The Tolsey Clock

... On the Tolsey building, in Wotton-under-Edge. Read more about it here. A clock has hung here longer than this Jublilatious wonder, which replaced an earlier octagonal clock. Queen Victoria was recently given a makeover by Wotton artist Rob Collins, who based her mug shot on an earlier portrait found on a mug.

Another very English shot! The town of Wotton has been hard hit by the recession, and I saw many closed shops. I was there, however, for an Open Day. Eighteen months ago, my friend Debbie bought an incredibly run down ancient building, round the corner from the Tolsey building, and had it sympathetically converted into three flats, with an existing shop on the ground floor. I think she plans to lease the shop, live in one of the flats, and sell or rent the other two. No one seems to know what the master plan is yet. The drink flowed and several people fell upwards or or over, as some of the floor levels have Cotswold floor disease, being not very level at all. There are gardens, and roof gardens, and views out towards the Tolsey tower, and wonderful, inventive use of natural and artificial light. I was hugely impressed: this was a project worthy of a Grand Designs show, with all the attendant difficulties. At one point Debbie removed some kitchen cabinets and found herself unexpectedly in the Tolsey building! Sadly, in 2012, not 1815, and still in Wotton.

More of my poetry blog posts here.