Friday, April 8, 2011

Roupell Street Revisted


I know dear readers that I owe you a recap on the Chateau de Gourdon sale, but the sale with its ups and downs has left me a bit cold for the moment. Not to worry kids... I don't think it is terminal. After a long week of advising and with winter still refusing to release its icy grip on the city my mind drifts to a pleasant discovery on my recent trip to London... Roupell Street. I was there two weeks ago and was blessed with almost spring-like weather. An old friend insisted we walk along the Thames on our way to the Tate Modern. It was on this stroll from Waterloo Station that I happened upon the charming houses of Roupell Street with their irreverently colorful doors.


The street and the surrounding blocks were developed in the 1820s by gold refiner John Palmer Roupell as affordable housing for artisan workers. The block is charming in an almost Dickensian sense but a feeling of baroque surprise came with the passage of every smartly appointed door.

















Do go the next time you are in London it is guaranteed to put a spring in your step before you confront the towering monolith that is the Tate.



3 comments:

  1. Hello:
    This post, which is beautifully illustrated [and we love all of the doors] brings back so many memories of living in south London before we finally decamped to Brighton and Budapest. Tate Modern, both the building [yes, monolithic] and contents are favourites with us and we should certainly recommend them to any visitor. The vibrancy of the entrance hall is unforgettable.
    New to blogging, we are delighted to have come across your blog and have signed up as Followers to ensure that we see future posts.

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  2. Oh, many thanks it was a joy to discover such and enchanting little haven... a true delight to find something "new".

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  3. Hooray hooray hooray for the jewel toned doors of Roupel street!

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