Architectural Accessories in Motion
From the chime of bells to the flicker of glowing street lamps - these dynamic details animate the built environment, connecting architecture to daily and seasonal rhythms.
Signs of the Seasons
The often-overlooked details of architecture are what bring structures to life. From a weather vane turning with the wind to a warm hearth burning within, such elements root buildings in their surroundings, the weather, the time of day and the community.
Coloured drawing of bell arrangements, St. Peter's Church, Frimley, Surrey (1930) by John Taylor & Co.The Blower Foundation
Ringing across the Roofs
Bells connect architecture to the community through sound. Their resonant chimes drift through villages and towns, marking shared hours, ceremonies and seasons. Cast by John Taylor & Co., the last major bellfoundry in Britain, these instruments combine craftsmanship with innovation.
Mechanisms such as the stay and slider give bell ringers precise control. Here we see a simple swinging mechanism in which the bell strikes its clapper when a rope is pulled, creating a chime. Despite industrialisation and changes in society, the tradition of bell ringing endures.
Drawing of west elevation showing bell cote, St. John's Church, Farnham, Surrey (1915) by Stedman, AJThe Blower Foundation
Deliberately perched atop buildings such as chapels and public halls, bells project both sound and symbolism across the rooftops. Their ring carries with it a spirit of goodwill, peace and shared celebration.
Pencil drawing of junction between The Borough and Castle Street, Farnham, Surrey (1950) by Alywin, GThe Blower Foundation
The Glow after Dark
Light fittings transform architecture at dusk, marking thresholds between public and private, indoors and outdoors. Until the 1950s gas lamps lined the streets, seen here in Farnham, their soft glow responding to the dimming of the day and illuminating façades and footpaths.
Drawing of gates and drive lights for a private home, Tilford, Surrey (1980) by Gradidge & BlowerThe Blower Foundation
Positioned at gateways and drives, wrought iron lanterns crown stone pillars, mediating between street and home. Designed to frame an entranceway, they guide movement, transforming architecture into something both visible and welcoming.
Indoors, light becomes ornament. A triple pendant fitting (wrought iron suspending frosted glass lamps) softened the Gothic interior of St James’ Church. Their electric lights allow for interiors to remain inviting in the absence of daylight, at the convenience of a switch.
Coloured drawing of Town Hall building with weather vane and clock, Farnham, Surrey (1994) by Blower, MThe Blower Foundation
Rhythm of the Hours
Clocks measure the passing hours while uniting communities through shared time and rhythm. As days grow shorter, their steady marking of daylight and darkness links buildings to the daily rhythms of time.
Coloured illustration of the proposed Woolmead Clock that was not built, Farnham, Surrey (2009) by Blower, MThe Blower Foundation
The public clock not only served the purely functional purpose of telling passers-by the time; it also served as a landmark, a symbol of civic pride. Today, the balance may have shifted more towards symbolism than practicality, in an era characterised by modern timekeeping devices.
Watercolour of Elstead Church, Westbrook Hill, Elstead, Surrey by Michael Blower (2003) by Blower, MThe Blower Foundation
Turning in the Wind
Weather vanes give buildings a sense of direction, literally and figuratively. Moving with the wind, they translate invisible forces into elegant, visible motion and remind us that buildings are not static forms, but living presences that respond to the world around them.
The gilded vane of Drake's 'Golden Hind' crowns the Town Hall in Farnham, symbolising fortune and adventure. The artistic, almost sculptural detailing, highlights the decorative nature of weather vanes, with wide varieties of designs continuing to grace Britain's skylines.
Similarly to clocks and bells, weather vanes sit high on towers and rooftops, designed to catch the wind and rise above surrounding structures. Once essential instruments of navigation and weather-watching, they now remind us of a building's dialogue with the elements.
The Princess Royal Public House, Runfold, Surrey for Messrs Courage & Co. Ltd. (1932) by Falkner, H & Aylwin, GThe Blower Foundation
Fires Within
As temperatures fall in the winter months, the hearth draws us inward with its comforting warmth. The fireplace anchors domestic architecture, with the three designs for the Princess Royal illustrated here showing the combination of function and ornament.
Drawing of kitchen and fireplace alterations at a private home, Tilford, Surrey (1980) by Gradidge & BlowerThe Blower Foundation
A bell that rings, a clock that marks the hour, a lamp that glows at dusk, a fire that burns within and a weather vane that turns in the cold air. Each of these accessories brings architecture to life with the sensory richness of winter.
You are all set!
Your first Culture Weekly will arrive this week.