John Oram's photos with the keyword: Staines

I was charmed and fascinated by the sculpture 'Roll Out the Lino' (2004) by David Annand. Situated in High Street, Staines it is adjacent to the Two Rivers Shopping Centre which, the accompanying plaque explains, was the site the Staines Linoleum Factory which opened in 1864, growing by 1930 to 45 acres. It produced the first lino in the world and was the largest employer in the area for many years. Around the roll of lino being carried by the two figures is a delightful poem 'On the Roll' by Leona Medlin and Richard Price: Roll out the lino from Staines to the world! Release every pattern from chessboard to twirl! In every hopeful kitchen let life unfurl, bathrooms are artrooms from soapsuds to swirl! Roll out the lino from Staines to the world! © Leona Medlin and Richard Price 200_3_P1060438E

I was charmed and fascinated by the sculpture 'Roll Out the Lino' (2004) by David Annand. Situated in High Street, Staines it is adjacent to the Two Rivers Shopping Centre which, the accompanying plaque explains, was the site the Staines Linoleum Factory which opened in 1864, growing by 1930 to 45 acres. It produced the first lino in the world and was the largest employer in the area for many years. Around the roll of lino being carried by the two figures is a delightful poem 'On the Roll' by Leona Medlin and Richard Price: Roll out the lino from Staines to the world! Release every pattern from chessboard to twirl! In every hopeful kitchen let life unfurl, bathrooms are artrooms from soapsuds to swirl! Roll out the lino from Staines to the world! © Leona Medlin and Richard Price 200_3_P1060424CE

I was charmed and fascinated by the sculpture 'Roll Out the Lino' (2004) by David Annand. Situated in High Street, Staines it is adjacent to the Two Rivers Shopping Centre which, the accompanying plaque explains, was the site the Staines Linoleum Factory which opened in 1864, growing by 1930 to 45 acres. It produced the first lino in the world and was the largest employer in the area for many years. Around the roll of lino being carried by the two figures is a delightful poem 'On the Roll' by Leona Medlin and Richard Price: Roll out the lino from Staines to the world! Release every pattern from chessboard to twirl! In every hopeful kitchen let life unfurl, bathrooms are artrooms from soapsuds to swirl! Roll out the lino from Staines to the world! © Leona Medlin and Richard Price 200_3_P1060422CE

The old Staines Town Hall (1880) has stood disused since 2012 although its civic role ended in 1976 since when it has housed an arts centre, a pub and, after 2012, squatters and a short-lived restaurant. It is the subject of various proposals for development and the objections to those proposals. In June 2018, the go ahead was given for conversion to 13 flats. Photograph by John Oram Photoshop (perspective straightening) by Gregory Halse 200_3_P1060459E_PS

On an evening walk in High Street, Staines, my partner observed that it is unusual these days to see representatives of The Big Four banks next to each other. In these days of branch closures this is increasingly true. Indeed, in many of Britain's towns today, one might not find more than one or two of these names. In the present era, The Big Four are regarded as Lloyds Bank, Barclays Bank, Royal Bank of Scotland Group (NatWest is part of the RBS Group) and HSBC. 200_3_P1060445CE