Scanning the dull granite skies did not look promising today, so I scanned the next half dozen of Charles Keeping’s sinuous line illustrations to Charles Dickens’s ‘Martin Chuzzlewit’, followed by colour slides of a visit to Nunhead Cemetery on a much brighter day in September 2008.
‘An anxious shade came upon his contented face when his glance encountered the dull brow of his companion’
‘I am the most miserable man in the world’
‘Fresh horses came and went and came again’
‘In the throats and maws of dark no-thoroughfares near Todgers’s’ gives the artist an opportunity to display his perfectly receding perspective in an accurate presentation of a cramped warehouse scene of the period.
‘Down they came directly, singing as they came’
‘Cuffey fell back into a dark corner’
Nunhead Cemetery is one of ‘The Magnificent Seven’ and managed by the local authority, Southwark Borough Council.
My post ‘Council Housing’ describes the policies of the 1980s that led to the transfer of the
West Lodge to private ownership. When Southwark Council bought the cemetery for £1 in 1976 both East and West Lodges were derelict. The West one was refurbished to provide council accommodation. The tenant bought the property at a reduced price under the ‘Right to Buy’ scheme, and subsequently sold it at its true market value.
Refurbishment of the octagonal chapel was also required. At the time of my visit with writer John Turpin
the gate, for example, had been renewed, but it was still without a roof.
A sensitively sculpted angel was garlanded with ivy.
The afternoon, although still cool and breezy, brightened considerably. Jackie attended to water features while I cleared up clippings and took them to the compost bins.
Later we dined on the Culinary Queen’s spicy pasta arrabbiata and tender runner beans, with which she drank Hoegaarden and I drank Hardy’s Endeavour Cabernet Shiraz 2020
You put your dull day to good use 🙂
I’m glad you think so, Anne. Thanks very much
The warehouse drawing is my favorite, followed by that of the horses. The line “I am the most miserable man in the world” made me laugh, simply because it reminded me of that old commercial for Dos Equis beer that featured “the most interesting man in the world.”
Even roofless, the chapel is beautiful.
Thank you very much, Linda. You have picked my two favourite drawings. In the 13 years since our visit they may, perhaps have put a roof on.
The architecture of the old churches is so beautiful, I love them. 😊
Thank you very much, John
Some very handsome doors there
🙂 Thanks a lot, Sheree
So much motion and emotion in those drawings. That angel does have a very expressive face.
Thank you so much, Merril
Wonderful, wonderful photo of the angel with the ivy! Soulful and moody.
Thank you very much, Laurie
Beautiful photos today, Derrick. The dull skies seemed to work in your favor today.
I’m pleased you think so, Jill. Thank you very much
So incredibly beautiful,I love architecture.
Thank you very much, More.
You’re welcome
Your observation on the right to buy event did not improve my rather gloomy mood on a very gloomy day.
You are the only reader to have picked that up, Tootlepedal. Sorry to have increased your gloom, but thank you for your comments.
Well there is a coincidence. I was there today with Dog and daughter!! Still stunning…
Yet another of our overlaps, Geoff. Amazing. Thanks very much.
I love your very apt description of Keeping’s ‘sinuous line illustrations’!
This fascinating post and your beautiful photographs encouraged me to research Nunhead cemetery further.
Such wonderful architecture and so much positive hope wrapped up in the ornate buildings and statues there.
I do wonder if planned work to the East Lodge has now been completed. It sounds as though this was in the hands of architects as recently as last November, in which case the building’s shell would have been in a sorry state for a very long time. Thank goodness for groups such as the ‘Friends of Nunhead Cemetery’ and the work they do to preserve our treasures for all to enjoy.
I’m pleased you were prompted to explore further, Emma – and give me a bit of an update, because I’ll never be able to visit these plots in person again 🙂 The Friends of all seven cemeteries do a good job. I’m pleased you agree about Keeping. Thanks very much.
Let’s hope that at last the future for the beautiful East Lodge is promising – It sounds as though there are now exciting, funded plans for a cafe, and facilities for events & community groups 🙂
Thanks again
Beautiful Illustrations and architecture shares Derrick.. Thank you.. 🙂
And thank you for visiting and commenting, Sue
<3 🙂
As befitting his name, Mr. Slyme certainly looks dissolute in the Keeping illustration! My favorite photo out of this group is the angel statue. She is just beautiful.
Certainly a beautifully modelled statue and, by contrast, a very slimy character portrait, Liz. Thanks very much
You’re welcome, Derrick. I did get a kick out of seeing the character name. It reminded me a early fiction workshops when our professor admonished us budding writers not to try to get cute and go all Dickensian with the character names.
🙂
Stunning photography sir.
Thanks very much, Gary.
I like the roofless chapel windows and gates, and love the angel with ivy garland. It seems like a place I would want to stay in for a while.
It is a splendid cemetery in need of much care, JoAnna. Thanks very much
my goodness, you had rain too. So many of us dealt with a rainy wet day. Good thing we don’t shrink. We can get wet, but aside from being wet.. nothing else changes. =^_^=
Thank you very much, Q. We are due a fine day today.
I love Charles Keeping’s illustrations! What a keen observer of the human condition!
The cemetery has an interesting history, Derrick. I also like that beautiful statue with the ivy garland.
Thank you very much, Lavinia.
Keeping’s inimitable illustrations are a joy to behold at. The architectural beauty of the cemetery and structures in the vicinity have been captured with passion. The angel wearing the garland of ivy is a beautiful photo.
Thank you so much for your thorough comments, Uma
I recently watched Grand Designs, I think channel four. There was a fantastic refurb/rebuild of a cemetery lodge that was a little way inside the cemetery and not on the edge. The lodge had large extensions outwards and a massive basement was created, it was pure luxury and the owner’s building costs were an absolute fortune, but I couldn’t help wondering how well it would sell in the future.
Thanks very much, Sue. I guess you would love or dread the location.
I wouldn’t mind the location, I think! The house I saw was so over the top in its refurbishment. I think it was in London but I can’t swear to that.
What a beautiful angel 😍
Isn’t she! Thanks very much, Ribana
I heartily agree, and the ivy is just the perfect touch.
Exactly!
I swear I didn’t put the ivy there 🙂
Me thinks thou protesteth too much
🙂
What happened to the East Lodge?
You knew I would give you an elephant stamp for your wine choice, didn’t you.
Jackie that pasta sauce, and puttanesca are among my favourites.
I did, Yvonne. Thank you very much from us both. We had to look up puttanesca 🙂
I think you folks would like that sauce. And, did you discover the origin of the word?
I went back to look – like the French Putin or the Russian KGB man.
Not quite! Try puttana … Italian.
My mistake – I missed out the a in the French word – probably because I always think of it re Putin of Russian 🙂
Love the horses and the singing girls illustrations! 🙂
The architecture in the cemetery is so beautiful! If walls, gates, arches, etc. could talk…imagine the stories they could tell of so many year.
The angel with her ivy bring joy-tears to my eyes. 🙂
Did the gray skies produce rain?!
(((HUGS))) 🙂
Thanks very much, Carolyn. A little rain only, but really windy until after lunch. X
Right to Buy – What a disaster!
Indeed. Thanks very much, Andrew
You have such an eye for an image and a feeling for words. The use of ‘sinuous’ to describe the illustrations is so spot on.
Thank you very much, Libre. I appreciate these comments.
The illustrations are so detailed and humorous! And your photos are lovely, really capturing the “feel.”
Thanks very much, Luanne
That angel’s face is just mesmerizing
The perfect word, Rose. Thanks very much
I have enjoyed this set of Keeping’s excellent illustrations, Derrick. The cemetery photos and the chapel are also very well done, especially the black and white ones.
Your comments are much appreciated, Dolly. Thank you, as always
My pleasure, Derrick.
Your posts are so refreshing. Nature, books, and a meal with wine. Exceptional configuration.