On the same day as I undertook my short urban wander from Greenwich to New Cross, via a couple of record shops, I then headed over the river to Dalston, where I started the next part of my drift. I'd been curious about the Dalston Eastern Curve garden for a while so headed for this as my first port of call. It's one acre of green space built on a former railway track, to be precise the line which once connected Dalston Junction station with the old North London Railway. No remains of the railway in sight, but an interesting open space with a café too. I'm not sure my pictures quite do it justice, and although open all year I imagine it would look even better later in the year.
Dalston Eastern Curve Garden, Dalston, East London
Dalston Eastern Curve Garden, Dalston, East London
Leaving the gardens behind, I headed west along Balls Pond Road and came across a former pub, The Anchor, which seems to have closed as a pub many years ago, and is now (possibly) a wine bar. Fortunately the old pub signage can still be seen on the gable, otherwise I would have missed it completely.
Former pub, The Anchor, Balls Pond Road, Islington, North London
Next up we have a very feint ghostsign on King Henry's Walk. I can't find any information about this one, and frustratingly I can only make out the words TURNING OF on the bottom line
Ghostsign on King Henry's Walk, Islington, London N1
Continuing my trek through Islington I came across the former premises of PLAYBOARD PUPPETS on Ockendon Road, a puppet company created by Ian Allen and John Thirtle in 1971, famous for the Button Moon stage and TV show. The signage is still clearly legible above the threshold.
Ghostsign on the former premises of Playboard Puppets, Ockendon Road, Islington, London N1
Further along the Essex Road is the former premises of JAY, which was a silversmith, goldsmith and watch maker. Pretty much all that's left as a clue to the origin of this building is the lettering in one of the shop doorways.
Doorway to the former JAY watch maker's, Essex Road, Islington, London N1
After a quick stop for a further vinyl fix at Flashback Records in Islington, I continued on my meander. Not much further along the Essex Road is the wonderful art deco style Gracepoint building, formerly the Carlton Cinema, designed by architect George Coles.
Gracepoint building, Essex Road, Islington, North London N1
Essex Road really does seem to be the road that keeps on giving, and not far from the previous find, we have the former premises of R.Gunner, a small chain of provisions merchants, whose initials can be seen both in the doorway mosaic and the tiled wall.
Doorway mosaic and tiling for R.Gunner, Essex Road, Islington, London N1
Moving along Essex Road a bit further we come across a rather wonderful old sign on the corner of Popham Street for
X-ZALIA
NIGHT CURE FOR
CATARRH
COLDS IN THE HEAD
INFANTS INFLUENZA
SIMPLE & INEXPENSIVE
Old sign for X-Zalia catarrh treatment, Essex Road, Islington, North London, N1
Moving away from Essex Road now, I ventured westwards and came across this former pub, the Old Parr's Head, on the corner of Cross Street and Upper Street. The building still has much of its old pub tiling, including some wonderful signs (see below) but is now a branch of Monsoon, so I imagine they will no longer be serving LUNCHEONS DAILY as the sign suggests.
Tiling on the Old Parr's Head pub, Islington, North London, N1
Tiling on the Old Parr's Head pub, Islington, North London, N1
Yet another former pub as I made my way to Barnsbury. This is the Rainbow, on the corner of Liverpool Road and Barnsbury Street, built in 1879 but not serving pints for quite a while now I imagine.
Former pub, The Rainbow, Barnsbury, North London, N1
And so on to what is now one of my favourite parts of London, full of history and interesting architecture. Having spent many an hour wandering around the various inner and outer suburbs and districts of London I'm not sure how I would have missed Barnsbury before. One possible reason is that it does not have any record shops as far as I can see, which is usually my main reason for exploring, but there's so much to see here, it's going to deserve another visit, or two.
First up we have another former pub, this time it's the former Whitbread pub, The Prince of Wales, at 71 Barnsbury Street. I've included a few pictures of this one as I was quite taken by it's appearance and wonderful green tiling, along with the Whitbread tankard sign.
Former pub, The Prince of Wales, 71 Barnsbury Street, North London, N1
Former pub, The Prince of Wales, 71 Barnsbury Street, North London, N1
Former pub, The Prince of Wales, 71 Barnsbury Street, North London, N1
My poor old legs were getting tired now but I'm glad I kept going on my wander and found another ghostsign, and what a beauty it is. This is on the corner of Cloudesley Road and Richmond Avenue.
WOOTON'S CASH CHEMIST
DISPENSING
CHEMIST
HOURS OF BUSINESS
9AM TO 6-30PM
THURSDAY TO 1 PM
TOILET &
NURSERY
REQUISITES
PHOTOGRAPHIC
MATERIALS
Ghostsign for Wotton's Cash Chemist, Cloudesley Road, London N1
This next couple of pictures are of the front of the former chemist, on Richmond Avenue. The building on the left would have been the actual chemist, whereas the one on the left is some sort of former off-licence, possibly called The Cork & Bottle, although I cannot make that out from the sign above the threshold,
Former shops, Richmond Avenue, London N1
A close up of the shop window showing presumably some of what they would have sold, Fizz, and the opening hours.
Former shop window, Richmond Avenue, London N1
Just around the corner from Richmond Avenue is the former premises of HENRY LICHT. Unfortunately I was unable to find any further information on this building.
Former premises of Henry Licht, Barnsbury Street, London N1
A slightly zoomed out picture showing even more former shops and studios in Barnsbury Street.
Former shops and studios in Barnsbury Street, North London, N1
I originally thought this next building, on Agar Grove, was a former pub but I can't find any information about it on the
Closed Pubs site, so I'm assuming that instead it was most likely a shop in its previous life. I suspect the brick wall above the windows would have held some sort of signage. I zoomed in close on my PC and think I can make out the odd letter but may be imagining it.
Former shop (?), Agar Grove, London N1
This turned out to be quite an epic walk, and as mentioned Barnsbury is definitely and area I'll be returning to as it feels like there's plenty more to see. As usual many thanks for reading and stay tuned for more posts.
