Sunday 22nd August 2004
Hover your mouse over the thumbnails, Left to right, top to bottom row, for text to each picture.

18th century coaching inn - The Bacon Arms Hotel. To the left (now redbrick building) was a narrow passage to the Old Newbury Theatre The old Theatre in Gilders Square. Derelict by 1960's and pulled down in 1974. Shame on them. Another famous old coaching on on the way from London to Bath (cream building)- The Chequers Hotel
The Kings Coffee House. (Still trying to discover which King!) This buiding is exepected to re-open soon once more as a coffee house. Hurrah! The north-west end of Northbrook Street - the Broadway, with another row of interesting facades. One of Newbury's landmarks, the Clock Tower, though it has only looked like this since 1929, when a rather attractive wrought iron tower was replaced.
One of the oldest pubs in Newbury, ridiculously renamed in the last few years The Tap and Spile. How dare they! Protests from the citizenry of Newbury ensured, however, that the historic name and pub sign were retained. To locals it will always be The Monument One of the old Merchant's houses on the edge of Newbury town, on the London Road.
The top of the town to you.....Dropped Tim into town this morning, and thought you might all enjoy a little photo essay on some of the older buildings that are still left to us here in Newbury. You will see that they are surrounded by later, 20th century monstrosities on many sides, but that there are also enough buildings of character left to maintain the particular atmosphere of this lovely old market town.

Journal promptAre there any buildings in your town that epitomise its character? They may be old or relatively new, but if you moved away, they would be the places that you thought of when you think of back home. Describe them, and the condition they are in at the moment. Are they worth hanging on to? If they are in a state of disrepair, compose a letter to the powers that be, (It does not have to be sent) explaining why that building is important to you. Perhaps today you can take a lazy Sunday stroll through your own town to photograph and write about thsoe special places. Walk slowly - you may even notice small treasures that had escaped your notice before now.