By popular demand, may I present the ill advised - and slightly OTT - papier-mâché Danish Pavilion originally displayed at the Exposition Universelle of 1900 in Paris, then moved to the village of Overstrand, Norfolk (England):
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I think this must be taken from near the cliff edge as that rise behind the pavilion (with the path going up it on the right) looks like it coudl be Toll's Hill. Unless this was taken from Paul's Lane which would mean that rise was the cliffs (which have since fallen into the sea).
[photo from Overstrand Parish Council website]
I can't be bothered to write anything about it in my own words, so here's the pertinent bit from the village map:
And the map itself, which I've helpfully enhanced (in yellow) to save much squinting (although I should think there'll still be some):
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[via ipernity]
This is the Danish House Motel - well, what you can see of it behind the trees. Apparently this photo was taken circa 1955.
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[via Francis Frith Collection]
I used to be friends with the boy whose parents owned or ran the motel and have vague memories of watching an old, animated Superman film with him in their living room. I recall being rather in awe because we watched it on video. They had a video cassette recorder! That must have been in the early-mid 80s?
Anyway, that's it for now as I have loads of chores to do before tea, but I'll be back with more village stuff when time allows. And if anyone's interested, of course.
Papier -Mache???? What with all your rain there the home must get soggy?
ReplyDeleteNot soggy enough to prevent it from burning down, unfortunately.
DeleteHow fabulous that place must have been! I assume, 25 years after that blurb, thet everything on that site has gone? Did they build that "bungalow estate", or did the sea reclaim it all? Jx
ReplyDeletePS I remember being mightily impressed, back in the late '70s, when my best friend Shane's brother bought a video player (probably Betamax) and we were able to skive off school and watch Hammer Horror films...
Yep, the Danish House Motel has long since been demolished and now the site is home to a cul-de-sac of boring bungalows. However, it may not be too much longer before their ruins are strewn alover the beach below...
DeletePapier Mache Mansion???? What with your rain, the house must get soggy?
ReplyDeleteNot soggy enough to- Hang on. Haven't we been here before?
Delete(Blogger saw fit to deposit your first comment in the spam folder, for some reason. Sorry)
Like Mistress Maddie, That's not at all what I had envisioned when one says a papier mâché mansion! I imagined a table top reproduction of a mansion. Overall, I like the look of it, but the vase shape at the front is distracting and I don't like that part. It's like Aladdin's genie was walking by in gargantuan form and dropped a vase there that became part of the mansion.
ReplyDeleteThey must add lime (isn't it?) to the water when making it to give it hardness and anti-mold properties? What's called wattle and dab construction.
Yes, the bulb-like vase-thing is rather peculiar. The whole thing looks like it could have come from an Alice in Wonderland adventure.
DeleteMaybe it started off as a tabletop model but drank a potion and became BIG?!
I have just looked up wattle and daub on Wikipedia and you're correct, lime is added as a binding agent and can imbue many other properties.
I think it's lovely, quite fancy. And I bet your little friend's father had a special collection of VHS tapes just for when you monsters weren't around.
ReplyDeleteOh, so do you think that film we watched after Superman about the couple who got too hot and had to remove their clothes, only for them to go missing just as it got cold forcing them to huddle together for warmth might have been something else?
DeleteI too have been mis-led!!! Like Melanie I thought I was here to see your own paper mache table top reconstruction! I feel you ought to right this wrong and start building a paper maché construct immediately!
ReplyDeleteI look forward to your next soggy post.
Sx
Well, I would, but my last effort got et...
DeleteIs there a papier-mâché Little Mermaid replica in the garden?
ReplyDeleteSadly not. Although I'm pretty sure I saw CyberPoof skipping through it one day...
DeleteSmart chaps, these Danes! Just look what we did with Lego
ReplyDeleteOoh! Perhaps we can build a Lego replica?!?
DeleteTotally unexpected, sweetpea! I was expecting a table top model! LOL I shall return later to see if y'all ha e posted again! xoxo
ReplyDeleteAh, sorry, Savvy. No models, just boring old lifesize buildings made of unsuitable materials.
DeleteAnd also: Sorry. I haven't posted again. Yet.
Thank you for posting this. I was trying to imagine what it looked like and yes it's much bigger than I thought.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Proxima, the onion Dome thing is both odd and oddly placed but I suppose thart's what makes it Danish and not Norfolk Tudorbethan.
Now, if the dome thing was shaped more like a sugarbeet than an onion, then it would be Norfolk Tudorbethan!
DeleteMy God it must have been a mycologists dream in that place - right before the fire. Here in the US the Great Chicago World Exposition featured paper mache construction throughout - and met the same fiery fate.
ReplyDeleteI don't know why people keep thinking papier-mâché is a good construction medium for people-sized buildings? Table top models of Tracey Island, yes, but expensive mansions and World Fairs is another matter entirely.
DeleteIs everything OK with you, dear? We haven't heard from you in weeks! Jx
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jon, yes - I hadn't realised I'd been absent for so long. I shall return tomorrow - or Sunday - with, if not tales of daring do, then at least some excuses.
DeleteP.S. I hope you had a fab holiday!
Thank You for this post - and while we are at it : Thank you for all your posts ! I just had to catch up a bit.
ReplyDeleteBuilding with paper is the subject of this research project : .
My other comment went to the bin ?
ReplyDelete