The Stationers' Hall Bollard...

Only the 2nd chocolate coloured bollard design in London...

Welcome to The Stationers' Hall just off Warwick Lane in the City of London. I was having a break and a walk around the city/square mile when I happened to notice this chocolate brown bollard with the crest/emblem of 'The Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers' (a city livery company).

If you happen to be in the City of London its certainly worth a visit to just admire the splendour of the exterior of the Hall and of course take a look at the delightful bollard(s). If you take a look at the photograph (below) you can admire the beautiful crest/emblem and make a direct comparison with the actual sign hanging outside from the wall.

Crest/Emblem...

The Stationers' Hall crest/emblem sign...

The #guestbollard feature on this blog is rather special and I'm never sure who or what type /design of bollards I'll receive via email/tweet.

Today we have two #guestbollards and how funny the first is outside a Salisbury's local in Maidenhead (buy one get one free) where the artist Antony Gormley has some of his bollards placed outside (original bollards were placed in Peckham, South East London). A special thank you to the @LolzHeart on the twitter for this superb photograph (below).

The next #guestbollard (bottom photograph) is brought to us by @PeepingTallulah on the twitter (fellow owner of a wire hair fox terrier) of a contemporary looking bollard complete with reflective band and a to die for E-type Jaguar in the background.

Anthony Gormley bollards in Maidenhead (not just Peckham)...

Bollard with E-type...

Bollards of London...

PS don't forget I'll be 'Talking Bollards' Tuesday 18th June 2013 for details click on the link www.urbanwoot.com !

Warning Men Working Overhead...

Warwick Square SW1...

At last the sun has finally decided to shine here in the UK and even the most blandest of bollards looks great but even better with a sign hanging from it informing us that 'Warning Men Working Overhead'.

You should note nobody was working over head at that particular moment and placing a sign on a bollard certainly livens up the local street furniture.

Now if we take a look at the photograph (below) you'll notice the price of petrol and diesel is starting to fall due to the recent spike and subsequent fall in demand. Back to the bollards and you'll notice that they are cylindrical in shape predominately grey in colour with a yellow top.

City Road Texaco bollards...

Not a bollard but my shadow...

The final photograph today (above) is a shadow of my good self at home in the west country having nearly finished a walk with my wire haired fox terrier 'Rob' the rescue.

Bollards of London...

PS if you do happen to be on the 'Vine' (new app from the people that brought us twitter) please do follow 'John Kennedy' you'll see my mug shot and hopefully enjoy the odd 8 second video of London and a few bollards for good measure.

Imagination...

Imagination...

Where would we be without an imagination ? Probably still in a cave staring at pieces of flint wondering why we feel the cold.

Now the photograph (above) is a #guestbollard only problem is I can't identify who sent or tweeted this fantastic picture of Balham Green (now Yellow) Bollards adapted with the help of yellow tape to become a perfect object to attach a table and plonk a chair next to.

Where would we be without an imagination ?

Breaking news...

'Talking Bollards' 

Often said I talk #bollards well thanks to @UrbanWoot on the twitter I will actually be 'Talking Bollards' on June the 18th 2013.

Please do click on the link 'Talking Bollards' and book your space now !

Bollards of London...

Three for You...

Barber shop bollard...

Bollards of London is back and may I thank all of you who got in touch after the blog was screen shot on bbc news 24. I am still laughing but also very grateful to somebody at the bbc who had the intelligence and great taste to feature/screen shot 'Bollards of London'. Seriously whoever you are thank you.

Now after my break from blogging it is only right and fair to get straight back in with not one bollard, but three. Not three for two but Three for You !

So do take a look at the simple but rather neatly decorated bollard (above) which I happened to stubble, sorry stumble across in South London outside a barbers on the Stanstead Road junction of Perry Vale. A boring common piece of street furniture brought to life by a local business at no cost to the local taxpayer.

Recently I popped into the City of London for a walk along Crutched Friars where I found a small area called French Providence Court, I found two bright (day-glow) yellow bollard(s) which were sunk into the wall. The City of London never fails to amaze me, no matter how well you think you know London the square mile will always throw up a surprise.

Bollards sunk...

The third and finally bollard I found recently (below) was a Westminster bog standard complete with left over apple core (use a bin in future please, plenty about) with a rare sign denoting a cycle path route at the junction of Wellington Street/Strand/Aldwych WC2. It wasn't that long ago that I can remember this being an actual road.

What's at the core...

Last but not least (below) a photograph of me, I rarely take a good picture but this one made me smile.

Me, John Kennedy...

Bollards of London (is back)...

PS please note I have all the #guestbollards ready to post so please accept my apologies for taking a short break from the world of blogging (about bollards).

Blooming Brixton Bollards...

Sometimes you just have to let the pictures/photographs of others do the talking.

I bring you 'Knit the City' and the wonderful work of the @deadlyknitshade and @TheFastener on the twitter. The skies maybe grey all over our country for many reasons but it is the beauty and creativity of ordinary people that will take us all to a brighter beautiful place.

Thank you for sharing these wonderful knitted bollards with me and bringing a smile to my face.

Blooming Bollards of London...

Talking Bollards...

City of London Bollards...

Welcome to the City of London again and this rather beautiful row of bollards complete with guard rail and a rather special no pedestrians sign bollard in the distance.

I like this particular photograph because of the the lines, perspective and distant focal point that all the lines appear to be heading towards.

However the purpose of this post is to thank you all for your hits, tweets, encouragement and of course #guestbollards.

Bollards made the news firstly this week with an interview I did with @daveoncue on the twitter from the  rather gorgeous website monocle.com I drove about the capital and talked 'bollards'. Please do click on the link http://monocle.com radio 4th of April 2013 if you would like to hear a London taxi-cab actually talking 'bollards' !

Like everything in life you get a break a chance to talk about a project you are working on and hey presto bbc news 24 picked up on a story about the British Library archiving blogs/tweets and which blog flashed up on the TV screen but 'Bollards of London' (thank you whoever chose blog at the bbc) this then created interest from other media and the Metro UK featured 'Bollards' in an online article, again please click on the following link 'Metro UK bollards' .

Once again a huge thank you to you all,

Bollards of London...

The 325th Bollard...

A Golden Top Bollard...

Thank you...

Maybe it was or is fate but I could not have asked for a better 'Golden' top bollard to celebrate the (rather slow progress) 325th 'Bollard of London'.

If you head to Cuthbert Street just off the Edgware Road and turn left into Adpar Street you'll find these tapering near cylindrical shaped bollards (top) painted predominately white with a gold coloured top. Reminds me of a pint of gold top milk although now I only ever have a splash of semi-skimmed in my tea or coffee.

A huge thank you to @Boll_Ards on the twitter for providing us with some very interesting and amusing photographs #guestbollards (above).

May I take the opportunity to wish you all a very happy break this Easter, don't forget the clocks spring forward at 1am on Sunday morning (Saturday night) and with it British Summer Time begins.

Bollards of London...

Carey Street WC2...

Anti-terror-bollards at the rear of the Royal Courts of Justice...

Finally back blogging about bollards after another short break. Some of you may be wondering what I have been up to, well after making the decision to leave the London taxi-cab trade by the end of 2016 I have decided to work part-time for now and do other things like 'writing' (I'm writing a book, its challenge) and 'sketching/drawing' again (I find drawing easier). I've started another blog 'Drawings by John' which will show some of my sketches/drawings whilst I work on a project behind the blog.

Enough of me what of the bollards. The world we live in today will always make London, its Institutions and apparatus of Government a target for terrorism. Many buildings within our great city have anti ram bollards just take a look the next time you walk or travel down Whitehall or the City of London. The picture (above) shows the installation of anti ram bollards and other street furniture which will help protect the Royal Courts of Justice from a specific threat of terror.

Now bollards can deter vehicles/lorry bombs from smashing into buildings and causing death/destruction/terror but it would appear that the chap (below) has managed to appear if he is levitating between two bollards while Police/para-military standby arms folded looking disinterested.

A huge thank you to the person who sent me this and many other wonderful bollard pictures I'll credit you once I check my twitter account again just so I get your name correct.

Take a closer look left and right of the bollards...

Bollards of London...

The Cuthbert Street Three...

A Cuthbert Street nipple top bollard...

Welcome to Cuthbert Street London W1 where by pure accident I came across 'The Cuthbert Street Three'.

Two of these bollards are the same/similar and the third is very different yet they work and complement each other standing in a short neat row and planted at varying/different heights. If we look at the first bollard (top) we can see the base is planted/sunk well into the pavement/ground. The body/column is octagonal in shape which flares outwards then curves inwards and finally finished off with a nipple top.

If we take a look at the second bollard (below) we can see it is similar except its base is more exposed and therefore it differs in height. The third bollard in the collection has a huge exposed tapering base which morphs into a cylindrical column with three ridges and a traditional cannon ball top finish.

The Cuthbert Street Three...

Note more of the base is exposed...

A more traditional cannon ball top finish...

The #guestbollard feature where you kindly send me wonderful pictures of bollards from London/UK or other parts of the globe continues to pull up gems that I would not find no matter how hard I looked.

Recently on this blog/site I featured the 'Cannon-Bollard-Cannon' that a chap by the name of 'Julian in Deptford' came across well if you take a look at the photographs below you can see clearly that 'Julian' has been rather busy renovating the 'Saker Cannon' (circa 1620) and building/crafting a replica early 17th century naval gun carriage.

I'm looking forward to taking a closer look at this piece of history and once again I thank 'Julian of Deptford' for sharing these amazing photographs with us all.

From a bollard to a cannon...

Take a look at the muzzle and length of the barrel...

Julian of Deptford I salute you...

Bollards of London (and a cannon in Deptford)...

Wilton Way, Hackney...

Wilton Way, Hackney...

Welcome back to 'Bollards of London' I must admit I needed a short break from blogging and have started on a number of other projects in the hope that in three to four years time I'll be jumping out of the front seat of a London taxi-cab and from time to time enjoying sitting in the back of the best taxi-cab service in the world.

Whilst on my travels around the capital this week I came across this rather interesting bollard on Wilton Way just outside a bookmakers. If we look at the photograph (above) we can see that the bollard has a square base planted into the tarmac/pavement. The body/column rises vertically with two distinct ridges and the now traditional cannon ball top finish. If we look at the two photographs (below) we can see the letters H . B . W . and on the opposite side the numbers 1861. Could these letters refer to a works eg Hackney Borough Works ? I'm not sure so a little research regarding the lettering and numbers/date may well be required for this particular bollard.

H  . B. W . Hackney Borough Works ???

1861...

The #guestbollard today is rather unique/interesting in many ways/levels. Can I thank @Boll_Ards ( www.asfco.co.uk ) on the twitter for sending me this unique bollard below.

A  very interesting #guestbollard to say the least...

Bollards of London...

Wardens of St Saviour 1827 and the Spoons...

Wardens of St Saviour 1827...

Welcome to Cathedral Street SE1 where I came across this rather interesting looking bollard with the lettering/numbers 'Wardens of St Saviour 1827'.

The bollard is a cannon like model/make with ridged areas on the body/column and a cannon ball top finish. The Wardens of St Saviour date back to the mid 16th century and a brief history can be found on the following link at the 'The National Archives' .

A closer look...

Playing the Spoons...

While photographing the bollard above I could hear the sound of soul/hip-hop music and the spoons.

Yes the gentleman pictured (above) was playing the spoons to soul/hip-hop music outside Southwark Cathedral. This chap was happy, an accomplished spoon player and very entertaining.

So for one post only I've decided to sideline the #guestbollard and celebrate the skills of live public spoon playing.

Bollards of London (plus the Spoons)...

Belgravia Bollards...

Belgravia Bollards...

Welcome to Belgravia, London SW1 where I came across these rather pleasant looking bollards on Chester Close. They are square based but actually octagonal in shape with each side alternating in length (if that makes sense).

If we look at the bollards above and maybe a little closer you'll see it has a slightly tapering body and long rectangular shaped inlaid panels on each of the larger sides. We then reach a ridged area and immediately above this the body starts to curve outwards and then forms a layered top with a traditional cannon ball top finish.

The #guestbollard feature (below) is brought to us today by @chrissypeekaboo on the twitter and what a collection of 'Artillery' shells now used has bollards she found at 'Newhaven Fort'.

I love the layout and use of these shells. If we look closely at the bottom picture you can see the the two shells have been disarmed and put to great use. Looks like some 'tommies' in the back ground sorting out the other shells.

Artillery shell bollards...

Recently I posted about Justin of Deptford 'Cannon-Bollard-Cannon' (I love the fact that the we have artillery shells on this post) and asked his permission to send those wonderful photographs to the 'Museum of London'. Well after a couple of days I received a response from the Museum (it was Christmas) and they showed great interest in the cannon (bollard), what was even move pleasing is that they passed me a couple of links to more 'Cannon' bollards found in Cork, Eire. Please do take the chance to look at the links 'Cork Past & Present' & 'Peoples Republic of Cork'.

Thank you very much to all the staff at the Museum of London especially curator Jackie Keily.

Looks like they've been defused, not sure about the ones up the path...

Bollards of London (Fort Newhaven and County Cork, Eire)...

West to East London...

Splendid patterns top/bottom...

Welcome to Addison Bridge Place just opposite Olympia at the beginning of the Hammersmith Road in west London where I found some rather impressive/ornate bollards.

Let us take a closer look at the bollard (above), we can see it has an octagonal base which rises vertically until it reaches a height where the body slopes/curves and tapers inwards (note ornate pattern). We then have a white painted octagonal body/column rising vertically until we reach a lip/ridge with an enlarged ornate/patterned area finished off nicely with a near egg shaped top.

Opposite (below) I found a pair of bollards very similar (if not the same) to the two I found outside the entrance of the  London Landmark Hotel opposite Marylebone Station on Melcombe Place W1.

Two tapering Nipple top/Pith hat bollards...

Look at the base/same has the bollard (top) above...

Right at the end of the public highway/road on Addison Bridge Place there happens to a single pay & display bay and what did I find hiding in the bushes (left) but a bollard very similar to the one I found at the top of this post but with a different or maybe just a more exposed base ?

Whilst driving a taxi-cab around the capital you can end up literally anywhere  maybe asked to take part in filming or even a photo shoot. Well via the world of Twitter and the most helpful person by the twitter name of @AboutLondon I got to follow the work of @deadlyknitshade and finally met her with @TheFastener at the junction of Goldsmith's Row/Hackney Road in December for a short project involving a London taxi-cab.

I couldn't believe it when they turned up on this very cold morning in December, well just look at 'Squid' on the Telephone box and some of his friends appearing on the railings. Wouldn't Sir Giles Gilbert Scott be proud.

Now a knitted 'Squid' is not a #guestbollard but it just so happens that around the corner we found a row of bollards blocking what was once a thoroughfare for motor vehicles.

Keep an eye out for 'Squid-cab' coming to a post on here very, very soon.

@deadlyknitshade and @TheFastener 

Bollards (and Squid) of London...

Tooley Street SE1...

Jelly fish top...

Happy New Year from Bollards of London...

Back to the business of bollards and after the last post (cannon/bollard) of 2012 I reckoned that 2013 might be a bit of struggle then I had a good look at some of the bollards I found in the SE1 area and found this rather ornate/beautiful/almost Jelly fish top shaped 'Victorian' looking bollard on Tooley Street very close to the junction of Tower Bridge Road.

Lets take a look at the rather odd square bolted (above/below) base that certainly doesn't match the beautiful slender ornate body of this bollard. The patterns are typical of the 'Victorian' era and the bollard is rusting in all the right places with a shimmer/shine where the metal has come into contact with people/objects and general wear/tear has taken place over time.

A different type/style base, doesn't match the bollard...

I've started sketching again...

You may be wondering what is that sketch/drawing (above) doing on this blog/site well I'm picking up my pencils once again and when I get the opportunity/chance I'll either sketch what I see or take a photograph and sketch/draw at a later date. So you'll notice hopefully in the foreground their is an actual white bollard in front of the Chelsea gate at the Royal Hospital home of the Chelsea Pensioners.

The first #guestbollard (below) for 2013 is supplied to us by @OnlyJustHarry on the twitter and what a fine bollard it is too.

Once again thank you all for an excellent 2012 it was rather good to finish the year with 10,000 plus page views/hits on this slightly odd but different/blog.

#guestbollard from Lenton St Alton, Hants...

Bollards of London...

Cannon-Bollard-Cannon...

It was a Cannon...

 Well I hope you all had a very pleasant Christmas break, myself I've had a very odd month of December business wasn't great, weather pretty awful and the train operating company I use decided to terminate the train I was on at Plymouth rather than at my actual train stop for no apparent reason.

The Twelve Bollards of Christmas have been shelved until next year. If you were looking forward to the many other posts it'll be December 2013 before they actually make an appearance. So please accept my apologies and rest assured any #guestbollards sent to me will be used over the coming weeks/months.

It is often said that "every cloud has a silver lining" well the cloud that followed me to the West Country must be lined with gold (not just water). Shortly before arranging my travel/tickets I received an email from a gentleman called Julian who happens to live/work in Deptford South East London. The email bowled me over for it contained the pictures/photographs you can see (above/below) of an actual 'Saker' cannon (circa 1630) that was used has a bollard in the Tooley Street (SE1) area of London, possibly by the Thames.

The cannon/bollard had been dumped in an area close to the Thames and upon site clearance was found and kindly given to Julian to salvage. Just look at the cannon ball (below) that was rammed down the barrel. I often mention 'cannon ball top' finish on those bollards that replicate cannons.

Here's the Cannon ball that was rammed down the barrel...

If anyone does know anything about this cannon/bollard please feel free to email me and I'll forward your emails/messages to Julian in Deptford.

If you look at the pictures/photographs (below) you'll notice some work is being carried out on one of the trunnions (What's a trunnion ? Simple answer is a protruding object used to mount an item/object onto a frame.).

It became a bollard somewhere in the Tooley Street area SE1...

A Cannon....

If we look at the excellent engineering drawings (below) by Richard Endsor he dates the 'Saker' cannon circa 1630 with a defaced rose and crown cypher. The English Civil War started in 1642...

I must thank once again Patrick Baty and Martin Evans for the wonderful information/advice they gave me regarding these pictures/photographs. Julian of Deptford you have sent me the ultimate #guestbollard (cannon) and may I wish you all the best with the work you are doing researching this piece of local/national history. Who knows what or whom may have walked/sailed past this bollard and what or whom this cannon may have been aimed/fired at ?

Excellent engineering drawings by Richard Endsor...

Bollards of London (wishing you all the best for 2013)...