Another Urban Wander around Hammersmith

Despite the gloomy weather today, I was determined to get out of the office for some air, and a quick wander around. I'm running out of new places to explore within easy walking distance of the office but did manage to fund somewhere new today, although parts of the wander crossed previous drifts.

The first photo is of a ghost sign for  

PRINCESS CHRISTIAN HAMMERSMITH DAY NURSERY

I must have walked past this before but had never noticed it before. Maybe it's been recently uncovered?

Ghost sign, Hammersmith, London W6

The next few photos are all of the arches beneath the Hammersmith and City underground line on the stretch between Goldhawk Road and Hammersmith tube stations. Presumably when first built, these arches were left open, but now the majority of them seem to be occupied by various trades.

Arches beneath the Hammersmith and City Line, London W6

Arches beneath the Hammersmith and City Line, London W6

Arches beneath the Hammersmith and City Line, London W6

Arches beneath the Hammersmith and City Line, London W6

As my wander drew to a close I cam across two mews that were new to me. Again unfortunately the poor weather does not show these mews in their best light.

Grove Mews, Hammersmith, London W6

Grove Mews, Hammersmith, London W6

Astrop Mews, Hammersmith, London W6

Astrop Mews, Hammersmith, London W6

Stay tuned for more urban wandering, with hopefully some brighter weather.

Three short Urban Wanders around Kensington and Hammersmith

Hot on the heels of my first Urban Wander of 2014 around Imperial Wharf this write-up combines three shorter, separate wanders around the Kensington and Hammersmith areas.

My first wander was around Kensington Olympia. This is an area I have wandered around many times, sometimes for the sole purpose of looking around, other times simply passing through en route to another place. However, it's one of those places that always seems to offer something new. The first few photos are of a mews just to the north of Kensington Olympia station.

Russell Gardens Mews, London W14

Russell Gardens Mews, London W14

Russell Gardens Mews, London W14

I've always liked the architecture of Olympia, and this view from the bridge over the railway lines at the station has to be one of the best. It's a bit of a shame about the advertising hoardings in the foreground but little I could do about that.

Kensington Olympia, London W14

The final photo from this part of the wander is of a disused platform at Kensington Olympia station. The station now only has one track running through the centre of the two main, platformed tracks, whereas I assume in the past that there were two tracks which ran between the platformed tracks. What seems to have happened is that the southbound platform has moved in towards the centre by a line, leaving what was the original southbound platform in a state of abandonment. Also, although unfortunately not part of this photo set, there is the old motorail terminal on the other side of the station which has now been converted into a car park.

Disused platform at Kensington Olympia station

Part two of my wander was along the river, early(ish) in the moning. I've been fascinated by this building for a while but only today did I manage to get a half-decent opportunity to photograph it. The building is the former Harrods Furniture Depository building which was used to store items that were too big for the Knightsbridge shop. Today it has been converted into residential use. The sign is still visible, so I'm counting this as a ghost sign as well.

Harrods Furniture Depository

 My third and final venture was another short lunchtime wander. Once again I found myself walking along some very familiar streets, but once again I stumbled across a small road that I'd not noticed before. The weather was near perfect and I was particularly pleased with the way the street lamp came out in the first photo.

Pembroke Walk, Kensington, London W8

Pembroke Walk, Kensington, London W8

Pembroke Walk, Kensington, London W8

    

Urban Wandering around Imperial Wharf, London

Well, firstly a belated Happy New Year to readers of this blog. When I started this post I was surprised to see that I had not posted since the middle of December, so already almost a month ago. I have actually been doing a reasonable amount of Urban Wandering this year but not really found the opportunity to post about any of it yet. My favourite wander of the year so far was to Imperial Wharf, near the Chelsea Docks.

I arrived at Imperial Wharf by London Overground, travelling just two stops from Kensington Olympia which is within walking distance of my office, so just about enough time to squeeze in at lunchtime. As I left the station the first sight which greeted me was this fantastic, old power station which used to provide the electricity for the London Underground. It's now a listed building and is earmarked for redevelopment.

Lots Road Power Station, Imperial Wharf, London

The planned redevelopment will create shops, restaurants and residential apartments, including two tower blocks on this piece of wasteland. A shame really as the whole area seems already full of new buildings and very little of its original architecture is remaining. Fortunately there are publications such as London's Lost Power Stations and Gas Works which show the site as it was in the industrial heyday and map its decline.

Wasteland near Lots Road Power Station, Imperial Wharf, London

Wasteland near Lots Road Power Station, Imperial Wharf, London

As I skirted around the perimeter of the power station, its size and elegance became more impressive.

Lots Road Power Station, Imperial Wharf, London

This side of the power station is curious in that whatever was attached to it just seems to have been hacked away.

Lots Road Power Station, Imperial Wharf, London

Continuing further down Lots Road past the power station was another fantastic building, the Thames Water Pumping Station.

Thames Water Pumping Station, Lots Road, London

Finally on this Urban Wander I found myself in front of this impressive gas holder at the former Imperial Gas Works.

Imperial Gas Works, Imperial Wharf, London

    

Thanks for reading my first post of 2014and check back regularly for more tales of Urban Wandering and other Psychogeography related musings.