The Church Of The Transfiguration – Sandbanks

Posted on by modernmoocher

Chaddesley Glen Poole BH13 7PF

We are a small Anglican parish situated on the south coast of England between Bournemouth and Poole in the county of Dorset, which is part of the Church of England Diocese of Salisbury. We hope that this site may help you to gain a flavour of what we have to offer. We enjoy wonderful views across Poole Harbour – the second largest natural harbour in the world after Sydney, to the Purbeck Hills, as well as some of the best beaches in the country.

The two churches in the Parish are the Parish Church of the Transfiguration, and the Chapel of St. Nicolas. Both churches are open every day during daylight hours for quiet contemplation and prayer.

The Parish of Candford Cliffs and Sandbanks

The Church of the Transfiguration is one of the youngest ecclesiastical buildings in the county, having been built during 1962-5 to a design by Lionel Gregory, who was also responsible for an interesting industrial unit in the nearby Nuffield Industrial estate.

When Sir Nikolaus Pevsner visited the church, which cannot have been long after it was built, he observed that it was.

A bungaloid church, the exact ecclesiastical equivalent of Dunromin and Thistledo, with crazy-paved walling and saw-toothed dormers.

It is certainly true that the walls are clad in crazy-paved walling and the dormers are saw-toothed, but this was a little unfair.

Robin Adeney ©

It’s a long way from The Church of the Transfiguration in Dakar

DOS Architects

I was wandering from Bournemouth to Poole along the coastal path, espying the church from Shore Road, I went to have a look.

This is what I saw, set amongst the meta mansions of the deserving rich.

Penrhyn Bay – Again And Again

Posted on by modernmoocher

Here we are again again.

Baby it happens when you’re close to me
My heart starts beating – hey a strong beat.
Oh I can’t leave you alone
Can’t leave you alone

I walk over the Little Orme and there you are so well behaved – trimmed topped and tailed polished window washed windswept so sub-urbane.

Nothing ever happens here or does it?

The highly popular singing duo Anne Ziegler and Webster Booth retired to a small bungalow in Penrhyn Bay.

It provided a location for an episode of  Hetty Wainthropp Investigates. 

Originally a small farming community, Penrhyn Bay came to rely heavily on the employment opportunities of the limestone quarry operating since the mid-19th century, and served by its own narrow gauge railway, but quarrying ceased in 1936.

However, Penrhyn Bay expanded rapidly in the 20th century to become a desirable suburb of Llandudno – my you’re a hot property.

Almost half a million pounds and counting as the ever mounting mountain of retiring and retired knock upon your over ornate uPVC doors.

So here we are, as the rain clears and the sun almost breaks – your carefully rendered and stone clad walls, not quite awash with a golden midday glow.

Just like Arnie and General McArthur I’ll be back – I shall return.

Return To Penrhyn Bay

Posted on by modernmoocher

Then the very next morning it came right back to me.

She wrote upon it:

Return to Penrhyn Bay – so I dutifully did

This is the land of the well-behaved bungalow, neatly tended, conscientiously swept, accessorised by B&Q.

The stoic sea and wind washed link-detached semi.

Nothing is out of place, except perhaps the architectural style – a West Coast blow in on the North Wales Coast.

To wander is to wonder:

Where is that large automobile?
And you may tell yourself
This is not my beautiful house!
And you may tell yourself
This is not my beautiful wife!