In the Heat of the Night

I was enjoying my new office until this week, when it began to resemble the iron box in The Bridge on the River Kwai, with me as Colonel Nicholson. Next Monday promises to be a relatively subarctic 21C - I can't wait.

Several interesting books have turned up recently. My favourite is a rather odd American catalogue of bird cages from 1930. I'm not sure why anyone would buy it, but after selling books on electricity substations and condensed milk, I'm no longer surprised by anything.

Another useful find was an old 60s paperback of George R. Stewart's fine post-apocalyptic novel, Earth Abides, which I read avidly over two days. It had a garish science fiction cover, but didn't read like a sci-fi novel and fortunately there were no maps with a 'western sea' or people with apostrophes in the middle of their names. I'd thoroughly recommend it.

In addition to bird cage catalogues and 1960s paperbacks, four mysterious photographs turned up. The first two are from 1966:

This reminds me of my childhood home, from the garish carpet and curtains to the ill-matched prewar furniture. I expect the television was rented; ours was.

And for most people in Britain, this was the 'Swinging 60s'. The Beatles may have just released Revolver, but I don't think my parents or their friends were aware of it.

The next two photographs are a mystery and I'd be grateful if anyone could shed some light on the locations. The first looks as if it is war-damaged. But where?

As for the next picture, it vaguely resembles the Stargate - perhaps it's the portal that sends people from Stoke Newington to Lewes when they have children.

Answers on a postcard please. The winner will receive a copy of the C.H.I.Ps Annual, if they want it.