No . . . .Not More ! !

[Helene Anderson]

Industry, history, er . . . . well, I went out this morning with a bit of enthusiasm to a market of local produce a few km from me . . . . . . . . and it was a bit of a non event(?). A bit on the blog here but nothing great.

So, I went off thinking 'hmmmmm, industrial' and arrived at the station. Gosh, half the stations here look as though they are being purposely run down once they become unstaffed.

Forecourt​

Tey are usually locked up, well, the door to the booking hall was open but it was the upstairs window with the open shutters that intrigued me.

For Mrs Danvers Perhaps?​

Opened 28 July 1853 on the line Paris Austerlitz to Bordeaux.

Another grain train, with a locomotive at each end. With old shabby goods shed.

Small Siding​

It would be nice to have some half decent weather, a bit if sun as this area I portray (unintentionally) as being quite . . . . . . well, not too joyful (?).

​

A few words more on the blog, Balham Foto (why I chose Balham . . . ah, that's my sentimental side!). Have thought it would be interesting to team up with someone local that could write, a historian or what ever as I think there is a lot here that is as yet unwritten, certainly unphotographed.

 

[Asher Kelman]

So, I went off thinking 'hmmmmm, industrial' and arrived at the station. Gosh, half the stations here look as though they are being purposely run down once they become unstaffed.

Forecourt​

Hélène,

So handsome and so sad! I can't understand why this wonderful building is not repurposed. It could be updated to a fine home or perhaps a factory or museum. Is there no flexibility in the French culture to allow for drastic change???

Now in Paris, they brought in a foreign architect to liven up the Louvre, of all holy places!! I. M. Pei made glass Pyramids over the lower floors of the Louvre. Imagine bands of his disciples, roaming France to harvest these resources for the French?

Asher

 

[Tom Robbins]

Oh yes, please more!

These latest are wonderful additions, Hélène. I like them all.

The first works as context for the others. I agree with you about the window with the shutters. The state of its disrepair reveals some interesting hints of structural details. Speaking of details, there are plenty to explore in Small Siding.

I've also enjoyed the other photos you've shared here recently. Unfortunately, I found them after other members offered their thoughtful comments, and by then there seemed little point in offering my "yeah, what they said - me too!"

 

[Helene Anderson]

It is a grand building Asher, alas there are a lot of grand buildings in France. I say alas because that implies then that if one or two go then it is no great loss?

Some old stations have been converted into houses, certainly where the trains run no more, where the track has been lifted. Ironically now it would be great to have all the branch lines back, save using the car so much.

Also here there was a 'tramway' type train, with a gauge of one metre. Several lines like that in the département next door (theDeux Sèvres).

In the north of France where there was a lot more industry many of the old factories have been made rather smart appartments and a way was found to do it so that they were 'loft appartments' beyond the means of people.

Not too far away in a town called Civray there is what looks like a substantial (ex) mill which resembles appartments now. So, all is not lost.

Though thinking back to Citergaz (again some shots at Civray) when the guy said that the compay rents of the SNCF but the company is not allowed to maintain the building and neither will the SNCF maintain it I have the idea that the buildings are allowed to fall into that state so that they may then be demolished, it's cheaper.

I have heard of people doing the same thingto private properties, that a demolition permit has been refused so that a new structure can be built. So then one damages the property and return to the Mayor saying 'it's dangerous' and then on the ground of it being a dangerous structure a demolition permit is issued.

So, Asher, while there is a lot of buildings falling into sad states being left (I pass many on the RN10 Poitiers southbound) there are also properties being renovated and cared for.

 

[Tom dinning]

Hi Helene (sorry. I haven't found those accents on my keyboard yet. I've only just found the on/off button for the phone).
I have a few acquaintances who take photos of old buildings as an historical exercise before they are demolished. The building doesn't have to be 'important'. Old houses, shed, factories, schools, bus stops, train stations all get recorded.
This is a great legacy you and others can achieve. Without this we loose our visual history.
Who was it that said 'We, like no other generation before, are able to record and share our history with our descendants' This is a beautiful thing.
Cheers
Tom

 

[Helene Anderson]

Thank you Tom, don't worry about the accents, I don't half the time, drives the French authorities mad . . . . well, not quite mad but . . . .

Ironically the 'important' buildings are photographed, not a lot sometimes but photographed none the less.

I fell into this by accident, part of me not wanting to do 'nice' photos, preferring the gritty, sometimes unpleasant, side of life. I suppose that comes from things I saw when in the ambulance service. I have a sort of social conscience, though that came with age.

 

[Cem_Usakligil]

Hi Hélène,

Like both Toms, I too am enjoying your documentation of these buildings. Please keep on shooting and sharing with us.