experienced house sellers with no luck at all. I've had a lot of people say they would love to buy the house but can't get a mortgage or cannot sell their current house or have reconsidered having a second home in the economic climate. I've also had a few gazunderers and other unsavoury transaction attempts. Lucklily I am in a position where I do not have to sell so I can take my time. But I do feel sorry for several people who are literally locked into where they are now with no hope of selling for anything near what they paid for it for many years.
On the other hand, the rental market is comparatively booming. However, the market is only booming for houses in the £400 - £550pcm range. if you are trying to rent a house for more than that you may struggle to find tennants.
I remember talking to estate agents about the golden days 10 or so years ago where they didn't even bother putting 'for sale' signs on houses for sale within the town walls as they had a list of buyers they could call whenever a house came up for sale. Not so anymore.
It is nice that there is more affordable housing but if there aren't many jobs around whats the point of having an affordable home with no job?
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That new tactic of gazundering must be very stressful for anyone that has got to sell their house and the practise should be stopped. Any negotiation about the price should have been sorted out before contracts are due to be exchanged.
I believe that Scotland has different laws regarding buying and selling houses and I wonder if they have a similar problem up there.
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To Mr Falafel and others in that situation, I too had my previous house for sale for a long, long time... and dropped the price numerous times.
Eventually, even when I did get lucky and 'sold', the buyers would only complete if I reduced it by another £5000 at the last minute.
Strictly speaking I didn't NEED to sell, but I had no real choice as I was coming to live in Llandudno and most of my possessions were here.
I also figured that while I waited for another buyer, I would have had to fork out £5000 in bills and house prices were still falling anyway.
To Ian, I would say that its no ones fault that local prices have been fuelled by incoming people.
I was paying large sums to visit Llandudno, and figured that a mortagage on a house here was actually CHEAPER than the money I was paying to hotels!
The house I bought was for sale for a long time, and was priced at a level deemed fit for the local market (presumably by the owner and the estate agent)
So really any house can be bought for the asking price by anyone. Maybe the REAL fuel for the house price boom was greed?
I certainly got carried away with what I thought my previous house was worth! ... but eventually I realised it was only worth what someone finally paid.
To Dave I would say, even £70,000 for a semi will still be out of the reach of many, simply because no one can borrow it.
I agree that house prices are still falsely high, I wouldn't buy one now....
Maybe the REAL driver of the property price boom was easy borrowing?
A combination of these reasons is the truth.
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Yes, I agree that some people still have unreasonable ideas about what their houses are worth probably based on how much they paid for them. If someone bought in this area 5 to 9 years ago they probably bought at the height of the overinflated pices and are now wondering why no one wants to pay anything near what they paid for it. I'm glad I bought a fixer-upper a few years before the prices went crazy. I'm also forunate that I live in a house filled with houses almost exactly like mine so all I need to do is to see what others are selling their houses for and price accordingly (or less). Someone selling vrey near to me with a house almost exactly like mine is asking 40% more than me. But then again, they bought just before the housing bubble burst.
I think if my gazunderers had asked for £5k I probably would have gone for it but they demanded a 15% price reduction the day before we were about to exchange contracts which was totally unacceptable.
As far as the ridiculous rise in house prices I do think it was caused by a combination of irresponsible lending by mortgage companies and greed. How many people were dreaming of riches by buying a house and selling it 6 months later at inflated prices? Totally unsustainable.
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As far as the ridiculous rise in house prices I do think it was caused by a combination of irresponsible lending by mortgage companies and greed. How many people were dreaming of riches by buying a house and selling it 6 months later at inflated prices? Totally unsustainable.
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But that is exactly the tactics used by Estate Agents to get people to buy houses in this country and abroad!
When Mrs Fester and I were looking for a place in Spain, I was turned off by the Agents saying ''buy it now, and it will be worth 30% more year on year etc...''
It was always an unsustainable load of crap. But thousands of 'lemmings' fell for it, (We nearly did) and they are all now trapped in negative equity.
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Historically, in the UK the house price rhythm has continued unabated for about fifty years. We're currently experiencing another low point of the sine wave pattern, but it's likely to recover in time. The only difference this time around might be if the banks and building societies remain excessively cautious in their lending. However, that only controls prices from UK nationals who need mortgages. If there's significant immigration from wealthy foreigners, it always tends to start in London, and will inevitably push prices there much higher. That can't help but fuel general house price rises, because sellers will find it easier to sell and move out of London.
Over the past fifty years, that's exactly what has happened. And when the egregious Mrs Thatcher relaxed controls on lending in the eighties, house prices soared very shortly thereafter. It's a combination of lending and immigration that does it. You can control the one, but not - it seems - the other.
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Discussion about housing in the area and further afield
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I was turned off by the Agents saying ''buy it now, and it will be worth 30% more year on year etc...''
Maybe estate agents should be regulated and then they would think twice before making such a careless coment.
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I was turned off by the Agents saying ''buy it now, and it will be worth 30% more year on year etc...''
Maybe estate agents should be regulated and then they would think twice before making such a careless coment.
I'm not so sure estate agents are the culprit here. If you go into a shop or a car dealership the salespeoples job is to convince you that the items they are selling are the best around and value for money. Its up to the customer to discern hype from reality.
Back in the old days a bank manager had the control over who got mortgages and who didn't. A bank manager could assess the applicant, the housing market and the local economic sitiuation with a long term view and make a balanced call. This was a defacto regulation of the market and kept prices realistic and kept people from getting mortgages they couldn't afford. Recently mortgage applications were completed via telephone call centre and only the briefest of credit checks are made before handing mortgages out like candy. I personally think the banking industry needs more regulation.
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FYI, there is a Mortgage Marker Review (MMR) just around the corner.
As for your comments about the briefest of credit checks being made I would add there was also the briefest of income checks being carried out for quite a while by lenders.
The ultimate mortgage was a self-certified 95% LTV mortgage that accepted a 5% vendor cashgift.
Unbelievable and I certainly kept well away from it.
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Went round the Orme to look at what they are doing with the new building at Abbey Lodge. I was amazed to see what looks like a circle of standing stones between what will be the house and the cliffs edge. Anyone know if it is genuine? Is it on any old maps? Few feet away from what is left of the Bishop's Palace so don't know if access to public is available. Hopefully if it is genuine there is some sort of preservation order on it. Maybe it's just a folly? ???
The new house at Abbey Lodge is nearly finished now - tasteless nonsense that overpowers the plot it is on:
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Its good to find that the Forum has such house design experts that are so willing to cast judgements such as "tasteless nonesense" on others homes, I wonder what masterpiece of design the contributor lives in, it must be an outstanding piece of architectural good taste, perhaps they would be kind enough post a picture of their home so others can comment!
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It's certainly a strange and unsymmetrical higgledy-piggledy design and most definitely doesn't fit in with it's surroundings but I'd be thrilled to own such a house where ever it was located.
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Its good to find that the Forum has such house design experts that are so willing to cast judgements such as "tasteless nonesense" on others homes, I wonder what masterpiece of design the contributor lives in, it must be an outstanding piece of architectural good taste, perhaps they would be kind enough post a picture of their home so others can comment!
Well, it's not someone's home is it? It's a building in the course of construction.
So you think it is a good piece of architectural design, I take it?
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Dear DaveR,
Your response is I guess what I anticipated, whether I like the design or not is irrelevent, its your judgemental comments that frankly I question, you have of course the right to your opinion, but the comments could be seen, perhaps by the owner of the property as inappropriate and potentially rude. I believe perhaps more decorum should be used when writting comments in a public blog, some readers might take real exception to the wording. Again perhaps you will publish a picture of your home so others can judge your taste in design!
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I, for one, did not take exception to DaveR's comment. But I do take exception to yours!
This is a good honest OPEN Forum and one thing it does believe in is Freedom of Speech. The only censorship is dictated by the people who pay and administer it, and is then only comments that are totally distasteful and contravene the Rules by which we all abide.
My opinion of the building is very similar, it is not the least bit tasteful and totally lacks any form or style which could so easily be incorporated into a new build. However, if that is what the developer wanted, so be it, but he (or she or they) have no right or reason to deny anyone else the opportunity to pass an opinion.
If he (etc.) doesn't like what is said it is just hard luck, and you have done little to help by complaining!
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No-one could ever accuse my house of being tasteless:
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L0L and the neighbours are very good too!
Marlin, some will like it and some won't, thats life, seems a shame that the group of architects that designed it seem never to have met. but if you like it then great, it's in a great location and if the owner's happy (I assume it's you) no problem. As far as I know we are all entitled to an opinion here aren't we?
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Without wishing to get involved one way or another, I think that buidings should reflect their surroundings and that of nearby properties.
If you have a location like this with stunning views all around would you really want to have a house with small windows like it has?
Properties should be built with the consideration of their location and existing properties in mind and not with how much money the developer can make from the site.
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Looks like someones got a case of what I affectionately call Cartier syndrome!
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marlin, just a couple of points: when you say
I believe perhaps more decorum should be used when writting comments in a public blog, some readers might take real exception to the wording. Again perhaps you will publish a picture of your home so others can judge your taste in design!
On a technical point this is a forum, and not a blog. Although that might seem immaterial to you, in a forum everyone has an equal right of reply that will enjoy equal status in publishing terms and be seen by everyone. Conversely, Blog owners ad writers enjoy and exercise much greater editorial control over comments made about any posting. In short, blogs are like newspapers and forums like pubs or cafes in debate terms.
Secondly, I think the implication that no one can criticise a piece of architecture unless their own house represents a pinnacle of architectural design is flawed. On that basis, anyone who was not a world-class impressionist, for instance, could ever criticise modern Art, or Ballet, if they weren't a superb dancer. People instinctively know what they like although - for many reasons - their own pad might not aspire to be everything they would want themselves.
And welcome to the forum, BTW; it's good to see you contributing :-)) :)
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Contributors to the discussion, I'm dleighted to see such a heated debate, needless to say I do not agree with some of the comments, of course even in the spirit of free speech, I still maintain that some element of self control and objectivity should be used and making comments to the forum, clearly at this time this is not the case in this particular circumstance, indeed some seem to relish it, additional I still would like to understand the credentials of "the king of the mountain" is it! But clearly this will not arrive for what ever reason.
In the meantime I shall continue the vast majority of the forum content which I have to say is apparently well informed and very useful.
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I don't agree with some of your comments Marlin, however I wouldn't ever suggest that you shouldn't make them. Keep them coming, by all means. It would be a dull world if we all agreed with each other.
Opinions about architecture are obviously very subjective; I'm sure we all remember Prince Charles' description of an extension to the National Gallery as a 'monstrous carbuncle'. ;D Having said that, in all seriousness, I do feel that Abbey Lodge is an uninspired design, more reminiscent of a 'semi on steroids' than the unique piece of architecture that the site demands. I'm prepared to accept that the original design may have been compromised by the requirements of the Developer and the Planning Dept but I really do feel its a shame that the Developer couldn't have come up with something better when spending so much money.
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Went round the Orme to look at what they are doing with the new building at Abbey Lodge. I was amazed to see what looks like a circle of standing stones between what will be the house and the cliffs edge. Anyone know if it is genuine? Is it on any old maps? Few feet away from what is left of the Bishop's Palace so don't know if access to public is available. Hopefully if it is genuine there is some sort of preservation order on it. Maybe it's just a folly? ???
The first photo was taken when they were just starting the building work and the second was taken before any work was started.
I realised that I had posted the same photo twice so I'm posting a side elevation of the plot and I can't tell if those stones were there before or not
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Looks interesting. Are they standing stones or walls? They look like the remainder of stone walls to me but then I can't zoom in sufficiently to decide?
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Dera DaveR
I respect your comments, thank you, enough said. Also thanks for the amount of work you clearly put into the Forum as I said I do find it a very valuable source. You are right on the point of the front design of the house, I have it on good authority the Local Authority insisted it looked like it does, not that that makes it unattractive at least to me, eyes of the beholder as you say.
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Is the new building near bishops palace? On the map you gave me yesterday Dave next to Bishops Palace it says " reputed site of stone circle" *&(
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It's too the right of the palace ruins as you look out to sea. Looks like standing stones not building ruins as it's a circle.
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Marlin, despite your attempts to get DaveR to post a genuine picture of his house, you won't get it for one of two possible reasons.
1, DaveR is an enigmatic man, shrouded in mystique, almost legendary and clandestine. I have known him for quite some time now, and he has visited my house, but I have no idea where he lives! A wise man.
2, Dave couldn't get the light quite right for a decent picture of the interior of his house... its DARK in Kendricks cave !!! _))* _))* _))*
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Dave couldn't get the light quite right for a decent picture of the interior of his house... its DARK in Kendricks cave !!! _))* _))* _))*
Good thing Richard Wyn Davies doesn't hear you saying that...Kendricks Cave is HIS house.
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Dave couldn't get the light quite right for a decent picture of the interior of his house... its DARK in Kendricks cave !!! _))* _))* _))*
Good thing Richard Wyn Davies doesn't hear you saying that...Kendricks Cave is HIS house.
I have a pic of Dave's house! X:((
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That's good to know :roll: :laugh:
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Dave couldn't get the light quite right for a decent picture of the interior of his house... its DARK in Kendricks cave !!! _))* _))* _))*
Good thing Richard Wyn Davies doesn't hear you saying that...Kendricks Cave is HIS house.
I have a pic of Dave's house! X:((
It's alright mate, don't need it, I know what it looks like. L0L
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Dave couldn't get the light quite right for a decent picture of the interior of his house... its DARK in Kendricks cave !!! _))* _))* _))*
Good thing Richard Wyn Davies doesn't hear you saying that...Kendricks Cave is HIS house.
I have a pic of Dave's house! X:((
Why does that sound a little sinister? Are you admitting to being a stalker then Trojan? Sounds too much like.. ''I know where you live!''
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Fester, careful, he might be a Mason! :o
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Fester, careful, he might be a Mason! :o
No chance!
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Are you admitting to being a stalker then Trojan?
No, not I. :cyclist40:
Mystery Figure (http://www.flickr.com/photos/handyandy88/2234651227/#)
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Ha ha ... brilliant.
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This has been happening over a while, but last night a very large amount came down all at once. The manager was talking to us and is very woried about the state of the wood supporting the brickwork above it.
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This has been happening over a while, but last night a very large amount came down all at once. The manager was talking to us and is very woried about the state of the wood supporting the brickwork above it.
Surely it should be steel or concrete lintels supporting the brickwork! Looks like another Hotel doomed to become an eyesore. ???
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The only piece of metal of any sort appears to be the thin piece hanging down!
The manager said they had been waiting for ages for the go-ahead to get the small repair (as was) done. Now it is beginning to look like something major. Just walked past again and nothing has happened. Hope we don't get any heavy rain or high winds or I imagine the whole front will follow the bay window downwards.
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>>>By a complete coincidence I happened to work on and off for the owners of the Grand Ash, the Grand u k group who own around a dozen hotels around the U K. I worked as a tour manager on one of the coaches they hired in to transport their clients.
I must say that I found them a good company to work for although a long way away from N Wales. They are based in Norwich. The only reason I didn't get more work off them was because of my age, although, of course, they never said so.
I don't suppose for a moment the local manager would imagine that an ex employee would read this thread. However on my experience a phone call or two should resolve the issue. On my experience I would say there is no chance whatsoever that this business will turn into another Clarence. Mike
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It's a very common problem in Llandudno with the Victorian buildings. The iron beams that supporting the bay windows are slowly failing.
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Just hope there isn't a nasty accident-- another bus full of people arrived this afternoon.
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Rhyl Sky Tower cordoned off after safety concerns raised
A sky tower was cordoned off this afternoon amid safety concerns after a loud bang was heard.
Engineers were dispatched to inspect the iconic 240ft Rhyl Sky Tower to see if there was any danger to the public.
A Denbighshire Council spokeswoman said: “On Monday afternoon, a Denbighshire County Council employee raised the alarm when he heard a loud noise emanate from within the Rhyl Sky Tower.
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/rhyl-sky-tower-cordoned-after-7241721#rlabs=3 (http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/rhyl-sky-tower-cordoned-after-7241721#rlabs=3)
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Thanks for that, I don't get the Daily Post, and I'm pleased to see that Rhyl is now part of the Three Towns.
WWW WWW WWW
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Thanks for that, I don't get the Daily Post, and I'm pleased to see that Rhyl is now part of the Three Towns.
WWW WWW WWW
Only thinking of you, I know how much you and others like Rhyl so, just a little warning, in case it fell on your head :twoface: :twoface: :twoface:
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Thanks for that, I don't get the Daily Post, and I'm pleased to see that Rhyl is now part of the Three Towns.
WWW WWW WWW
Only thinking of you, I know how much you and others like Rhyl so, just a little warning, in case it fell on your head :twoface: :twoface: :twoface:
Don't understand your comment, please be more explicit.
$thanx$
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Nothing to explain just me being a bit WWW ish .... :)
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the iconic 240ft Rhyl Sky Tower
Iconic ... really ?