I often joke to friends and acquaintances that we are passing
through the gates of my house when we turn towards and drive through the
striking archway that is to be found just over half the way down Pearson Avenue
in Hull.
My first comment is quickly followed by my verbal chastising of my son,
in his absence, for leaving the gate open in the first place.
I am of course misrepresenting my ownership of the archway and doing a disservice to my son who is the most diligent of persons when it comes to home security.
The archway is one of a now very rare type: a celebratory structure which was erected in 1860 to mark the dedication and opening of Pearson Park for the use and pleasure of the citizens of Hull, East Yorkshire.
It has seen better days with some corrosion visible through faded paintwork and the original ornamental gates are no longer attached to either the main span opening or the flanking pedestrian ways. The style, a Classical Revivalist, is based on many Greek and Roman structures from the ancient world but with the main archway designed to take 19th century horse carriages rather than Cohorts, chariots and parades of prisoners. The Central span has square piers with scrolled openwork panels, pedestal bases and Corinthian capitals.
Pilasters on the inner side of the piers carry moulded round arches with keystone and decorated spandrels. There is enriched entablature with a cornice broken forward over piers. Pilasters on the outer sides of the piers have cartouches of the city arms above.
On either side, 2 panelled square piers to the pedestrian entrances have corner pilasters, plinths and cornices.
Each has a dolphin foliate finial, formerly topped with a lamp.
That description is taken from the Grade 2 Statutory Listing from the 1970’s but the erosion and general damage has taken its toll.
This is to be addressed soon as part of a major funding grant for the green space of Pearson Park and I look forward to seeing the notable building restored to all of its original glory.
If the gates are refitted I am assured of a regular source of a joke every time that I pass through in the company of others.
To update this post the side sections have just been removed this week for off-site work and the main arch has been wrapped up in readiness for its share of a £3 million grant for the wider Park area.
I am not sure, what with climate change, if we will have an opportunity to see the archway in this type of wonderful Seasonal setting.
I am of course misrepresenting my ownership of the archway and doing a disservice to my son who is the most diligent of persons when it comes to home security.
The archway is one of a now very rare type: a celebratory structure which was erected in 1860 to mark the dedication and opening of Pearson Park for the use and pleasure of the citizens of Hull, East Yorkshire.
It has seen better days with some corrosion visible through faded paintwork and the original ornamental gates are no longer attached to either the main span opening or the flanking pedestrian ways. The style, a Classical Revivalist, is based on many Greek and Roman structures from the ancient world but with the main archway designed to take 19th century horse carriages rather than Cohorts, chariots and parades of prisoners. The Central span has square piers with scrolled openwork panels, pedestal bases and Corinthian capitals.
Pilasters on the inner side of the piers carry moulded round arches with keystone and decorated spandrels. There is enriched entablature with a cornice broken forward over piers. Pilasters on the outer sides of the piers have cartouches of the city arms above.
On either side, 2 panelled square piers to the pedestrian entrances have corner pilasters, plinths and cornices.
Each has a dolphin foliate finial, formerly topped with a lamp.
That description is taken from the Grade 2 Statutory Listing from the 1970’s but the erosion and general damage has taken its toll.
This is to be addressed soon as part of a major funding grant for the green space of Pearson Park and I look forward to seeing the notable building restored to all of its original glory.
If the gates are refitted I am assured of a regular source of a joke every time that I pass through in the company of others.
To update this post the side sections have just been removed this week for off-site work and the main arch has been wrapped up in readiness for its share of a £3 million grant for the wider Park area.
I am not sure, what with climate change, if we will have an opportunity to see the archway in this type of wonderful Seasonal setting.
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