While home in Northern Ireland for the new year, I made a trip to Belfast and thought I’d go explore my old art college where I did my Bachelors, made so many friends and built such fond memories.
This is what I found:
A few days later I headed to London to experience a much-craved dose of the city, to check out a few of the January sales and to see some friends. I hadn’t been back in some time and was looking forward to retracing some of the steps I used to take on a daily basis while living there. You may have seen the photos in my last post.
But I was walking past the old Central St Martin’s building where I did my Masters and received another gut-wrenching blow. As I work out what to make of it all you can read about it here on FashionUnited.com …
🙂 Strange feeling, when the old school no longer is there, right?
Feels like memories have been ripped out.
Have a lovely weekend, my dear xo 🙂
I’m gutted–like the buildings! 🙂
Have a lovely week! X
🙂 Thanks! Same to you, my dear! xo 🙂
So very sad. The London skyline is already resembling New York’s, without the height. I stood on the banks by the Tower and I was amazed to see so many skyscrapers and steel and glass windows. Mainly, all luxury condos. And if the Chinese and the Russians stop buying? Then what?
The only positive is that I still find the architecture of the new tall buildings that they ercst in London more interesting than those in New York. Hope that stays.
That is such an odd feeling to not only have something no longer there, but also to see it partially taken down. The other side of the facade leaves me feeling a little sad since clearly the building was such a beautiful place!
It was beautiful, you’re right. You can still see the vaulted roof of the ballroom where the fine art department was located. That was quite impressive but soon to be rubble 😦
I wonder what we (the next generation) will be saying in a few decades when we look back in time! xxx
I think something like: “lordie, didn’t we have it good!” 🙂
Wow – I had no idea that had happened to Central St Martin’s. I’m genuinely shocked.
Next time you’re in London and passing, have a squint. It’s quite a change on Charing Cross Road since my day! All over London in general. Hope you’re well!
Argh no, how horrible to have both buildings destroyed. The memories live on with you though! Maybe inspiration for your next book? Just a thought! Jx
Interesting thought. More like material for a blog post for now, but who knows… 😉
I think I can see my old room! I think the foundation students were on the 3rd floor. It was a lovely building – didn’t it used to be the Coop? I can remember going there with my mum as a child. I’d love when we arrived at the floor with the cafe. Then I’d know we were going for tea and a wee bun. The high ceilings seemed to soften the clatter of tea cups and cutlery. I remember the sweet smell of coffee and pastries, and a content atmosphere as lots of women chatted over their tea. Or maybe that was my contentment. I loved
going into Belfast with my mum. We must do it again soon. 🙂 xx
Forgot you went there! I don’t remember where Foundation was…barely remember where Fashion was. Don’t think they have much of a fashion course anymore. Apparently they’re bringing the Jordanstown campus into a new facility they’re building. Do you remember the old ballroom where the fine art dept was? You can still just about see half of the vaulted roof…
Go have some tea in the city with your mum, sure, and you can have a peek at the devastation. Maybe it’s all torn down by now!
xo
Great article, Jackie. I suppose the book shop takes some of the harm out of it…. not a lot, but some. I wouldn’t fancy being a 99 percenter in London right now.
Thanks, Tara.
I know. It’d be a bit like being a 99 percenter in New York…wait a minute, how did that happen?!
And you can add another quarter percent for working in an artistic discipline, Jackie. Cheering, isn’t it?!
Masochistic really. And I replaced fashion with writing. From Seventh Avenue to New Grub Street! 🙂
Argh! Ch-ch-ch-changes — sometimes painful. XO