Urban Wandering: Islington, London EC1 and WC1

Following my recent, first urban wander around Clerkenwell a week or so back, I found myself with an opportunity to return last week. Despite trying to follow different paths, I kept gravitating towards Clerkenwell Green, so had to adjust course a couple of times to make sure I found some new ground. Eventually I ended up heading slightly further north than planned and found myself, in Islington.

The first two pictures are of an abandoned pub, in Dingley Road, just off City Road. The remaining letters on the sign in the first photo suggest it once said "MERCHANT & ..." but unfortunately that's the only clue I have. However a bit of research shows that the pub was actually called the Princess Alice, so maybe the sign used to say "WINE MERCHANT & ...". I did find another site which was advertsing the building for sale, and had done a CGI mock-up of the place.

Abandoned pub, the Princess Alice, Dingley Road, London EC1

The view from the other side was just as interesting and I particularly like the tree growing out of the gutter.

Abandoned pub, the Princess Alice, Dingley Road, London EC1

As my walk progressed I found myself in a better preserved neighbourhood, and as you'll all know by now I can't resist a mews.

Doughty Mews, London WC1

Doughty Mews, London WC1

    

Urban Wandering: south of King's Cross, London WC1

For some reason I have managed to get a bit out of sync with my postings. These pictures actually pre-date my previous King's Cross post by a day or two. On this particular urban wander I ventured south of King's Cross, along the Grays Inn Road, on the look out for ghost signs. Howver, I found myself drifting back towards a few mews off the main drag. For those of you who read this blog prior to my fairly recent, minor obsession with ghost signs, will know that tracking down quiet London mews was probably my first excursion into the world of psychogeography. Mews generally look good on any day of the year, but with a near perfect blue sky as a back drop, they are unsurpassed ... and to have no cars in sight is also a rare bonus.

 Brownlow Mews, London WC1

Brownlow Mews, London WC1

Thought this double-arched entrance looked unusual and interesting.

 

Wren Street, London WC1

This last shot is probably my favourite of the batch, but more for its subject matter rather than for any photographic skills (or lack of). This is a garage just to the south of King's Cross station. The sign above the door reads, "C.E.Norris & Sons Ltd. Offices 73/5 Kenton St., Phone. TER 4577". The letters "TER" which prefix the four digit phone number relate to the telephone exchange name, in this case Terminus.

Old sign on a garage in Whidbourne Street, King's Cross, London, WC1