Fratton, A Live Project...

 

My firsthand experience of the local community of Fratton, Portsmouth 

First week (Wednesday, 25 September, 2024)  

 As a postgraduate student, The start of my academic year at the University of Portsmouth was held in University Learning Center on Wednesday 25th of September,2024. Students were asked to go around Fratton in Portsmouth before the first session to become familiar with St Mary's Church, library, the community center, streets and passages since this year we will be situating our work in a real location within a local community in Fratton, Portsmouth, making it a live project. This is my personal experience around Fratton, Portsmouth.











ST MARY'S CHURCH

First place which I visited was St Mary's church. Inside the church, an unfamiliar story was taking place. Extremely high and wooden ceiling and pointed arches along the linear plan of the church evoked a sense of glory, bygone, rhythm and movement. The stained glass windows generously allowed the light to enter the church. The silence was occasionally broken by the sound of the wind. Decorated and stone columns bore the weight of the arched vaults. The altar and stone façade generated feelings of excitement, fear, and confusion in me upon arrival.


 





To me, the most impressive feature of St Mary's Church is its altar located in the west side.






 




St Mary's Church has a prominent tower which has turned the church into a landmark.









The yard of the church is a safe place for all of God's creature to live, from humans to squirrels, pigeons and trees.














I found the church more than a place just for praying, in fact St Mary's church is a community hub, hosting various events throughout the week. 







CARNEGIE LIBRARY

From the St Mary's Church, It took me five minutes on foot to reach Carnegie Library. It is a historic library located at Fratton Road, which hosts book clubs and a variety of activities for young children. This building is 120 years old.




What really caught my attention in the vicinity of this library was a villa that dated bake to 1890, which demonstrates how important is preserving buildings.






FRATTON COMMUNITY CENTER

Community center is a five-minute walk from St Mary's Church. It used to be a hospital but now it has turned into a place for all people to socialize. Within the community center, there is a gym, café, and nursery. This place vividly depict people's daily communication and has turned into a busy center for all people to enjoy being at.  








STREETS AND PASSAGES

Having finished my visit in Community center, I decided to walk to Portsmouth University. Spending 20 minutes to get university, I found Fratton pedestrian-friendly. While Fratton has urban streets, there are designated paths and parks that provide safety for residents and visitors.




 Having completed my trip around Fratton on Monday, 30 September, 2024, now  I am looking forward to start my work. 


Thank You for reading my blog 🙏

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