Goodbye W6

Ravenscourt Park

We’re leaving. Our time in this little corner of west London has been far too short. We were settled and happy but have to move on.

This place has been a surfeit of riches for photographic inspiration, from the very fabric of Brackenbury’s old houses, the pub on our doorstep and of course Ravenscourt Park, which I’ve captured through the seasons.

Actually, we’re not going far at all. It’s a change of postcode, not country, and no doubt we’ll pop back regularly. But you have to live and breathe a neighbourhood to feel part of its fabric.

Our new place in the world will no doubt provide fresh material for my camera lens. Until then, here’s a brief homage to this slither of London W6.

Gallery entrance

 Click first image for the full gallery experience

Our local

Our local pub is called The Anglesea Arms. It’s literally across the road and is usually a warm hive of activity.

A few months ago, it suddenly closed its doors and became lifeless with no explanation, apart from vague signs stating “closed for works”. But the building was empty and locked up.

Suddenly those works burst to life and the pub was being spruced up ahead of springing back into existence. While the Anglesea was waiting to be reopened, I took some photographs of its pristine white and navy blue shell in the bright sunlight.

Click first image to launch the gallery

Plenty of people turned out to welcome back their local pub when it reopened. It was given little more than a rejuvenating lick of paint – its old character has been retained. It feels like a village pub in the middle of a city. On fine summer evenings, the lights are blazing and the place has life again. This is how it should be…

An evening at the Anglesea

The Photo Shop

Pastel parade

Light blueLilacLight yellowAquamarineGreyPale blue

A set of colourful house facades. Each different, set apart by their pastel shades. Some of the window sills have iron decorations, others are plain and simple. The yellow house even has some plants outside the windows, while the curtains are drawn across the light grey house’s windows.

Despite these differences, there is something curiously uniform about these six house fronts. This pretty row sits very close to my home in Hammersmith, west London. The houses prompt you to stop and look at their genteel, candied loveliness.

Wingate Road also has another gem on the corner – a lovely pub called the Anglesea Arms. You might call this a traditional local watering hole, which is something to be cherished in the midst of a big city.

You can click on each of the window panels above to have a closer look

Wingate pastels