Wednesday 6 February 2008

Letter from Leicestershire

A whole day out in High Leicestershire, rummaging about in wet muddy lanes. I've known about these red gates with the top rail painted white since I was I boy, when I cycled out into the countryside around Hungarton just to annoy my brother whilst he was hedge laying, or chucking manure about the fields with the aid of a little grey Ferguson. But today I noticed this curious fastening on the double gates, and on closer inspection realised that instead of it being some convoluted addition to secure the gates to each other, it was in fact a letter 'Q'. The red and white gates have always been associated with the Quenby Hall estate, pastoral acres surrounding what is one of the finest Jacobean houses in the county. What a brilliant but subtle way to announce ownership, rather than the usual mindless corporate image for some agro-industrial complex that often has the adjunct 'keep out' next to it. I fear yet another collection coming on- A Country ABC. Well, at least I've got one of the hardest, although I expect 'Z' is going to prove somewhat elusive.

8 comments:

alastair fox said...

zoo - twycross.

Fred Fibonacci said...

Zennor, Cornwall. Do I get a royalty?

Diplomate said...

is there not a Z on the Zebra house at Burrough ? Any how estate gates:

Maroon & White on Sir Gerald Glover's patch at Draughton.

Grey & White at Burrough Court Estates ( all over Rutland ).

Dark Green & White at Cottersbrooke.

I'll mull that one over and see if any more come to mind.

Peter Ashley said...

Diplo's got the right idea. It has to be a letter on its own, like the Quenby gate. But it doesn't necessarily have to be an actual letter, but maybe something like a drainpipe falling down from guttering with a galvanised chicken feeder as the baseline. If you get my meaning.

Toby Savage said...

Ahah. The Metaphor in Photography. Taught it for years. Try asking any ex De Montfort University Media student. Probably shoving leaflets through your letterbox this very moment. A great future blah blah blah.

Fred Fibonacci said...

Right. I'm paying attention now. Gates, ownership, symbol thereof. Nothing going on here. Must try harder.

Ron Combo said...

Try asking any former Demont student about The Great Explorer's lectures and if the're females they get all giggly and start blushing. Glamour shots, anyone?

Peter Ashley said...

Too right Ron. Let's have glam shots of De Montfort students draped over farm gates.