Friday 6 April 2012

Friday My Town Shoot-out - Hidden niches

This week's FMTSO is hiden niches.  I decided to tackle it from two approaches.

My first is a hidden niche within our house.  This is the right hand base of a desk in the conservatory and the leg of a piano stool that lives by it.  I suspect most people who come wouldn't notice this little corner.


And for the suspicious amongst you - Yes, I admit I did have to dust it before I took the photo!

My other hidden niche is a craft centre and  retail outlet that is hidden away in the tiny village of Brimstage in the middle of The Wirral, Cheshire, on a little side road.  


Brimstage Hall and craft centre is based around a medieval pele or fortified tower.  Almost certainly the original house was a compact, fortified, building of the pele tower type, standing at the centre of a fortified area of some sixty acres, the whole being enclosed within a moat and high embankment.  Expert opinion concerning the date of the original building range from 1175 to 1350.


The retail outlets are in buildings in the form of a square courtyard surrounding a wonderful willow tree.

This is Saqqara, one of the retail outlets.  It has a huge range of beautiful ethnic fashions and irresistible gifts from faraway places.  We always manage to spend money we haven't got when we visit Saqqara.

If you would like to see what hidden niches other members of the gang have found please click on this FMTSO link.


16 comments:

  1. Those are some great niches. And I'm very happy to know you had to dust your little niche before taking a picture. The same would be happening here... :) Hope you are doing well! Silke

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  2. It seems like an age since I've been there.

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  3. Love your little niche beside and under the desk. You're doing well if only a little dusting was necessary. Also like the second shot, it really does look like a hidden niche. (Beautiful building, too.)

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  4. This sounds like a niche well worth visiting!
    Looking around my flat, I guess the hidden niches are very boring in comparison; there is the bit of space between my wardrobe and the wall where I keep the hoover and the clothes horse and ironing board when not needed, and the bit at the back of my desk where all the cables from computer, printer, lamp and phone run through, looking like something you'd find along the walls of the International Space Station.

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  5. Wonderful photos for niches this week. Wishing you a nice weekend.

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  6. in the history of FSO you did a post about a coffee shop - maybe food or outdoor food. I half expected to see that shop again, also had history (what building in your coutry doesn't) also had a warm and comfy atmostphere. I thought of Barnes and Nobles booksstore in Houston and almost didn't get past it. they all (the B&Ns) have coffee shops inside so when you walk in it is hushed with the smell of brewed coffee (which always smells better than it tastes) and in the back of the store are big comfy chairs to sit and drink your coffee and browse the books..... course no history like your place.
    Love the giant oak tree. have a great week.

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  7. That ball-leg construction on the desk is AMAZING. I'd never get any work done at that desk, I'd just sit staring at its legs. Kind of like a man trying to work with Sophia Loren in the room...

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  8. I wish that we had building that old here :/ I like the old building lines within the updated lines - good photo!

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  9. I am too amazed at that desk and the piano stool. I love vintage furniture. Also have had pele in crossword puzzles. It is not in my dictionary now I have seen it in print and hopefully will recognize it again. Love that tree shot.
    QMM

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  10. A pele or pele tower is a small fortified keeps or tower houses, ususlly built along the borders in the Scottish Marches and North of England. They were principally intended as watch towers where signal fires could be lit by the garrison to warn of approaching danger. By an Act of Parliament in 1455, each of these towers was required to have an iron basket on its summit and a smoke or fire signal, for day or night use, ready at hand.

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  11. I see some gorgeous find in that store, I know for sure I want to buy them!

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  12. Love your approach from the floor... ;)

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  13. Beautiful shots, especially those first few. Such loveliness.

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  14. I am rather intrigued by the wooden ball - is this part of the furniture design, or is it some kind of a removable thing, a secret toy in your hidden niche?

    I found a wonderful little shop in Suffolk, I think it was Walberswick, hidden away in a little garage behind a pub, goodness knows how it ever got any customers but it sold particularly nice fairtrade items. I wish I could remember where it was now.

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  15. I love the history of the old tower and nichy craft shops. But even more, I loved the close up of the niche in your home and the idea of you dusting it prior to shooting!

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  16. Jenny - It's part fo the foot of the desk - I'll post a photo of the desk in the next few days and you'll see it in context!

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