Hepworth Gallery, Wakefield July '11

28 July 2013: We visited Wakefield to see the Barbara Hepworth gallery - designed by David Chipperfield. This is largely in in-situ concrete (of exceptional quality) and is situated over the river Calder, south of the city centre. 

All the main displays are on one level, and most of the lower floor is for conservation and storage areas.


Most people approach the gallery from the north, on the footbridge over the Calder.


The windows are organised to give the best views with seemingly frameless fixing of the glass.

For more info about the gallery, see:

http://www.hepworthwakefield.org/

Fountains Abbey July '11

27 July 2011: We took a long weekend in Yorkshire (staying the night in Harrogate) , and started with a drive to Fountains Abbey near Ripon. This cistercian abbey was one of the largest monasteries in the North, and seemed to be the main node for the regional economy, health, education etc. It is difficult to believe that such cultural destruction could have occurred, but greed combined with despotic level of power knows no bounds. 

Apart from the main Abbey, the supporting outbuildings extend for a very long way. The residential population must have been huge.


Fountains has extensive grounds with the Georgian Water garden of Studley Royal.


Some kind visitor offered to take our picture


Nave interior


The small village buildings nearby are undoubtedly built from stones quarried from the Abbey.