Philip Woolway - fine art photography

Remnants of Defence 

Another tale of everyday places that have become invisible to a local community.

The Palmerston forts were constructed under the directive of Lord Palmerston in 1852 to protect Portsmouth Harbour against anticipated attack by Napoleon III.

To the many people who pass them now, they are just large red-brick constructions barely raising a flicker of interest but behind the walls and the locked doors the magnificently engineered Victorian structures stand alone and resolute against the ravages of time.

‘Remnants of Defence’ attempts to portray the steadfastness of these 'invisible' forts with an artistic appreciation seldom attempted.

This project would not have been possible without the gracious assistance of :-

English Heritage
Victorian Forts and Artillery "www.victorianforts.co.uk"

Where can you buy?

“Hang on! I’ve seen one of those around here somewhere”, replied the shop owner, but if you were asked, “I’m looking for a shop that might sell…. ?”, would that have been your answer?

A sad reflection on the demise of the shop with a myriad of objects, forgotten and found. Antiques, Collectables and Curios seek to capture the spirit of these once common emporia before they disappear. Time capsules of delicate and mystifying objects where organised chaos challenges to overwhelm and confuse. “What’s that?” mystery and “Remember this?” nostalgia patiently await their retro return but can the shops? The eBay spectre menacingly looms, ready to consume.

I would like to extend a special thank you to these fascinating businesses and the generous proprietors for their time and patience.

ABC - Elson Road, Gosport.
Barnham Antiques - Portabello Road.
Brighton Flea Market - Brighton.
Chale Antiques - 3 Church Place, Chale, Isle of Wight.
Charterhouse Antiques - Dorset.
Cobwebs - Northam Road, Southampton.
Crowman - Catherine Hill, Frome.
Curios - Camden.
Exeter Antiques Centre - Exeter. 
Gordon Gridley - Camden Passage.
Hungerford Arcade - Hungerford.
John Search - Lewes.
Langfords - Portsmouth.
Lewes Flea Market - Lewes.
Little Shop of Horrors - Hackney.
Lyndhurst Antiques - New Forest.
Rob Willis - Machynlleth, Mid Wales. 
Robbies Rummage - Hastings.
Stable Antiques - Storrington.
The Clock Centre - Portabello Road.
Quay Antiques - Rye.
Utter Clutter - Leominster.
Vikto Wynd - Hackney.
Victoriana Books - Bere Alston. 

The New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth

“I like that photo. Is it one of yours?”
“Yes.”

“Where is it?”
“The New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth.”

“Portsmouth? Where in Portsmouth?”
“Guildhall Walk.”

“I didn’t know that there was a theatre there.”
The conversation continued…

Despite residing in the same location since 1854, the New Theatre Royal remains a secret to so many and, of the people who have visited the theatre, how many have afforded the time to admire it?

As a theatre-goer, I enjoyed its magnificence but never dwelt to fully appreciate its qualities, until an opportunity arose to document the making of a video. With time in abundance between photographing the filming, I decided, for no particular purpose other than curiosity, to explore. Instantly I sensed that the theatre welcomed the opportunity to reveal its charm and beauty, usually hidden, and encouraged further exploration. Stairs, corridors, the Dress Circle, the Upper Circle; and did people really watch from the Gods the performances of Sarah Bernhardt, Henry Irving, Sybil Thorndike and John Gielgud? What performances and occasions have the heroic Greek statues and the hidden faces silently witnessed? One can only imagine.