howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
sorry but i have to repeat a very old joke here.
a white horse walks into a pub and asks for a scotch whisky, the barman thinks to himself that it is all a bit of a wind up i'll play along.
he then asks the horse which particular brand as he has many brands including one named after the customer.
the horse replies "what eric"?
i'll get my coat.
Guest 703- Registered: 30 Jul 2010
- Posts: 2,096
White horses have been around in mythology from Pegasus to Shrek and been adopted by lots of places -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_horse_(mythology)
I think Howard's pink elephant would make us unique, would be a lot more fun and would be quite appropriate for some of our town centre residents.
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
Definitely - and what a talking point it would make !!
The 'Elephant of the South'
---------------------------------------------------
Lincolnshire Born and Bred
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
And we'd all look like Dumbo's.
Roger
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
I went down to the Discovery Centre to see the (small) exhibition about the Invicta Horse and after looking at it and reading about it, this iconic feature will I'm sure, be a calalyst for a whole string of regenerations programmes.
Along OUR White Cliffs, we have the South Foreland Light-House, then the major cliffs themselves, which are one of Britain's most iconic features, Dover Castle, one of EH's most popular and most visited sites, the Western Heights themselves, where some of Britain's, let alone Dover's, most important historic sites are.
Moving along the coast, we then have Capel-le-Ferne and the Battle of Britain Memorial, which now has Planning permission for extending the main building both sides, in the form of wings.
Who will deny, that if the marketing is done properly and if the Western Heights regeneration is done properly and sympathetically, we will have the most important Tourism area in the South East of England ?
Looking at other man-made sculptures, The Welsh Dragon Project will be one of the largest sculptures ever built in the UK. It will also be a hub for the regeneration of North Wales connecting business, leisure and tourism in the Olympic year when the eyes of the world will be on the UK.
The Welsh Dragon is a mythological creature but it is also a powerful symbol of a proud nation linking past, present and a dynamic, innovative future.
The Invicta Horse is a proud symbol of Kent and at the Gateway to England - Kent, it must be an appropriate and iconic feature, showing that Dover means business and is at last moving forward.
Since spreading its wings in February 1998, Antony Gormley's The Angel of the North has become one of the most talked about pieces of public art ever produced.
Rising 20 meters from the earth near the A1 in Gateshead, the Angel dominates the skyline, dwarfing all those who come to see it. Made from 200 tonnes of steel, it has a wingspan of 54 metres. Getting up close with the Angel is an experience you'll never forget!
The Angel of the North is a major visitor attraction. It is seen by over 150,000 visitors a year and more than 90,000 drivers on the A1.
The regeneration of the Western Heights must be done in sympathy with the history there, not just have money chucked at it; with a Country Park starting at Farthingloe and extending up to the Heights, a quality Hotel - a real quality Hotel, The National War Memorial, The Drop Redoubt being refurbished as a Visitor Centre, the whole area can only be an asset to us all. Can't it ?
Roger
DT1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 15 Apr 2008
- Posts: 1,116
All true Roger, but surely it has to be pointed out: it's not very good.
I do not like poo pooing such projects but this is just a hobbyist venture. It looks like one of those woodcraft kits you buy at craft fairs.
I do not know why we always sell ourself short? The Angel of the North, designed by Anthony Gormley is an icon, considered and respected as a piece of art, a sculpture by a sculptor.
I think this would just been seen as a bit of a joke and not even a ironic one at that.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
"Western Heights regeneration is done properly and sympathetically" - we shall wait and see... I hear there will be a consultation very soon....
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
I can't imagine that it won't be Paul; the status it has up there and the history it contains.
I would expect that a consultation will indeed be next, but hope that it won't be a blanket NO, whatever is proposed.
Dover itself won't accept a cheap tacky development anywhere and we need regenerating, so I expect it to be a quality regeneration program.
Roger
DT1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 15 Apr 2008
- Posts: 1,116
Roger, I have to disagree.
Firstly I can never deny the hard work of some councillors (mentioned on Ian's thread). The councillors I know personally are amazing, hard working and committed to our cause. The likes of Roger and Nigel Coller are an asset to our town.
My problem is, that despite this we DO accept substandard projects and developments. The Asda development that fell through was cheap and was tacky and we were told this was 'good'. It simply wasn't and nor are many of the 'development' atrocities that go ahead.
I love Dover and hate people running it down but for some reason we are constantly in a state of confusion. For me this horse does not stand for our heritage, instead it is an icon demonstrating the ephemeral ideas for regeneration that plague our town.
I'm sure the chap who designed it is really nice and has the best intentions, but his efforts I feel are misplaced. Roger's list above proves we already have our icons. Our topography and heritage IS our symbol and what we do with it/them would demonstrate our pride, not a statue. Get the western heights the publicity it deserves, promote our town but let's not get bogged down with one liners.
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
I have to say that it did cross my mind that the Invicta symbol ticks ALL the corporate boxes, it is what you see on police cars, council trucks (I'm guessing that such still exist) etc., but whether it does anything more...anything more human;touch the heart-strings, stir the blood, inspire the mind or say much at all about the soul and future of Kent?
Having said that. I have in my possession a motor car badge (fated to be a future raffle prize at Blakes) that must have meant something to the owner and declared something about him (probably a him) that he wished declared. [It's the sort of thing that fits on a bar above the front bumper, alongside others, 'RAC' and such]
This badge is of the Invicta Horse. (lifelike)
Perhaps when all is said and done; Nothing says Kent more than a wan, dumb beast?
[the last bit is humour...really]
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
"Get the western heights the publicity it deserves, promote our town but let's not get bogged down with one liners"
Year on year the profile is being raised, more people are aware of them and the authorities can no longer pretend they are not there !!
It will certainly be interesting when the new(er) plans are announced and I hope they are sensitive to the importance of the Heights - to cover the hill in housing and lose the context of why they are there and how they functioned are my biggest worry....
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
If the white Invicta white horse is to be a visible feature of Dover then please make it a 'cut in the chalk symbol' like the other white horses, which would need less maintenance, fit in better and would be a timeless feature.
---------------------------------------------------
Lincolnshire Born and Bred
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
Better still Kath...plant pink and white heather on hillsides across the county. [I hope they are hillsides and not downsides]
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
Good idea, Tom !
---------------------------------------------------
Lincolnshire Born and Bred
Guest 703- Registered: 30 Jul 2010
- Posts: 2,096
Tom, heathers usually like acid soil, our hills are chalk!
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
Why should this be easy?
With chalky soil avoid...
Erica (Heathers)- except:
Erica carnea
Erica darleyensis
Erica manipuliflora (Mediterranean Heather)
Yes, they are mostly white, do not flower the whole year round and are on the tall side...on the other hand;does it have to be entirely maintenance free?
If only Local and/or Regional Government had garden planners and gardeners to hand...oh well...(sigh)
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
DT1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 15 Apr 2008
- Posts: 1,116
True Tom.
I can never understand why all council planting has to be pansies!
Is there a reason for this?
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
Habit ? There has been an interesting programme over the past few weeks that I have only caught snippets of. (I think it was on Sunday nights just before Top Gear)
A young woman was trying to change the garden,exhibition and municipal planting mind-set. Trying to get more insect loving plants and native wild flowers planted.
I saw a bit of the final show where she revisited a tower-block estate that had had the 'green' spaces planted out with wild flowers. The residents reported that the planting had made a difference to the life of all residents, young and old.
(sorry Jeane)
I am not a big fan of the Victorians. Tomorrow is bound to be the best time of all our lives...at least the potential is there.
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Those iconic features we already have (as mentioned in my post 25 above), have not created the investment and regeneration in that area (Farthingloe and parts of the Western Heights), we might have expected or hoped for.
Dover (many parts of it) is to be regenerated - and soon; almost every one I speak to says "oh yeah, I'll believe it when I see it". It would not surprise anyone to know that English Heritage is not going to come up with the money to refurbish the Drop Redoubt and/or other areas they own up there. Likewise DDC.
Now that we are on the verge of serious and good quality regeneration, we must reflect on the past mistakes, but look forward to Dover becoming what we all want it to be.
Nowhere should be sacrosanct from being sensitively and sympathetically restored and regenerated and that restoration and regeneration will only come from the private sector.
Be suspicious if you must, but also be open-minded.
Roger