My wife had an appointment in Truro, Cornwall's cathedral city, so I had about one and a half hours to fill. I decided to wander round the city and then make my way to Victoria Gardens to see if there were any flower displays. I started out at the Cathedral - some lovely carvings at the front of the building - as above.
I often visit Truro but it struck me how the cathedral dominates everything - wherever you look - there's the cathedral looking down from on high.
Walk further and the cathedral is still there. It even seems to squeeze between the narrow lanes ...
... glance sideways and there's a spire - or three.
I made my way out of the shopping area and passed the Cornwall's Courts of Justice on my way to Victoria Gardens.
But looking back from the court what do we still see? Why, the cathedral, of course.
There is a gate by the court that leads to Victoria Gardens. There are so many lovely mature trees.
The garden was created to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee - so that would have been in June of 1897.
A much newer contribution to the gardens is the Invictus Vase of Hope - as above. And I found some flowers too.
The bandstand is a prominent feature. During the May to September period there are often free concerts - a relaxing way to spend an afternoon.
As I wandered I snapped a few photos of the flowers.
Love the subtle colours ...
... and also the matching colour by the small lake.
As time was getting on I meandered my way back to the main city.
Not everything is old in Truro. There are a few modern stores, of well known retail names like Primark, Marks & Spencer and so on.
Then a phone call from my wife, would I meet her ... by the entrance to the cathedral ... of course, where else!
Thank you for the lovely tour of Truro and you are right in saying that the cathedral dominates! The gardens look beautiful but I haven’t yet decided how I feel about the vase as ornamentation 😊. Delightful post, Mike.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ann.
DeleteThe vase is for the Invictus Trust - a small charity which aims to support and offer services to local teenagers who are suffering from poor mental health and associated issues.
There is a story to the vase: The vase was donated by Richard Austin of the Sculptor Workshop in Wadebridge, Cornwall. Richard was commissioned to make the vase by a Middle Eastern sheikh but then declined to sell it to him for human rights reasons.
The name Invictus is taken from the poem of that name:
Invictus
By William Ernest Henley
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.