Last weekend there was an Art Walk, or Artists Open House on the Wessex Estate which is only a short cycle ride from where we live. The Wessex Estate is a small area of 4 or 5 roads with black and white houses, large tropical trees and a few open areas of grassland.
The houses were built in the 1940s by the British administration and became the homes of non commissioned officers and soldiers until the 1970s. The area then transformed into an arts enclave with many artists living or having their studios in one of these iconic buildings. The whole area exudes peace and calm.
I found the first sign pointing to one of the 14 art studios that had opened it's doors to visitors that weekend and then cycled around to visit most of them
Wessex Estate even has it's own village square. Here there are now some classy restaurants, a chocolatier and the Wessex Tavern.
A little further on is The Colbar aka Colonial Bar. This had been the canteen and unofficial mess for the soldiers stationed locally. In 2003 the whole building was dismantled, moved to it's current site and then reassembled.
As the sky was looking very ominous I didn't have time to visit The Colbar but will head back another day as I'm told it's well worth a visit.
I had enjoyed my art walk although I didn't find anything that I could afford and liked enough to buy and fortunately managed to cycle home as the thunder started and just before the heavens opened
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