BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?

Subject: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 30 Jul 14 - 08:05 AM

just saw a picture of the Kelvingrove Art Gallery in Glasgow....stunningly beautiful!

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 30 Jul 14 - 08:40 AM

It's beautiful inside too. And a great museum.
The university's behind it, and it's very nice too.

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 30 Jul 14 - 08:53 AM

What are the chances of a link to a picture of this beautiful building?

Dave Oesterreich

---

(click) JRO ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 30 Jul 14 - 09:02 AM

Of course, 'most' is a sticky concept. In a way it has to be a matter of mood. If one feels late-Victorian-gothic-redbrick-ish, then Kelvingrove is, indeed a good contender. If one feels Between-Wars Art Deco, then maybe Broadcasting House, or Memorial Court in Clare College, Cambridge; if C17, same college's Old Court, or St Paul's; if Tudor-ish, the the Cloister Court in Queens', or if Gothic, King's Chapel is an obvious. {Oxonians will obviously produce their own, rival, list}. If it's Art Nouveau time, maybe Selfridges?

And have we, after all these years, ever outdone Stonehenge? ~~ which would probably be my #1 contender...

But may well be back with some more suggestions after a bit more thought & recollection.

≈Michael≈

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 30 Jul 14 - 09:04 AM

Uncle Dave -- I reminded myself by bringing it up on Wikipedia, where there are good pix.

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: maeve
Date: 30 Jul 14 - 09:50 AM

Kelvingrove

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: akenaton
Date: 30 Jul 14 - 10:07 AM

Sorry Al...I have been inside the "Art Galleries" many times it contains some wonderful pictures from the Glasgow School
Glasgow boys
but the building is much too ornate for my taste.

There is a story that the architect committed suicide when the building was constructed with the front facing into Kelvingrove Park and the rear entrance facing the main thoroughfare of Argyll Street. (The wrang wey roon)

The oft told story is apparently untrue!

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 30 Jul 14 - 10:08 AM

Nothing north of Watford Gap then, MtheGM?

You may have a point with Stonehenge, but surely it's a structure rather than a building?

Durham Cathedral must be up there.

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: Mo the caller
Date: 30 Jul 14 - 10:35 AM

The one that gives me a lift when I see it from the Moor is the first glimpse of Whitby Abbey. But that's setting and associations.

Not sure that any building can match natural beauty.

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 30 Jul 14 - 10:38 AM

If we're talking cathedrals, Lincoln takes a very great deal of beating, IMHO.

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 30 Jul 14 - 10:38 AM

Not sure that any building can match natural beauty

I don't think that anyone said it could, Mo. But that wasn't the question, was it?

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: GUEST, topsie
Date: 30 Jul 14 - 11:26 AM

Kelvingrove is not to my taste. The Glasgow School of Art, though, is/was stunning. I hope they manage to restore it.

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 30 Jul 14 - 11:32 AM

Made clear, Ed: wasn't trying to be exhaustive. But have also happy recollections of Durham Castle & Cathedral; Whitby Abbey; all those beautiful Georgian edifices in Edinburgh; Edinburgh Castle. Nearer home [just a few miles from where I sit, indeed], Ely Cathedral. Peterboro ditto.

And I am one of those who love the wonderfully OTT St Pancras Stn.

But there are so many beautiful, in different ways, buildings. How about we hear it for the wonderful 30 St Mary Axe ~ aka Swiss Re ~ aka The Gherkin? Always have a rise of spirit when coach from Cambridge to London carries me past that. And, waiting on Embankment to catch it home, can gaze across river to beautiful County Hall (1911-1939).

~M~

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: Mo the caller
Date: 30 Jul 14 - 11:44 AM

"Not sure that any building can match natural beauty

I don't think that anyone said it could, Mo. But that wasn't the question, was it?"

No it wasn't the question, but thinking about the question led to pondering about beauty and made me realise that that I've never thought of any building in those terms.

Motorway Bridges have a certain 'fit for purpose'-ness, I suppose.
St Georges Hall Liverpool has an ornate splendour, they had to spend their ill-gotten gains somewhere.

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 30 Jul 14 - 11:55 AM

Ah, now: If we are counting bridges:-

Severn; London; Tower; Blackfriars; Westminster; Dartford Crossing; Humber; Forth x 2 [road & rail]; Bridge of Sighs, Cambridge [St John's College]; Magdalen, Oxford ......

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 30 Jul 14 - 11:58 AM

... & with Cambridge in mind again: New Court [aka The Wedding Cake] St John's; New Court [aka The Typewriter], Christ's...

≈M≈

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: Musket
Date: 30 Jul 14 - 12:10 PM

Noticing a brewery normally warns the cockles of my heart. Any will do, except Batemans.

More seriously, Hardwick Hall does it for me. It must have been a wonder of the world when they built the new hall in Elizabethan times. All that glass.

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 30 Jul 14 - 12:21 PM

theres something very romantic about Blackpool Tower -indeed all of Blackpool has a strange bastard beauty.

you look up at the windows of the tower and you can imagine all those showbiz and musichall legends. down the road theres the oldoyster bar where my Grandma ate oysters on her honeymoon in 1903 - still in business.

down Regents Road you can see in the house where George Joseph Smith drowned one of his unlucky brides in the bath. the next morning the landlady heard him consoling himself, by drunkenly playing nearer my God to Thee on her harmonium and knocking back whisky.

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 30 Jul 14 - 12:37 PM

If we're including structures as well as buildings, I propose the majestic Lovell Telescope

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 30 Jul 14 - 01:09 PM

Basically, anything Georgian. The architects of that period had the most sublime taste and sense of proportion. Stamford, in Lincolnshire, is a Georgian gem (and quite a few others - like Bath, of course, which I am not so familiar with). But my favourite Georgian buildings of all are here in Manchester, where I live. There are little pockets of Georgian loveliness among all the horrible Victorian/20th - 21st century 'clutter'. My favourite is a little row of shops/workshops on Port Street in the Northern Quarter. Just ordinary vernacular buildings but gorgeous - and they have recently been quite tastefully restored.

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Jul 14 - 01:17 PM

Do you mean these, Shimrod?

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 30 Jul 14 - 01:22 PM

Most beautiful "building" in Britain? I vote for the Forth Bridge.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 30 Jul 14 - 01:33 PM

Drahn 'em in the barth, Al.

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: GUEST,DTM
Date: 30 Jul 14 - 01:36 PM

From Piccadilly Circus, the beauty of Regent Street's Georgian facades sweeping off in a gentle curve is a sight to behold.

Also, Eileen Donan Castle (despite its overexposure on shortbread tins, etc) is up there with the best.

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: akenaton
Date: 30 Jul 14 - 02:30 PM

Agree with Shim Georgian proportion was magnificent.
Unfortunately, here in Scotland, many of the great Georgian houses have been ruined by Victorian additions and "embellishment".
Scottish Parliament Building Edinburgh

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: Bill D
Date: 30 Jul 14 - 04:56 PM

In watching Antiques Roadshow, I have seen so many amazingly beautiful & impressive places that I'd be at a loss to choose one....and with the history of Britain, there are thousands of beautiful places that are NOT cathedrals, castles or museums.

I could easily spend years just visiting places like Mey, Balmoral & such. The US has far fewer 'classic' buildings.

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: GUEST, topsie
Date: 30 Jul 14 - 05:05 PM

If we are counting bridges, why not piers? This is Clevedon pier.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clevedon_Pier#mediaviewer/File:Clevedon_Pier_2013.jpg

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 30 Jul 14 - 05:20 PM

Hi Guest,

Yes, those are the buildings that I was referring to.

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 30 Jul 14 - 08:11 PM

I love cathedrals and I've been to a lot of 'em, though not all. We went to Hereford Cathedral a couple of years ago and were given, unexpectedly, a private guided tour by the fellow who was in charge of it (can't remember his title, wot wiv being an atheist an' all that). The Mappa Mundi is in there too. We loved it. But I also love the Mersey Funnel, aka Paddy's Wigwam, in Liverpool (the Metropolitan Cathedral). It might be a bit odd from the outside, but buildings aren't just outsides. It's the most wonderful place to sit inside and contemplate stuff, even if you're only contemplating where to get your next espresso. The light in there is glorious.

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: michaelr
Date: 31 Jul 14 - 12:56 AM

York Minster's a bit nice.

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 31 Jul 14 - 01:36 AM

And then there are railway stations. My favorite is St. Pancras. I might like King's Cross even better, but the hideous modern addition on the front ruins the building entirely. It certainly is beautiful on the outside.

Oh, and Glasgow Central Railway Station is another fascinating building.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 31 Jul 14 - 01:45 AM

But that 'hideous modern addition' is a huge functional improvement to King's Cross, Joe, and a far, far nicer place for its frequent users.

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 31 Jul 14 - 02:55 AM

Yeah, Backwoodsman, but couldn't they have made King's Cross a bit less hideous while still functional?

I like even less what they did with Euston Station.

After I tired Micca out so much he wouldn't walk with me any more, I spent a day visiting London railway stations. I really enjoyed it. Victoria and Paddington, yes: Liverpool, no.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: Musket
Date: 31 Jul 14 - 02:58 AM

I love the new Kings Cross, from a user point of view. Far better place to just miss your train than before...

I recently did some work that had me cross The Humber Bridge twice a day a couple of times a week for over a year. The approach from the south early in the morning, especially with it still lit but sunrise on it, is rather stunning to say the least.

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 31 Jul 14 - 03:02 AM

I admit I found King's Cross easy to use, and the inside is still beautiful. Platform 9-3/4 was especially memorable for this American tourist.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 31 Jul 14 - 04:37 AM

I agree Musket - the approach to Hull is glorious. it used to be even better, because there were no service stations on that stretch of motorway - so you were always dying for a wee. consequently the sight of the bridge meant that relief was not far away.

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 31 Jul 14 - 04:53 AM

Norwich Cathedral for me, followed by a smattering of Norfolk country churches, like those at Salle, Trunch, Cley-juxta-Mare, Cawston etc. happily untouched by the ravages of Victorian Gothic.

Of old, the most beautiful was Blyth Power Station, sadly no more!

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 31 Jul 14 - 06:16 AM

There are many buildings that are more aesthetically pleasing than Durham Cathedral, but when one considers when it was built, the technology available to the architects and masons at the time, it has to be (IMHO) the most pleasing building on the eye. The sheer magnificence of the structure, mainly built between 1080 and 1135 warms the heart of even this jaded atheist.

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 31 Jul 14 - 08:01 AM

Salisbury Cathedral for me, just awe inspiring.

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: Bill D
Date: 31 Jul 14 - 10:12 AM

J.K. Rowling bought Killiechassie House, near Aberfeldy , which is a candidate for place on a list of "most beautiful private homes".... and in fact, made the top 100 in someone's list.

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: Stu
Date: 31 Jul 14 - 10:21 AM

Euston Station is a box, and it's always nice to get out and into the streets of Bloomsbury.

I have several favourites. Maes Howe in Orkney is a quite incredible place, with runes and pictures carved on the inside by a party of Vikings holed up in there during a two-week (!) storm.

I too love cathedrals, and I particularly like Edinburgh for it's carvings. Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral impresses with size, but Winchester is my favourite.

Castles: Manorbeir, Stokesay and Conwy are particular favourites but I saw Carew Castle when I was a boy and the memory has never left me. Must get back there.

Aside from that: The Natural History Museum in Kensington, The Rotunda in Brum, various pubs, Villa Park.

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 31 Jul 14 - 12:42 PM

UK has many attractive buildings and homes, but Kelvingrove Gallery reminds me of some of the buildings constructed in India during the 19th century.

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: GUEST,achmelvich
Date: 31 Jul 14 - 01:51 PM

maybe like any other artwork , our enjoyment is subjective. i'm always impressed going to the bell in bath or the ceilidh place in ullapool. glasgow has kelvingrove indeed but the kibble palace at the botanic gardens moves me like nowhere else. as you go from cockermouth to loweswater (and the fabulous kirkstile inn) there is a farmhouse off the road to the left, just past scale hall, with grasmoor end in the background - just sits beautifully in the curve of the land in front of it. much better than durham cathedral that looks impressive from the outside but isn't much inside (like dunnottar castle?) i quite like the shed by the car park at achmelvich - yes, it's all subjective eventually, innit?

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 31 Jul 14 - 02:22 PM

yes, it's all subjective eventually, innit?

Well, self evidently so. I'd be grateful if you didn't type 'innit' ever again.

I like the fact that a lot of those suggesting cathedrals (myself included) are atheist. I'm also a big fan of simple chapels, such as this one near where I live: Forest Chapel, Macclesfield Forest

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: GUEST,achmelvich
Date: 31 Jul 14 - 02:43 PM

if you like the outside of a building does it matter that much what is in it?

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: Stu
Date: 31 Jul 14 - 03:48 PM

I love Forest Chapel too, especially when the rushes are strewn on the floor. And theSavage Tower in Macclesfield is a gem.

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 31 Jul 14 - 04:31 PM

I'm an atheist medieval church fiend. Here's to St Mary and St David, Kilpeck - the jewel in the crown of the Herefordshire Romanesque, circa 1140, that looks like it was carved last week. The first time I went there I was expecting Rosslyn scale palaver & gift shops - what I found was a deserted farmyard and a perfect summer day of unspoiled excellence when I had the place to myself for three hours.

Another favourite : All Saints, Tudeley for the windows alone.

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: GUEST,Ian
Date: 01 Aug 14 - 03:07 AM

The hidden gem. A Catholic Church hidden down a side street in Central Manchester. Not visible as you walk down the road until you are outside ,it hence the name. Can't remember its real name.

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: akenaton
Date: 01 Aug 14 - 03:09 AM

Achmelvich....:0)

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Aug 14 - 03:12 AM

Theres a song or a tune called Kelvingrove isnt there?

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: GUEST,achmelvich
Date: 01 Aug 14 - 03:44 AM

akenaton...?

we could suggest which of all the bars in britain is the most attractive inn. it wouldn't necessarily have to be the local but we'd have to try harder than usual to be subjective

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 01 Aug 14 - 04:30 AM

I love that bit in Hannah and her sisters where one of the sisters is going out with an architect, and there is short sequence when he takes her round some of the most beautiful buildings in New York.

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 01 Aug 14 - 05:45 AM

Guest 3 above ~~ The tune 'Kelvingrove' is the one used for the song 'The Shearing's Not For You'.

≈M≈

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 01 Aug 14 - 05:50 AM

... in BT under title - THE SHEARIN'S NAE FOR YOU, MY BONNIE LASSIE O

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: Nick
Date: 01 Aug 14 - 07:54 AM

My house. Beauty is in the eye of the freeholder.

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: GUEST, topsie
Date: 01 Aug 14 - 08:01 AM

One of my favourites is the Palm House at Kew. I used to fantasise about hiding among the ferns at closing time, and spending the night there.

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: Noreen
Date: 01 Aug 14 - 08:13 AM

Worcester Guildhall is one of the most impressive, and overlooked in this sort of discussion- particularly as it's in the middle of the High Street between Debenhams and TKMax :)

Some of the carvings are 17th century, and the gilded weaponry sparkles in the sun.

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: billybob
Date: 01 Aug 14 - 08:23 AM

St David's Cathedral, in the most perfect setting.

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 01 Aug 14 - 11:10 AM

I heard all six Brandenburg Concertos played in St David's Cathedral on a perfect late May evening in 1983. As for Achmelvich the place, that little shack of a youth hostel almost on the beach (which I haven't been to since 1976) holds great memories. Things like that matter too!

Subject: RE: BS: the most beautiful building in Britain?
From: GUEST,achmelvich
Date: 01 Aug 14 - 06:40 PM

i just watched 2 programmes on bbc 2/i-player . history of our streets about duke street in glasgow and the moray estate in edinburgh. what great tv - and history; sociology; architecture; politics etc...anyway the old tenements in scotland -especially when sandblasted - are beautiful, as are the splendid georgian terraces up there. made me very nostalgic. what is the point of living by the lakes if i can't afford the petrol money to go walking there? (yes, i know that sounds daft but i know what i mean)