pieter-jan Posted 14 November , 2006 Share Posted 14 November , 2006 here are a few photos of the new visitercenter kind regards pieter-jan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pieter-jan Posted 14 November , 2006 Author Share Posted 14 November , 2006 more photos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul guthrie Posted 14 November , 2006 Share Posted 14 November , 2006 Looks ugly to me, I am sure though it's unobtrusive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony Bagshaw Posted 14 November , 2006 Share Posted 14 November , 2006 Paul, i agree Just a lump of concrete with a bit of glass to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevem49 Posted 14 November , 2006 Share Posted 14 November , 2006 When we visited in October, we thought it looked a lot like a bunker - Not unlike the ones in the cemetery. Possibly that is the idea behind it. Found it an excellant viewing area and moving place to visit. Considering it does not have its official opening until next year, possibly we should wait and pass judgement then. stevem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Robertson Posted 14 November , 2006 Share Posted 14 November , 2006 Was is designed by the same person who designed the new centre at Langemark? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisC Posted 15 November , 2006 Share Posted 15 November , 2006 The best thing about it achitecturally is that it is invisible from inside or in front of the Cemetery. Chris C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Bennitt Posted 15 November , 2006 Share Posted 15 November , 2006 I was there about two days after it opened, and I've already said elsewhere on this forum that it seems to have been designed to fit in with the public loos further up the hill. Inside, though, it's good, witha sort of long pill-box type window overlooking the battlefield with what the French call a 'table d'orientation.' The resemblance to Langemarck seems too great to be coincidental. They've also introduced a sort of one-way system at Tyne Cot, channelling you from the car park (and loos) to the visitor centre, in at the bottom gate, and out again at the top. Spose it makes sense but I'm not one to be regimented if I can avoid it. cheers Martin B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6th Shropshires Posted 15 November , 2006 Share Posted 15 November , 2006 I agree ugly on the out side but very moving once inside, the reading out of the names of the dead and their photos coming up on monitor inside was very moving, it brought tears to my eyes. Annette Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul guthrie Posted 15 November , 2006 Share Posted 15 November , 2006 I don't understand how one can leave Tyne Cot any where other than entrance. Glad to hear center is not visible from cemetery, I felt sure it would be done that way. I am all for it . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lyndon Posted 15 November , 2006 Share Posted 15 November , 2006 it seems to have been designed to fit in with the public loos further up the hill. cheers Martin B That was exactly my first thought!!! Lyndon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevem49 Posted 15 November , 2006 Share Posted 15 November , 2006 I don't understand how one can leave Tyne Cot any where other than entrance. Glad to hear center is not visible from cemetery, I felt sure it would be done that way. I am all for it . There is a new opening at the top by the memorial and closer to the car park. Although of course you do not have to use it. No doubt an entrance and exit that are separate will at least stop the log jam when 20 coaches turn up. Not that i have anything against the xBaax (sorry) people that arrive by coach ( I just have a natural aversion to coaches no matter were they are) stevem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pieter-jan Posted 15 November , 2006 Author Share Posted 15 November , 2006 more photos of the inside pj more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greyhound Posted 15 November , 2006 Share Posted 15 November , 2006 the xBaax (sorry) people that arrive by coach There is a surprising number of people who cannot drive, and many who can lack the confidence to drive in mainland Europe on the “other side of the road”. Going to the battlefields by coach also offers the chance to be in the company of others with the same interest, to learn from them and to swap stories. A chance too to share moving moments, as when someone is able to visit a family grave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul guthrie Posted 15 November , 2006 Share Posted 15 November , 2006 I like the view from inside. Seems they would have to damge the cemetery wall to make the new entry. True? Obviously not where the names of the missing are. Just where is it as one stands at the entrance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Shaw Posted 15 November , 2006 Share Posted 15 November , 2006 Are we going to see visitor centres at every site on the front, selling tacky gifts? At Thiepval this year on the 11th there was a chip van on the car park. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurel Sercu Posted 15 November , 2006 Share Posted 15 November , 2006 (...), selling tacky gifts? John, Sorry, I'm not sure I understand. Do you think there are plans for this with regard to Tyne Cot Cemetery ? That's new to me. Haven't heard about these possible plans yet. Somehow it seems to me that you do not find a Visitors' Centre at Tyne Cot Cemetery a good idea... (Don't forget that until there was one, many people found it an absolute shame that there was none ... No decent parking space ... No sanitary facilities ... No explanation about the historical importance of the site ...) Aurel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul guthrie Posted 15 November , 2006 Share Posted 15 November , 2006 Agreed Aurel, it's 100% to the good, unobtrusive - or so I hear, not seen it yet and there are so many people, restrooms are a real good idea, and let's remember almost all visitors do need some explanation. Tacky gifts are not sold at Verdun ossuary, Thiepval Visitor Center, Historial at Peronne, Cloth Hall etc and I bet an arm they won't be here either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernard_Lewis Posted 15 November , 2006 Share Posted 15 November , 2006 I don't drive abroad (wimp) so its the coach for me. Being Welsh, sheep are amongst my best friends. Allegedly. Bernard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate Wills Posted 15 November , 2006 Share Posted 15 November , 2006 QUOTE(steve morse @ Nov 15 2006, 04:59 PM) the xBaax (sorry) people that arrive by coach There is a surprising number of people who cannot drive, and many who can lack the confidence to drive in mainland Europe on the “other side of the road”. Going to the battlefields by coach also offers the chance to be in the company of others with the same interest, to learn from them and to swap stories. A chance too to share moving moments, as when someone is able to visit a family grave. Can someone enlighten me? I appear to be a 'xBaax', but I can't complete the word. Please PM if it is too naughty for public view. Greyhound - excellent post. Whenever I have toured the battlefields by coach I have learned much and enjoyed agreeable company. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkristof Posted 15 November , 2006 Share Posted 15 November , 2006 As far as I know there will be never a shop on the tyne cot site... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Shaw Posted 16 November , 2006 Share Posted 16 November , 2006 John, Sorry, I'm not sure I understand. Do you think there are plans for this with regard to Tyne Cot Cemetery ? That's new to me. Haven't heard about these possible plans yet. Somehow it seems to me that you do not find a Visitors' Centre at Tyne Cot Cemetery a good idea... (Don't forget that until there was one, many people found it an absolute shame that there was none ... No decent parking space ... No sanitary facilities ... No explanation about the historical importance of the site ...) Aurel Aurel Sorry but I find visitor centres like the one at Thiepval tastless, the model of the memorial is on a plinth too high for children to see. And they are selling "T" shirts. Ok I agree toilets are a good idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyspiller Posted 16 November , 2006 Share Posted 16 November , 2006 Pals Sorry, I take a different slant on this one. Having a g-uncle buried in Tyne Cot makes every visit a celebration. Last time the family went, someone else had left a poppy cross on his grave. Thanks whoever that was. IMHO, the more people that visit, the more that their occupant's message is put across. I have NO problem whatsoever with a new building that is not within the original cemetery Rgds Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurel Sercu Posted 16 November , 2006 Share Posted 16 November , 2006 John, Last time I was at Thiepval, the Visitors' Centre was under construction. I'll keep a critical eye on it next time I'm there. And T shirts (or similar items) should not be sold near Memorials indeed. No problem if in the village or town maybe, but not near the Memorial. Aurel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asdarley Posted 20 November , 2006 Share Posted 20 November , 2006 Agreed Aurel, it's 100% to the good, unobtrusive - or so I hear, not seen it yet and there are so many people, restrooms are a real good idea, and let's remember almost all visitors do need some explanation. Tacky gifts are not sold at Verdun ossuary, Thiepval Visitor Center, Historial at Peronne, Cloth Hall etc and I bet an arm they won't be here either. I agree there is a need for explanation as more people with only a vague understanding of events visit. But it is a fine line between "interpretation centre" and gift shop! I personally felt the Thiepval centre bordered on the gift shop ( a la National Trust). Whilst in my 'umble opinion Vimy Ridge was to my mind closer to a theme park. However, if another generation through these learn to value and respect the sacrifices made then maybe we shouldn't complain. With regards to buses....give me a bus before a Bloody campervan anytime!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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