The MiM mini guides are produced by Modernism in Metroland and feature the modernist buildings of a particular location or architect. They are A5 size and include text and colour images of the guides’ buildings.

Knowing my interest in the Art Deco and Modernist styles my elder son and his architect wife gave me the undernoted two mini guides as a birthday present last year. Both were compiled by Joshua Abbott.

MiM Mini Guide No. 3. Speculative Suburban Houses 1928-38.

MiM Mini Guide No. 5. Interwar Industrial Architecture:-

It is not so much the text of these kinds of books (or mini books if you prefer) as the illustrations which are the main aspect.

As the Metroland denomination implies the contents are all buildings from the London area.

Nevertheless they are a delight to anyone with a passion for the architeture of the inter-war years.

Perth Museum recently relocated to the building which used to be Perth City Hall. It’s slap bang in the middle of the city so a good location.

The new museum’s main attraction is the Stone of Destiny, removed from Edinburgh Castle to be nearer to its spiritual home in Scone a couple of miles north of Perth itself.

Some of the exhibits have been transferred from the old Museum and Art Gallery in George Street, notably the St Madoes stone, which, in its new location, is now lit up to help highlight the carvings:-

Side and back views:-

I particularly liked, though, the illumintaed map of Perth through the ages where different parts were lit up at different times to show the evolution of the town/city:-

Then of course there was this picture of the famous old Pullars of Perth premises a building which verges on Art Deco:-

Minor Art Deco style, Wallace Street, Dumbarton:-

I can’t ever have walked down Wallace Street before as I don’t remember seeing this building until this visit in April.

Doorway detail:-

I had seen this one many times: the former Co-op on the corner of Greenhead and Glasgow Roads. The date above the lintel is 1922, a bit early for true deco:-

We also took a stroll along the quay in the town and spotted this children’s slide (chute) in the shape of an elephant, with a wooden play elephant behind. An elephant appears on the crest of the town and of the mighty Sons, Dumbarton FC. It’s a nice nod to that heritage to have these play objects reflect it:-

Previously in Alcester I’d only seen one decoish building. This time round we stayed at a different hotel a bit out of the town centre in a direction we hadn’t taken before.

As a result I came across two more.

St Benedict’s Catholic High School. Curved wall and glass bricks.:-

Just over the road really was this one. The Greig Hall and Leisure Centre. Note circular entrance building with porthole windows:-

Only minor deco but a bit surprising to see any at all.

The stand out was Boots. The tiles are classic deco:-

Earthfare has rule of three in upper windows which are possibly Critall. I suspect this is a former Woolworths:-

Children’s Hospice South West is very minor deco:-

Where we parked in Wells was near to a junction beyond which this brick building stood. Premises of R Tincknell and Son Limited:-

Since Bath is known for its Georgian architecture I had not expected to find any Art Deco buildings.

And I didn’t.

But what I did find was that some shops had Art Deco glass, in the door:-

and/or in the upper windows:-

Again here in both:-

The cross motif was repeated above the bakery’s door:

Glasgow’s St Enoch Square 1955.

I don’t remember ever seeing the rotunda to the right side of this picture.

(Photo from Britannnia Daily’s facebook.)

Old Burntisland Swimming Pool:-

It was apparently an outdoor Lido style pool:-

The photos are from Love Kirkcaldy!’s facebook page

Blocks of flats on Corbiehall, towards the west side of the town, flanking Matthew Steele Court. Columns with rule of three.

Building at end of street to the right above. Rule of three in central windows:-

Companion building to the first above on other side of Matthew Steele Court:-

Further west along the A 904:-

Detail:-

Central doorway:-

Stitch of whole building:-