REFLECTION...

                           World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

As you may know the beloved Browns Garage on Church Path has closed. The wonderful old building that was originally a jobmasters stables is to make way for new houses, well that's progress I expect. Anyway as I passed the other day on a walk with students during a Fringe/Art Trail  photowalk I spotted this beautiful reflection in the window of the old cottage opposite, of course the clouds helped...

WINDOW..

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

At first glance when you look at this picture you will probably think that at last I have slipped of the edge. It looks like a very poor quality photograph indeed. I however like it. The story is, there's always a story, one of our three local Wanstead garages is closing to make way for a housing development. Sadly it's located in a really great old building on Church Path which will have to go as I understand it. Fortunately I have photographed the exterior, which you can see here.  As I passed by the other day, the doors were firmly shut although I am not sure if they have finally closed. I noticed through the rain splattered windows these two old fashioned oil cans crying out to be pictured. So here you are, garage oil cans through a dirty, rain splattered window. I still like it. I & K Brown, a Wanstead institution, you will be sorely missed by many residents.

...and on a different subject don't forget that there is a free craft demo day at Craft Boutique 84 in Nightingale Lane this coming Sunday the 23rd. There will be demonstration's of several products and techniques between 12 and 2.30pm and of course a cup of tea.

I & K BROWN..

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

If you live in Wanstead you will recognise this lovely old building on Church Path. I have photographed it before, it's I & K Brown one of Wanstead's garages. I was taking a fresh look at it because it's most likely to be knocked down and replaced with houses. The price of progress I suppose, I'm pleased with the picture anyway. 

INDUSTRY..

World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved.

I do like finding a bit of old 'industrial landscape' on my wanderings. This is at the back of the garage on Church Path, it was the colour of the bricks bathed in sunlight that caught my eye. I always want to know what these buildings look like inside, I expect being inquisitive is part of being a photographer.

TEL: 561 WANSTEAD..

     World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

I'm sure most people in Wanstead  know of our local garage,  I & K Brown on Church Path,  it's been in business for more than thirty years. The building that it's in however is considerably older. In times gone by it was the establishment of a 'jobmaster' see Wanstead Daily Photo here. Anyway there are two 'plaques' on the front of the building one either side of the main door, they are covered in black paint but if you look very carefully they are really interesting. I managed to decipher the one on the right hand side and under the paint it reads -

'Private Omnibuses
Wedding Carriages
Telephone Address
561 Wanstead

Isn't that just a great telephone number, so personal and local compared to all of todays numbers.

WHERE ON EARTH.....

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

I think this is the most lovely little building, it's hidden away and you have to be very tall to see it. The location is Church Path behind an ivy covered wall next door to the garage. I have been told that it was a toy library many years ago, any information you have would be most welcome, it really intrigues me.

OLD RAILINGS

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

Walking along Church Path I spotted these railings in front of a house. I think they must be the original, there's just something fascinating about peeling paint it just cries out for a close up,

CHURCH PATH

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved.

Adjacent to Church School is this little path that links the Church to the High Street. It runs behind the War Memorial and has trees on either side. At dusk it makes an atmospheric photograph, and the figure in the distance bought to mind the generations of people who must have walked this route.

A LOVELY CORNER OF WANSTEAD..

                            World © Geoff Wilkinson - all rights reserved

This is one of my favourite parts of Wanstead, its just a tiny area with this fence and plants growing at random through it. There is just something about this small piece of fence on Church Path that fills me with nostalgia and makes me think of old fashioned countryside. I always stop for a few seconds whatever the weather to admire it.