I seem to have got the buildings bug, after my Get Pushed challenge from Angie @angiedanielle24 to focus on architecture.
This is Freemantle Hall, Bexley, south-east London. It was funded by public subscription which was instigated and led by a local businessman, William Freemantle. Completed in 1894, the hall has seen many uses, including that of local cinema, but by the late 1990s was virtually derelict. Since refurbished it is now in regular use by any willing hirer, including, it would appear, the local Photography Club!
The building beyond is The King's Head, an old coaching inn claimed to date from the 14th century (although more likely the 16th). Local folklore has it that King Henry VIII called in at some stage (it is not entirely out of the question given that he spent a lot of time in his youth at Eltham Palace, which is only a few miles away) but there is of course no record of this. It is also said to be haunted (of course).
Techie note: I was using my Canon 17-40mm f/4.0L lens - which is a cracker but at the extreme wide angle the distortion in shots like this is noticeable added to the routine parallel convergence when taking shots of buildings from a low angle. I used the Lens Correction and Transform tools in Lightroom to bring the buildings back into a more recognisable shape!
They certainly are advertising their Photographic Fair well. Shall you go I wonder.... nice balance in the shot (the technical bits pass me by I am afraid!)
It's always nice when they refurb these beautiful old buildings, they look to have done a good job (apart from the clock which looks like its on a morrisons roof)
I'm so pleased you have embraced this challenge so wholeheartedly. I also like the information you provide about the buildings, very interesting indeed.
