Dr James Alexander Cameron
@drjacameron.stainedglassattitudes.com
Freelance art and architectural historian with focus on English medieval churches but love poking around all buildings. Lecturer at V&A Academy and tours for Martin Randall Travel.
www.stainedglassattitudes.com
https://ko-fi.com/stainedglassattitudes
www.stainedglassattitudes.com
https://ko-fi.com/stainedglassattitudes
this picture sums up quite well a visit to St Stephen's cloister with the whips
November 15, 2025 at 9:44 PM
this picture sums up quite well a visit to St Stephen's cloister with the whips
Case in point: the 1526-9 fan vaulted cloisters of St Stephen's College were always used as the whips' offices. Not been in since 2017 before they stated restoration so not sure what's in there these days. But it was always very weird going in there.
November 15, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Case in point: the 1526-9 fan vaulted cloisters of St Stephen's College were always used as the whips' offices. Not been in since 2017 before they stated restoration so not sure what's in there these days. But it was always very weird going in there.
and really what happened to Paris Cathedral isn't a great comparison: that was poor site safety during a restoration project that destroyed the roof structure. A fire here would destroy countless of Barry and Pugin's interiors, attached paintings and relief carvings. It would be a massive loss.
November 15, 2025 at 9:20 PM
and really what happened to Paris Cathedral isn't a great comparison: that was poor site safety during a restoration project that destroyed the roof structure. A fire here would destroy countless of Barry and Pugin's interiors, attached paintings and relief carvings. It would be a massive loss.
Thankfully they lifted that to boost slumping visiting numbers when COVID was stopping international travel. You now can take photos, except in the museum in the galleries over the ambulatory (which costs an extra £5).
So you can't take pics like these:
So you can't take pics like these:
November 14, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Thankfully they lifted that to boost slumping visiting numbers when COVID was stopping international travel. You now can take photos, except in the museum in the galleries over the ambulatory (which costs an extra £5).
So you can't take pics like these:
So you can't take pics like these:
documented from 1281-2. there's a whole bit about it in BAACT 2017
November 13, 2025 at 10:22 PM
documented from 1281-2. there's a whole bit about it in BAACT 2017
the TTB-Atherton (again!) drawing has a lot of information in it
November 13, 2025 at 9:27 PM
the TTB-Atherton (again!) drawing has a lot of information in it
as it is, Westminster Palace and Abbey sits on a gravel terrace deposit of the Thames over alluvium (which in turn is over bedrock, such as it is, of London Clay).
A gifted building platform near London if you can't pump out concrete or drive down piles: but of course vulnerable to sea level rise.
A gifted building platform near London if you can't pump out concrete or drive down piles: but of course vulnerable to sea level rise.
November 13, 2025 at 8:52 PM
as it is, Westminster Palace and Abbey sits on a gravel terrace deposit of the Thames over alluvium (which in turn is over bedrock, such as it is, of London Clay).
A gifted building platform near London if you can't pump out concrete or drive down piles: but of course vulnerable to sea level rise.
A gifted building platform near London if you can't pump out concrete or drive down piles: but of course vulnerable to sea level rise.
But Tim Tatton-Brown has always pushed back against MOLA on this: that the upper E-flowing "tributary" of the Tyburn was dug in the 10/11thc to irrigate the Abbey. And that "Thorney Island" never really existed.
November 13, 2025 at 8:52 PM
But Tim Tatton-Brown has always pushed back against MOLA on this: that the upper E-flowing "tributary" of the Tyburn was dug in the 10/11thc to irrigate the Abbey. And that "Thorney Island" never really existed.
Been thinking about this (sorry): here's an interesting page on the classic view of Thorney Island being naturally completely surrounded by water with the Tyburn bifurcating east (the main tributary flows south to Vauxhall Bridge) to go around it.
molarchaeology.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Cascade...
molarchaeology.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Cascade...
November 13, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Been thinking about this (sorry): here's an interesting page on the classic view of Thorney Island being naturally completely surrounded by water with the Tyburn bifurcating east (the main tributary flows south to Vauxhall Bridge) to go around it.
molarchaeology.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Cascade...
molarchaeology.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Cascade...
well same exposed bedrock alongside the Avon cut. The Abbey was initially built of gritstone from Brandon Hill, the post 1298 E arm is faced with Dundry Limestone. Though the lower parts of the Elder Lady Chapel (in building 1218x22) are faced with Brandon gritstone
November 12, 2025 at 10:11 PM
well same exposed bedrock alongside the Avon cut. The Abbey was initially built of gritstone from Brandon Hill, the post 1298 E arm is faced with Dundry Limestone. Though the lower parts of the Elder Lady Chapel (in building 1218x22) are faced with Brandon gritstone
again as far as I understand they quarried it from the River Wear gorge because it's easier to go in sideways than down, and ruin a perfect platform. Of course they have the problem with the eastern extension doing the Swamp Castle thing as the slope behind the cathedral is Quaternary deposits.
November 12, 2025 at 9:05 PM
again as far as I understand they quarried it from the River Wear gorge because it's easier to go in sideways than down, and ruin a perfect platform. Of course they have the problem with the eastern extension doing the Swamp Castle thing as the slope behind the cathedral is Quaternary deposits.
Salisbury Cathedral's foundations down to the gravel terrace are good! As long as the aquifer doesn't get dehydrated it's the perfect building platform for a large masonry building! That they then pushed to its limit by building the world's largest masonry spire on top of, but that's another issue.
November 12, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Salisbury Cathedral's foundations down to the gravel terrace are good! As long as the aquifer doesn't get dehydrated it's the perfect building platform for a large masonry building! That they then pushed to its limit by building the world's largest masonry spire on top of, but that's another issue.
For the (proverbial) record I'm weird with both Saxon and Accept I like their later material more. also love U.D.O. and would have preferred him doing a set of his solo material than all of Balls to the Wall. Still, getting that and a blast of speed metal perennial Fast as a Shark, can't quibble.
![curtain call for Dirkschneider
Andrey Smirnov (guitar), Peter Baltes (bassist and until 2018 original bassist for Accept) [doing heart sign with hands], Sven Dirkschneider (drums), Udo Dirkschneider (vocals), Dee Dammers (guitar)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4dgydito7sq5a5vzdsro3ve4/bafkreiegbeaopetacv3kenpjvn57zjzcw35aplfl6u5l74yubxodzwxxqm@jpeg)
November 8, 2025 at 11:27 PM
For the (proverbial) record I'm weird with both Saxon and Accept I like their later material more. also love U.D.O. and would have preferred him doing a set of his solo material than all of Balls to the Wall. Still, getting that and a blast of speed metal perennial Fast as a Shark, can't quibble.
this Saxon tour shirt was cool but no way was I paying 35 quid for it (I didn't even pay full price for the concert, I bagged a reduced return a few days ago)
Also weird, who did the cover art for their first album SAXON (1979)?? Seems they bought it outright from an agency. Nobody seems to know.
Also weird, who did the cover art for their first album SAXON (1979)?? Seems they bought it outright from an agency. Nobody seems to know.
November 8, 2025 at 9:56 PM
this Saxon tour shirt was cool but no way was I paying 35 quid for it (I didn't even pay full price for the concert, I bagged a reduced return a few days ago)
Also weird, who did the cover art for their first album SAXON (1979)?? Seems they bought it outright from an agency. Nobody seems to know.
Also weird, who did the cover art for their first album SAXON (1979)?? Seems they bought it outright from an agency. Nobody seems to know.
The Apollo is where I saw my first concert (Tool Lateralus tour 2001, lore fans) but seems to have not been used for standing stalls gigs for a while
Anyway, Udo Dirkschneider opened for Saxon with all of Balls to the Wall, with actual Balls which was a nice touch. And of course: London Leatherboys!
Anyway, Udo Dirkschneider opened for Saxon with all of Balls to the Wall, with actual Balls which was a nice touch. And of course: London Leatherboys!
November 8, 2025 at 9:20 PM
The Apollo is where I saw my first concert (Tool Lateralus tour 2001, lore fans) but seems to have not been used for standing stalls gigs for a while
Anyway, Udo Dirkschneider opened for Saxon with all of Balls to the Wall, with actual Balls which was a nice touch. And of course: London Leatherboys!
Anyway, Udo Dirkschneider opened for Saxon with all of Balls to the Wall, with actual Balls which was a nice touch. And of course: London Leatherboys!
Back in the spectacular art deco Manchester Apollo (G2 listed) for first time in nearly 20 years for Saxon doing all of 1980 album Wheels of Steel, with NWOBHM legend Brian Tatler of Diamond Head on guitar.
Wish they had being doing the album behind them here though, as that's my favourite
Wish they had being doing the album behind them here though, as that's my favourite
November 8, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Back in the spectacular art deco Manchester Apollo (G2 listed) for first time in nearly 20 years for Saxon doing all of 1980 album Wheels of Steel, with NWOBHM legend Brian Tatler of Diamond Head on guitar.
Wish they had being doing the album behind them here though, as that's my favourite
Wish they had being doing the album behind them here though, as that's my favourite
George also did a good job on the medieval N front of Westminster Hall, which at the time was surrounded by a construction site following the 1834 fire, with an opportunity for new artworks inside: the opportunity that he's sending up with great glee.
November 5, 2025 at 11:08 PM
George also did a good job on the medieval N front of Westminster Hall, which at the time was surrounded by a construction site following the 1834 fire, with an opportunity for new artworks inside: the opportunity that he's sending up with great glee.
Cruikshank's text accompanying the cartoon (of the fictitious cartoon) which in itself parodies history painters and their idea they are copying "from life". possibly over-explains the joke but I still think it's funny
November 5, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Cruikshank's text accompanying the cartoon (of the fictitious cartoon) which in itself parodies history painters and their idea they are copying "from life". possibly over-explains the joke but I still think it's funny
For Guy Fawkes' Night, a cartoon of an enormous cartoon of The Guy Himself, pumped up to Buttlord GT proportions, which is too big to fit through Westminster Hall N porch
A parody of grand classical history painting (such as B.R. Haydon) by George Cruikshank, printed in The Comic Almanack July 1844
A parody of grand classical history painting (such as B.R. Haydon) by George Cruikshank, printed in The Comic Almanack July 1844
November 5, 2025 at 10:36 PM
For Guy Fawkes' Night, a cartoon of an enormous cartoon of The Guy Himself, pumped up to Buttlord GT proportions, which is too big to fit through Westminster Hall N porch
A parody of grand classical history painting (such as B.R. Haydon) by George Cruikshank, printed in The Comic Almanack July 1844
A parody of grand classical history painting (such as B.R. Haydon) by George Cruikshank, printed in The Comic Almanack July 1844
tried to look at anything in China? Maddening because the aerial imagery is offset from the road maps. well, at least I'm not driving there. Note here a lot of the roads are in the river tributary and how all the junctions and main roads are like 750m SE
November 3, 2025 at 11:08 PM
tried to look at anything in China? Maddening because the aerial imagery is offset from the road maps. well, at least I'm not driving there. Note here a lot of the roads are in the river tributary and how all the junctions and main roads are like 750m SE
would love to have intel on what data the big G have ready to process. alas. no idea.
And intrigued how they captured Hong Kong (and a bit opposite Pearl River delta estuary) alone in China. Seems to be as it's exempt from the CGJ/WGS problem that makes satellite imagery vs maps offset in the PRC.
And intrigued how they captured Hong Kong (and a bit opposite Pearl River delta estuary) alone in China. Seems to be as it's exempt from the CGJ/WGS problem that makes satellite imagery vs maps offset in the PRC.
November 3, 2025 at 11:06 PM
would love to have intel on what data the big G have ready to process. alas. no idea.
And intrigued how they captured Hong Kong (and a bit opposite Pearl River delta estuary) alone in China. Seems to be as it's exempt from the CGJ/WGS problem that makes satellite imagery vs maps offset in the PRC.
And intrigued how they captured Hong Kong (and a bit opposite Pearl River delta estuary) alone in China. Seems to be as it's exempt from the CGJ/WGS problem that makes satellite imagery vs maps offset in the PRC.
Something like lil' Chaldon (the one with the famous Hell painting on the W wall) looks amazing though.
maps.app.goo.gl/Rx819dSYgUtz...
maps.app.goo.gl/Rx819dSYgUtz...
November 3, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Something like lil' Chaldon (the one with the famous Hell painting on the W wall) looks amazing though.
maps.app.goo.gl/Rx819dSYgUtz...
maps.app.goo.gl/Rx819dSYgUtz...
it looks like old data they've only got round to processing, similar date as the stuff that was already up. The southern stuff for instance has very poor fidelity.
November 3, 2025 at 5:45 PM
it looks like old data they've only got round to processing, similar date as the stuff that was already up. The southern stuff for instance has very poor fidelity.
yeah I was right with that, a huge chunk of S England between London and the S coast, and filling in some gaps along the latter. past noon EST on a Monday so they've updated.
November 3, 2025 at 5:20 PM
yeah I was right with that, a huge chunk of S England between London and the S coast, and filling in some gaps along the latter. past noon EST on a Monday so they've updated.
though it does seem mere hours before air they added Statuary Marble behind Trump in the shower scene. Or maybe they just guessed that's the sort of shower he liked?
kind of incredible I'm still watching this stupid show with two guys doing funny voices going on nearly three decades now
kind of incredible I'm still watching this stupid show with two guys doing funny voices going on nearly three decades now
November 1, 2025 at 10:47 PM
though it does seem mere hours before air they added Statuary Marble behind Trump in the shower scene. Or maybe they just guessed that's the sort of shower he liked?
kind of incredible I'm still watching this stupid show with two guys doing funny voices going on nearly three decades now
kind of incredible I'm still watching this stupid show with two guys doing funny voices going on nearly three decades now