Hogster
01-06-2008, 12:29 PM
Hi all :)
Decided I wanted to do some APing today whilst the weather was nice, so went back to my school and get a shot of the Belvedere Tower. You can see the Belvedere in this shot of mine from 2005:
http://www.hogster.rchomepage.com/aerial_photos/claremont_mansion_shot.jpg
Here is some history behind the main 'Mansion' building, and the Tower:
The first house on the Claremont estate was built in 1708 by Sir John Vanbrugh, the Restoration playwright and architect of Blenheim and Castle Howard, for his own use. This "very small box", as he described it, stood on the level ground in front of the present mansion. At the same time, he built the stables and the walled gardens, also probably White Cottage, which is now the Sixth Form Centre of the School.
In 1714 he sold the house to the wealthy Whig politician Thomas Pelham-Holles, Earl of Clare, who later became Duke of Newcastle and served twice as prime minister.The Earl commissioned Vanbrugh to add two great wings to the house and to build a fortress-like turret on an adjoining knoll. From this so-called "prospect-house" or Belvedere he and his guests could admire the views of the Surrey countryside as they took refreshments and played hazard, a popular dice game.
In the clear eighteenth-century air it was apparently possible to see Windsor Castle and St Paul's Cathedral. The Earl of Clare named his country seat Clare-mount, later contracted to Claremont ....
Continues here (http://www.claremont-school.co.uk/content.php?content=18&s=1)
http://www.hogster.rchomepage.com/aerial_photos/6-1-08_Belvedere_Tower.jpg
http://www.hogster.rchomepage.com/aerial_photos/6-1-08_Belvedere_Tower_2.jpg
The green path leading away from the Tower takes you down (through a gate) into the Claremont Landscape Gardens which is owned by the National Trust. The Tower belongs to the school.
Unfortunately the sun had just gone in as I started flying and didn't *really* come out again ... hence the colours here are rather dark and dreary ... I guess it gives the photos mood though :)
Cheers,
David :cool:
Decided I wanted to do some APing today whilst the weather was nice, so went back to my school and get a shot of the Belvedere Tower. You can see the Belvedere in this shot of mine from 2005:
http://www.hogster.rchomepage.com/aerial_photos/claremont_mansion_shot.jpg
Here is some history behind the main 'Mansion' building, and the Tower:
The first house on the Claremont estate was built in 1708 by Sir John Vanbrugh, the Restoration playwright and architect of Blenheim and Castle Howard, for his own use. This "very small box", as he described it, stood on the level ground in front of the present mansion. At the same time, he built the stables and the walled gardens, also probably White Cottage, which is now the Sixth Form Centre of the School.
In 1714 he sold the house to the wealthy Whig politician Thomas Pelham-Holles, Earl of Clare, who later became Duke of Newcastle and served twice as prime minister.The Earl commissioned Vanbrugh to add two great wings to the house and to build a fortress-like turret on an adjoining knoll. From this so-called "prospect-house" or Belvedere he and his guests could admire the views of the Surrey countryside as they took refreshments and played hazard, a popular dice game.
In the clear eighteenth-century air it was apparently possible to see Windsor Castle and St Paul's Cathedral. The Earl of Clare named his country seat Clare-mount, later contracted to Claremont ....
Continues here (http://www.claremont-school.co.uk/content.php?content=18&s=1)
http://www.hogster.rchomepage.com/aerial_photos/6-1-08_Belvedere_Tower.jpg
http://www.hogster.rchomepage.com/aerial_photos/6-1-08_Belvedere_Tower_2.jpg
The green path leading away from the Tower takes you down (through a gate) into the Claremont Landscape Gardens which is owned by the National Trust. The Tower belongs to the school.
Unfortunately the sun had just gone in as I started flying and didn't *really* come out again ... hence the colours here are rather dark and dreary ... I guess it gives the photos mood though :)
Cheers,
David :cool: