2015

SP2864 : Southeast on Swan Street, Warwick

taken 9 years ago, near to Warwick, Warwickshire, England

Southeast on Swan Street, Warwick
Southeast on Swan Street, Warwick
The only real street of shops in the town centre, seen before nine on a sunny May morning. Not all shops: on the right is Warwick Conservative Club – though some would say that the Conservative Party is a policy and peerage shop.
The centre of Warwick

Warwick is among the smallest of Britain's county towns. Had it not been for the Great Fire of Warwick in 1694, the centre of the town today might look like Stratford-upon-Avon or Henley-in-Arden with their abundant black-and-white timber-framed buildings. The fire began in a baker's shop (as did the Great Fire of London) and spread rapidly. It caused damage estimated at £90,000 and made 250 families homeless. In the Georgian period the centre of the town was rebuilt in brick and stone; some street lines were altered. Old Square, for example, was laid out to provide a better approach and setting for St Mary's Church. Further changes were brought about by the extension of Warwick Castle gardens.

Much of St Mary's Church had been destroyed in the Great Fire. Completed around 1394 it succeeded a Norman foundation which in all likelihood replaced a Saxon church. After the fire St Mary's was rebuilt in stone quarried from the churchyard although the planned tower, showing early signs of failure, was rebuilt to the west in a harder sandstone from nearby Shrewley. The siting creates a focal point in the views down Northgate Street and up Church Street. The church was completed by 1706, a light and lofty Georgian interpretation of the mediaeval style. The tower at 53 metres high (174 feet) is both a landmark and a fine viewpoint.


Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright Robin Stott and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Geographical Context: Lowlands Business, Retail, Services City, Town centre Place: Warwick other tags: Postcode Area CV34 Shopping Street Click a tag, to view other nearby images.
This photo is linked from: Automatic Clusters: · Warwick [1170] · Century [696] · Street [425] ·
1:50,000 Modern Day Landranger(TM) Map © Crown Copyright
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1:50,000 Modern Day Landranger(TM) Map © Crown Copyright
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Grid Square
SP2864, 1357 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
Robin Stott   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Wednesday, 13 May, 2015   (more nearby)
Submitted
Wednesday, 30 September, 2015
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SP 2812 6485 [10m precision]
WGS84: 52:16.8648N 1:35.3541W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SP 2811 6487
View Direction
South-southeast (about 157 degrees)
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Image classification(about): Geograph
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