Kew: part one

A fortnight ago our first visit to Kew for a long time. Such evidence as there is suggests that BH may have visited in 2011, but that our last visit together may have been in 2008. I suppose that Wisley taking half an hour and Kew a couple of hours (by public transport) is sufficient explanation.

We thought about driving on this occasion, but what with driving through Kingston then Richmond on a Saturday and then the parking at Kew being some way from the front door, we decided on public transport. A simple change at Clapham Junction.

Quite cold when we set off, but I took a chance on jacket rather than duffel coat. The right choice as it turned out, although not really warm enough for the short sit at Ewell West. To think that we had been sunning ourselves there not many days previously.

The box noticed at reference 2 was indeed a box. Complete failure to remember the entirely straightforward layout of the bushes concerned.

First effort on the snap at the top of this post; of the plant identified, mainly by Google Images, at reference 2 as the Japanese spindle tree (Euonymus japonicus). Part of the hedging on the town platform at Ewell West railway station. I had thought that the ripening berries would be a good clue.

Second effort, on the same snap, with the added clue being his previous conclusion. A reminder that one needs to have a care with all this AI.

The surprisingly narrow path under the bridge on that same town platform, looking towards the country, that is to say Epsom.

Under the bridge to come across some concrete with history. Whatever had happened here? Awkward place to be climbing about.

The platform and the train was busy. Platform 5 at Clapham Junction was busy too with lots of sporty types of both sexes, some of them part of some hockey club. All very hooray but we did get given seats. The hooreys got off at Barnes Bridge.

Maybe a place we should visit. Lots of green space, maybe some Wellingtonia. An art gallery. Plus the road running along the bottom of the snap above, Upper Richmond Road, was where BH spent part of her childhood.

Except that the 'Barnes Fine Art Gallery' put up by gmaps is actually a picture framing shop. Google's AI assistant does not want anything to do with it.

Out at Kew Bridge to find this impressive tower, a tower which seems to be part of the water and steam museum to be found at reference 3. Perhaps a better bet than the Barnes art. Normally open Thursdays to Sundays.

We paid a visit to the smart looking Costa outlet by the bridge and for some reason I wondered whether it was a franchise. A few key strokes today and the answer seems to be that it might well have been.

Maybe the people in one of the flats above don't like being on Street View. Get the angle wrong and a band of the first floor gets greyed out.

I took a black Americano - my usual buy at Olle & Steen, but with no bun, as those on offer did not appeal. The result of which seemed to be that about half an hour later I felt distinctly odd and it took about an hour for this oddness to wear off. Not something I would care to make a habit of. Was the Costa coffee a bit strong, or was taking it without any sugar, without the bun the mistake?

Eastbound planes visible from the bridge, so they must have been taking off to the east from Heathrow, instead of the much more usual to the west, which I have always assumed reflected the direction of the prevailing wind.

While the heavy road traffic was northbound, including a clutch of lorries carrying what might have been some kind of fancy medical equipment. Something to park in the car park of a hospital?

And a car with a No.41 registration plate. But this was no help to me, stuck at No.39, as plates have to be scored in the right order.

Interesting looking church on the green on the other side of the river. Yet another place to visit in due course. Maybe they will have a piano?

It was not clear that we were heading in the right direction, but a helpful young lady on a bench bothered to look up Kew on her telephone and she was able to assure us that we were headed for an entrance. What in fact turned out to be the entrance for parties getting off coaches, otherwise the Elizabeth Gate, which I was fairly sure the one we used back in 2008.

I end part one with BH flashing her plastic to get us in. Suitably discounted by presentation of RHS card. We had been unable to find the deal once offered by South West Trains. Two for one or half price or something. There used to be a little booklet telling all the places the deal worked at. The people at reference 5, not South Western Trains, the people who have got the franchise now.

However, a few clicks the evening, and there we are. Either I am getting the wrong end of the stick or BH will be cross.

References

Reference 1:https://pumpkinstrokemarrow.blogspot.com/2008/03/fishy-days.html. A nearby post reminds me that the owner of the weeping Atlas cedar in Hook Road, noticed here from time to time, told me that there is a good specimen at Kew. I did not think to look it up.

Reference 2: https://psmv5.blogspot.com/2025/10/kleio.html.

Reference 3: https://waterandsteam.org.uk/.

Reference 4: https://stanneskew.org.uk/. Anglo-Catholic. Higher grade website.

Reference 5: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_West_Trains.

Group search key: botanicsk.