A Quiet Sit Down

Circular table-style bench

2012-02-01T08:16:00.000-08:00

Quartet of Benches

2012-01-31T08:15:00.000-08:00

Smell the Roses Bench

2012-01-30T07:39:00.000-08:00

Who's Missing?

2012-01-29T07:55:00.000-08:00

Here's a very famous photograph of Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt...

And here's a now famous bench in central London featuring just Churchill and Roosevelt...

... with just enough space to fit yourself in the middle and be, er....

A natural bench

2012-01-29T05:32:00.000-08:00

Naming Bench

2012-01-27T03:22:00.000-08:00

One of the saddest stories about old age is when people are 're-named', as if their identity is taken away. The bench feels very loving to me in that respect.

Poggles Bench

2012-01-26T03:19:00.000-08:00

There's a story here, I'm sure. If only we knew a fiction writer...

Whatever You Desire Bench

2012-01-25T03:16:00.000-08:00

Last Hole Bench

2012-01-24T03:15:00.000-08:00

Good Advice Bench

2012-01-23T07:13:00.000-08:00

A Mum's Bench

2012-01-22T03:09:00.001-08:00

Bench with a view

2012-01-22T02:45:00.000-08:00

Fire Bench

2012-01-20T01:53:00.000-08:00

Hu-mann bench

2012-01-20T01:52:00.001-08:00

2012-01-15T09:17:00.000-08:00

Thanks to bench spotter, Kathryn Harriss, for this beauty.

Sometimes Simple Is Best...

2012-01-15T07:54:00.000-08:00

On Guard Benches

2012-01-06T03:39:00.000-08:00

I love how these two benches look as if they're guarding this amazingly plump looking tree - I can't stop thinking about how it looks just like a woman getting changed into a bathing suit while family look on!

Grass Sofas...

2012-01-05T09:47:00.000-08:00

When the novelist Jane Rusbridge posted this news story on Facebook about grass sofas sprouting up around Britain, I knew straight away we needed a nice grassy sit down planted on here too....

Lovely bench...

2012-01-01T10:29:00.000-08:00

Possibly the most perfect one to start the new year with. A happy 2012 to you all.

ps If you can't read it, the inscription says: 'Rest And Think On Whatsoever Things Are Lovely.'

A Christmas Bench....

2011-12-16T05:22:00.000-08:00

This blog has been a little quiet of late, but not because I'm losing my passion for benches. At all, at all. I promise to be more active next year, but in the meantime here's a Happy Christmas bench for you, dripping with jewels. I hope that 2012 is happy and fulfilling and includes lots of lovely new places for you to sit...

Benches in Taipei

2011-10-25T02:39:00.000-07:00

Photographs sent from my friend, Anne Kelly who is out in Taiwan on an art trip at the moment. Glad to see she knows what is really important to look out for!

See, Hear, Speak Bench

2011-10-21T05:55:00.001-07:00

Photo credit to Jack Williams

Make Your Own Memorial Bench

2011-10-06T07:19:00.001-07:00

I love this story of a pensioner who decided to put up his own memorial bench early enough for him to use!

Thanks to Mary Atkinson for the heads up!

Church Bench?

2011-10-01T03:05:00.001-07:00

Is it just me or is this a church pew? If so, it's been given a lovely new spot to sit in.

SUNNY BENCH WITH FALLEN APPLES

2011-09-30T04:06:00.001-07:00

Natural v Man Made Bench

2011-09-28T05:50:00.000-07:00

Interestingly both the bench and the felled treetrunk look equally popular - which would you choose?

Gentle Bench

2011-09-26T05:50:00.000-07:00

Summer Bench

2011-09-25T05:49:00.000-07:00

Jam and Jerusalem Bench

2011-09-24T05:48:00.000-07:00

Memory Bench

2011-09-23T05:48:00.001-07:00

Portrait of a Marriage Bench

2011-09-20T01:47:00.000-07:00

Royal Bench

2011-09-17T05:05:00.000-07:00

Expensive Bench

2011-09-14T08:19:00.000-07:00

Another from Mary who says: Vendesi....Bench for sale on the colourful Venetian island of Burano. Orange painted house comes free!

Most beautiful bench in the world?

2011-09-13T00:39:00.000-07:00

Feast your eyes, people. This bench is made from driftwood and dragged up to just the right spot.

Just by a deer highway:

The perfect place to stop and look:

Particularly when this is the view:

Could it be more magical?

Thank you, Deborah, for sending these photographs (and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!)

Shunned bench

2011-09-12T12:18:00.000-07:00

A bold red bench on the Venetian glass-blowing island of Murano, but the locals have turned their backs on it! (thanks to Mary Atkinson for this one)

Covered Bench

2011-09-10T09:41:00.000-07:00

Postcard bench

2011-09-09T09:42:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the inscriptions are so simple and loving they make me cry. This is one...

Heirloom bench

2011-09-07T10:22:00.000-07:00

A lovely story to this bench

Bear Bench

2011-09-07T09:40:00.000-07:00

(and here's a bear just for Sandy)

A Non Feeding Fish Bench

2011-09-06T09:39:00.000-07:00

Keyhole Bench

2011-09-05T09:37:00.000-07:00

The Magical Memory Bench

2011-09-04T09:36:00.000-07:00

Arty shop bench

2011-09-03T09:34:00.000-07:00

And we did enjoy...

2011-09-02T09:33:00.000-07:00

Historic Bench

2011-09-01T09:30:00.000-07:00

Wave Bench

2011-08-31T09:28:00.000-07:00

Marriage bench

2011-08-30T09:26:00.000-07:00

Electrifying Benches....

2011-08-29T00:22:00.000-07:00

Spotted by garden Goddess, Lia Leendertz on Clevedon Pier...

I keep thinking about the Hugh and 'Sam' one. What IS the story? In fact, I might just give a prize to the person who comes up with the best alternative... go sit on a bench, channel Griselda and let your electric imaginations flow. Then send me your story.

Simple Bench

2011-08-12T05:30:00.000-07:00

Floating Fire Bench

2011-08-10T05:29:00.000-07:00

Carved Bench

2011-08-09T05:29:00.000-07:00

Shelf Bench

2011-08-08T05:28:00.000-07:00

Bench in progress...

2011-07-26T04:41:00.000-07:00

Interesting to see how they make those 'growing' benches. It doesn't look as if it will be long before the plant grows up to cover the rather ropey looking plank.

Entwined tree and bench...

2011-07-24T04:40:00.000-07:00

Is it just me, or does this tree look as if it really wants to reach down and sit on this bench?

Floral Bench

2011-07-23T06:37:00.000-07:00

From Mary, who says: "Hidden in a corner of the herb garden at RHS Wisley Gardens, this floral bench deserves a place on your blog. Almost too picturesque to sit on, but couldn't resist it and the aroma of the roses is something special. Mary"

The Ogre of the Bench...

2011-07-22T04:38:00.000-07:00

Churchyard Benches

2011-07-20T04:34:00.000-07:00

The perfect place to sit and contemplate life.

Bone Benches....

2011-07-19T04:11:00.000-07:00

What strange creature do you think these came from?

Secret Bench

2011-07-04T09:39:00.000-07:00

I sat on this bench for a little while, and two people walked right past without noticing me at all. Magic!

Proud Bench

2011-07-03T09:37:00.000-07:00

I think if this bench was a person it would be a Duchess at least. A love-sick Duchess, but still thinking she's better than the rest of us!

London at Night

2011-07-02T09:36:00.000-07:00

Cubic Bench

2011-07-01T09:34:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure whether these benches on the campus at Bath University look more like jaws or children's brick cubes... Admittedly they don't look very comfortable but I still rather like them.

Sea Bench

2011-06-19T06:44:00.000-07:00

Teacher Bench

2011-06-17T06:40:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you come across a bench and you're just desperate to know the story behind it. This must have been a very special teacher.

Reclaimed Wood Bench

2011-06-16T06:40:00.000-07:00

Magic Carpet Bench

2011-06-16T01:14:00.001-07:00

Best view in London Bench

2011-06-15T06:39:00.000-07:00

Musical Appreciation Bench

2011-06-14T06:39:00.000-07:00

London Oasis Bench

2011-06-12T06:37:00.000-07:00

Just behind St Martin's Church in London there's a spot where, if you get the timing right, you can sit and watch members of the Chinese community practice Tai Chi. You could even join in, and to be honest, these benches aren't the most comfortable!

In-joke Bench

2011-06-11T06:35:00.000-07:00

These benches, where you just know the inscription is very personal, are some of my favourites. I noticed I named this 'Bossy bench' when I saved it, but I think Terry would have been the first to share the joke!

National Theatre Bench

2011-06-10T06:34:00.000-07:00

it's really a three piece suite but still mad enough for a place on this blog!

Linda's Bench

2011-06-08T06:33:00.000-07:00

A BELOVED DOG BENCH

2011-06-07T06:32:00.000-07:00

These benches, obviously in spots where the dog had loved to walk, feel so personal. I can't help wondering if the owner still comes here and sits. I hope so.

And I love Ivy Bench

2011-06-06T06:31:00.000-07:00

ART BENCHES

2011-06-05T01:37:00.000-07:00

Art watching, or people watching? Waiting in the courtyard at the Royal Academy for the preview of the Summer Exhibition on Friday night.

Benches at the Chelsea Flower Show 2011

2011-05-24T14:19:00.000-07:00

Birds Eye of Square Dancing Benches

2011-05-23T09:47:00.000-07:00

As seen from the top of Bath Abbey!

Plastic Bag Bench

2011-05-22T09:24:00.001-07:00

Foot Bench...

2011-05-10T09:31:00.000-07:00

My sister, Mary, has just been to Canada and America. Here's the first of her special Bench Reports, featuring this bench from the Medicinal Herb Garden at Bastyr University, Seattle. The plaque tells the story of the Reflexology Footpath, the first one open to the public in North America. Intrepid walkers on the footpath (by the railings) are advised to rest on the bench if the cobbles cause too much pain in their feet!

A LIVE TWEETING BENCH

2011-04-28T02:30:00.001-07:00

There's a fascinating tweeting/bench project going on in Dundee at the moment. Images of visitors to this bench, above, will be shown live on twitter in a truly interactive project. Follow @tweetingseat for more, and there's full inspiration about the design and inspiration behind the bench here.

Thanks to Alex for the lead.

GET ON YOUR BIKE BENCH

2011-04-18T08:58:00.001-07:00

From here, with thanks to shedworking.

Benches in Syria

2011-04-08T01:51:00.000-07:00

Keen observers of this blog will notice that normally I take photographs of benches without people, but somehow it's impossible to contemplate Syria without its wonderful chaotic beautiful mix of people -(you can read more about my recent trip here.

The Bench of the Fuel Clerk

2011-03-13T10:11:00.001-07:00

Taken from a train whilst waiting at Hubli Junction, Karnataka by my sister, Mary Atkinson. She complained that she nearly missed the train in order to get this photograph, but it would have been worth it.

Sitting Spiritually

2011-03-13T10:05:00.001-07:00

I'd seen photographs in magazines of beautiful benches with beautiful words on them, but have only just managed to trace the company - Sitting Spiritually. Lovely to find such pride in benchmaking from Martin Young, and his designer daughter, Lucy. I particularly hanker after one of these swing seats ...

HOW TO MAKE ME HAPPY BENCH....

2011-02-15T01:51:00.001-08:00

SEND ME A PHOTO LIKE THIS, WITH A MESSAGE LIKE THIS...

I saw this bench by the river in Nelson, on the South Island of New Zealand, the other day and thought of you.

Thanks Deborah!

ART BENCH

2011-02-10T05:36:00.000-08:00

Although I'm involved myself in the Re:Collections exhibition in Tunbridge Wells, there's so much to see - GO! - that I only noticed this bench in Ellen Montelius's work the other day.

Portable benches

2011-02-09T05:32:00.000-08:00

BENCH ON THE WALLS...

2011-02-08T06:42:00.000-08:00

THIS IS NOT A BENCH

2011-02-07T06:41:00.000-08:00

Musical Bench

2011-02-06T07:52:00.001-08:00

This bench was presented in the year the society apparently performed Carousel. I wonder if they would have preferred horses to benches...

Benches at the Royal Academy

2011-02-03T07:59:00.000-08:00

From the British Sculpture Show...

A hessian covered bench that is facsimile from one used in Anthony Caro's first solo exhibition. Love how the size and shape of this one has become a space in itself.

A bench seen through a Barbara Hepworth public space sculpture.

And a 'proper' gallery bench from one of the less-visited galleries upstairs.

Royal Bench

2011-01-25T02:49:00.001-08:00

Good Memories...

2010-12-27T08:16:00.001-08:00

A MEMORIAL ARMCHAIR...

2010-12-21T07:31:00.001-08:00

Found on Chair Blog by Alex Johnson, aka shedboy.

Sitting and watching together

2010-11-30T00:12:00.000-08:00

We don't have the wonderful American concept of sitting on your porch and watching the world go by here in the UK, but it was interesting to see something of the kind happening in front gardens in Bath recently.

Memories of Spring...

2010-11-10T01:15:00.001-08:00

Winter's drawing in here in the UK, but here's a photograph of a sunny bench taken in the East Goshen Park in West Chester, Pennsylvania and kindly sent to me several months ago by D M Eppley. I've put it up now to remind me that it won't be long before I can go benchsitting in comfort once more...

Appreciative Bench

2010-11-08T08:50:00.000-08:00

A bench with a sense of humour

2010-11-07T08:49:00.000-08:00

MOST WELCOME BENCHES IN THE WORLD?

2010-10-31T04:13:00.000-07:00

They may not look like very much but these are the benches right by the official lodge at the foot of Kilimanjaro where you wait to get your certificate to show that you have successfully climbed the mountain! I was luckily not to find a collapsed walker on them as well.

Surrealist chair/bench

2010-10-24T10:41:00.000-07:00

Doesn't it just look as if it's going to wrap those arms around you when you sit down?!