Urban Wandering: Rossmore Road, London NW1

Having walked many times in most of the different directions from my London office, I was looking over a map of the surrounding area, trying to find somewhere new that was do-able in an hour. Almost immediately Rossmore Road leapt out of the page at me. I have absolutely no idea how I remember this, as I only ever recall hearing the song a few times on the radio back in 1980, probably courtesy of John Peel, but the one time member of XTC and Shriekback, Barry Andrews' song, Rossmore Road, was firmly back in my mind, and I could even remember the tune (in parts). So this was an urban wander with a purpose as opposed to the usual drift.

Street sign for Rossmore Road, London NW1

Rossmore Road, London NW1

The opening line of the songs is "The 159 runs along it" ... as true today as it was back in 1980.

Bus stop on Rossmore Road, London NW1

"Next stop on the tube
Marylebone Road
And you can see
Balcombe Street from Rossmore Road"

Ok, a bit of poetic license here as this is Marylebone train station as opposed to the tube station, and the road is Boston Road (Balcombe Street is the next one along).

View of Marylebone Station from Rossmore Road, London NW1

If you've never heard this song before then I urge you to check it out, and if you've never listened to XTC or Shriekback either, well, what can I say ... start with Fossil Fuel and work outwards and onwards from there.