Chalk and cheese

Two distinctive styles of architecture, but belonging to the same building. The top photo shows Grove Lodge, a Grade II listed building dating back to 1835 with Flemish bond brickwork, decorative chimneys and stone mullioned windows. The lower photo shows the Waitrose sign on a much newer brick wall with the ubiquitous stretcher bond brickwork and modern signage, although I note that the lettering is not their most up-to-date house style. (The T has the older style angled top (which I love) but which has now been replaced by a flat top (which I don’t!). Sorry if it's too much font information, it’s a passion of mine, as you may already have gathered …

The South Woodford Waitrose shop opened on 28th September 1999 on the site of Grove Lodge, which had been derelict for 25 years. It had taken nearly five years to identify and acquire the site and English Heritage insisted that some of the original chimney breasts were retained. However, the architects managed to incorporate the Grove Lodge building into the new store by creating it into a coffee shop up a few steps from the back of the shop floor, with the partners’ dining room above.

I had the idea for these photos when I popped in to Waitrose on my walk home from my audiologist in South Woodford this afternoon. My shot is taken from very close range because I was right at the boundary of the site. Most people using the shop would be unaware of the existence of the old Grove Lodge building behind the store, which is pretty well hidden from view at the back, away from the car park.