Our business with the fine CT scanner at Harefield quickly done, we took a walk around the grounds. Although not before we had taken in the fine two inch copper piping snapped above. Presumably some quirk of the plumbing arrangements meant that this was the best way to heat the corridor - although the only time I have seen such a thing before is in big old churches, some of which have substantial heating pipes in channels running up the nave. Iron, I should imagine, rather than copper.
In the grounds, one derelict big house covered in scaffolding, one lake and one formal garden, perhaps called a healing garden or something of that sort. Plenty of benches and quite mild enough to sit outside, although there were no patients to be seen. All very pleasant - the only other hospital that I know with outdoor facilities being Guy's at London Bridge.
No patients, but there was a working party of young people in the formal garden. I thought perhaps a hug-in for medical students, but there was not a good time to ask.
And apart from the poor grammar, I wondered whether this ticket was overdoing it a bit. If I say you cannot smoke in my garden, it is polite to go along with me, but it is not breaking the law. I suppose I could ask you to leave and then, if you do not, I can call the police to deal with your trespass. Not sure that they would be very keen on helping with such a matter though.
We tried to visit the concert hall, which looked to be a large space above what is now the canteen, a relic of the days when people cooped up in institutions went in for putting on DIY entertainments. While the mental hospital at Exminster ran to a ball room - which may have doubled as a theatre for pantomimes. The former ran to New Year's Eve dances and the latter Christmas pantomimes (put on by the staff) when I knew the place, back in the 1970s. So concert hall locked, but a decent little chapel had been carved out of one end of it. Such places are usually multi-faith in London, but maybe here they had separate provision for Muslims and others. Muslims, presumably, accounting for a large proportion of those wanting such provision.
From there to Harefield village, which sported a large fishing tackle shop, from which we deduce that at least some of the gravel pits to the west do fishing. Most of those around Epsom have shut in the time that we have been there.
We took a light lunch in the place called 'We love coffee', a place which included at least one patron sporting the distinctive white wrist band worn by patients at the hospital. We did not take coffee and the grub was OK, although the orange juice was watered concentrate and my baguette would have been improved had the filling not involved quite so much goo. Maybe if they had given me a spare baguette to soak up some of the excess filling? I did not think to ask for one.
After which we pushed on to Bishops Wood, a little to the northeast, as described at reference 1. One of the paths out of the car park was protected by a substantial, but horse and dog friendly gate.
Nothing spectacular, but a very pleasant place for a walk just the same, on this occasion with plenty of autumn colour. Google Images, for once, not very helpful on a zoom, but I go for some kind of beech, despite the trunk not being smooth.
A tree with some history.
A good spot for carex pendula.
A fairly serious fence around the telephone mast, if that was what is was. Quite a clutter of stuff around it too. Not like the twin towers at the bottom of Longmead Road at all.
Looped back to Denham on the A412, taking in part of the viaduct precast factory on the way, for which see reference 2.
The viaduct, looking north. Snapped after being removed from the site, as reported at reference 3. Impressive looking lump of concrete now, even if it caused a fair bit of nuisance on the way up.
I wonder today what proportion of the weight is carried by the arching, and what proportion by the stressing cables. At Westway (section 5), there was no arching and it was all in the stressing.
And so back to Denham Grove, followed by a proper Indian meal, the relevant chef being back on duty. Hara bhara kebab and dahi wada to start followed by spinach & potato for her and mild red curry for him. All very satisfactory. The small party of Muslims at the next table, the ladies in dress corresponding, all took fish and chips. We all like a bit of novelty!
PS: I might add that the oranges on offer at breakfast at the hotel were much better than those that we had been offered on the previous occasion.
References
Reference 2: https://psmv5.blogspot.com/2024/10/denham-one.html.
Reference 3: https://psmv5.blogspot.com/2024/10/denham-two.html.
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