Sepia Saturday 251 - former Police Stations

To make up for missing the last two week's Sepia Saturday, I thought I'd get in early this week with my take on the theme ... I've gone for police, but not actually policemen as in this week's prompt, but a couple of pictures I have taken during my urban wanders around London of former Police Stations.

The first two pictures are from the former Police Station at Barnes, just south of the Thames in London, which I believe is now used for residential purposes. The lettering above the entrance is still present though, and ticks all the boxes for me as a ghost sign too.

Former Police Station, Barnes, London

Former Police Station, Barnes, London

My other entry for this week is a boarded up Police Station on the Harrow Road. This one is slightly less glamorous than the previous one in its present state but I'm sure it will soon be converted into something.

Former Police Station, Harrow Road, London

If you've seen me post on Sepia Saturday before from my vintage postcards or vintages magazines blogs, but you also like the content of this blog, then why not take a look at more of the posts in my In Search of Space blog, which covers my urban, rural and coastal wanders in search of almost anything and everything, including ghost signs, abandonment and decay, and disused railway lines.

An Urban Wander around Maida Vale and Warwick Avenue, London

Since moving offices, I don't very often find a chance to wander around the Paddington area much anymore, so was pleased last when when an opportunity arose which presented me with a lunch hour where this became possible once again. Typically there is only so far I can get in a lunch hour. I can go further if one way I used the tube, but today was a walk both ways wander.

First up we have a former police station on the Harrow Road, complete with ghost sign above the doorway. The doorway itself looks recently renovated, so slightly curious why this station is now no longer used and boarded up.

Ghost sign over former police station, Harrow Road, London

Just around the corner I came across a ghost sign being revealed. I ought to try and return next week to see if any other letters have been revealed, or whether, as perhaps seems more likely, it will have been covered up again. So, unfortunately not much to go on to suggest what it once said.

Ghost sign, off the Harrow Road, London

I don't usually take pictures of ghost signs of street names, normally because the new sign has been placed on top of the old sign, but in this case they were sufficiently apart to make the picture worthwhile. Also of interest was that Shirland Mews would seem to have moved from the W8 to W9 district over the years.

Ghost sign, Shirland Mews, London

Immediately opposite the ghost sign were these doorways.

Doors, Shirland Mews, London

On the return leg of my wander, I came across this doorway mosaic on, I think, Shirland Road, but can't be sure. What struck me as curious about this is the fact that it's not centred. There's nothing to suggest that there were ever any more letters at one time. 

Doorway mosaic, Shirland Road, London

I've seen these former green, cabman's shelters in various places around London but never really stopped to look at them before today. This one in Warwick Avenue, is one of 13 remaining out of the original 61 that were built in the Victorian era.

Cabman's shelter, Warwick Avenue, London

And finally, needing no real introduction, we have the entrance to Warwick Avenue underground station.

Entrance to Warwick Avenue tube station, London

Come back often to read about my latest urban, rural and coastal wanders, inspired by my recent interest in Psychogeography.