The Greenwich Meridian

Currently viewing images from 21 Sep 2017

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Neuvillalais embraced the millennium by not only marking the position of the Meridian across three roads in the vicinity of the church, but also by erecting a large globe next to the church tower. From north to south, the roads that were marked are: Rue de la Fontaine, Rue du Méridien and Place de l’Église. The marking runs almost continuously from one to the next. Rue du Méridien (which is home to Le Méridien, a bar/restaurant/épicerie) is part of the D21 and runs from one side of the village to the other.

The globe, which was filled with polystyrene and soil, with the land masses represented by living plants was removed at some point between 2012 and 2017. At the same time, the nearby plaque explaining its significance had the central part of the text removed and was relocated to a new position at road level (on Rue du Méridien).

On the day when the 2012 photographs were taken, there was an unusual amount of activity and parking in the village, as a result of a Vide-Grenier or attic sale (a sale of unwanted items similar to a car boot sale). The 2012 images are arranged roughly as follows. Two introductory images are followed by a sequence of images of the Line running from Place de l’Église in the south, past the globe by the church, across Rue du Méridien and onto Rue de la Fontaine to the north. These are followed by detailed images of the globe and sign , and then by a sequence showing the road signs carrying the words Rue du Méridien. The signs start with the one at the centre of the village outside the church. This is followed by the sign at the east side of the village, followed by the one at the west. The later image sets taken after the removal of the globe are arranged broadly in the same order.