An Urban Wander around Brentford, London

Every time I think I'll devote some time to writing a new blog post I seem to get sidetracked. Most of the distractions are good and generally related to some of my favourite past times like mountain biking, walking, going to gigs, searching for vinyl records and reading ... which reminds me that I should mention my latest read before launching into today's post. Based on my enjoyment of Concretopia: A Journey Around the Rebuilding of Postwar Britain, by John Grindrod, and also based on my own childhood of growing up on the outskirts of London in the 1970's living on the edge of the greenbelt, I ordered another of his books, Outskirts: Living Life on the Edge of the Green Belt. 

The pictures in this post were taken a couple of months ago when I was staying up in London for work. My usual hotel near the office was priced well beyond the reach of any reasonable expenses policy, so I ended up staying a bit further out of the centre, in Brentford. I have driven past Brentford on the way into London in the past, but have never stopped and don't really know much about it, other than their football team has an annoying habit of beating my football team, but let's not dwell on that.

As I walked from the bus stop to my hotel for the night, I already suspected a different experience than my usual London overnight stay. The lane I took from the main road towards the hotel quickly became a footpath and cycle path, leaving the noise of the road behind and opening out into park land. As I approached the hotel I could see the dome of the Great Conservatory of Syon House, architected by Charles Fowler in the 1880s and restored to its former glory in the 1980s.

Great Conservatory, Syon House 

I'm assuming the turreted building was some sort of gate, or guard house, for the main house.

The actual house of Syon House, London home of the Duke of Northumberland, with grounds re-designed by Lancelot "Capability" Brown, looked wonderful in the late evening sun. Just a shame that there was a transit van parked outside to spoil the view.

Syon House in the late evening sun

The late evening sun and a liberal spread of light cloud, made for some great views and photo opportunities.

Late evening sun in Syon Park

After my evening stroll around Syon Park I headed into Brentford in search of dinner. I knew the Grand Union canal went through Brentford, but was not quite sure what to expect. Being a keen walker, and having walked on parts of the London Loop, the Grand Union Canal Walk, and the Capital Ring I was impressed by the available options on this sign ... almost a walker's paradise.

Walker's paradise signpost , Brentford Lock

Brentford lock itself remains an impressive engineering feature, but the residential areas around it left me a little cold.

Brentford lock

Brentford lock

There was however still some sign of industry of days-gone-by further down the canal.

I'm not quite sure what this building is, or was, or whether the ornate, floral metalwork was original, restored or new. Either way it made a pleasant change to the canal side flats.

This was not the first time I'd seen a mile post for Braunston. I had seen one previously during a Suburban Wander from Harefield to Moor Park following the London Loop where I had suggested it was "in the middle of nowhere" but was quickly and quite rightly corrected by a reader saying otherwise, so I won't make that mistake again.

Mile post for Braunston

The grade II former toll house is now a museum.

Former toll house, Brentford Lock

These next 2 photos were taken the following morning as I made my way back to the bus stop. I had seen the former railway bridge the previous night but it was too dark for a photo. These former railway arches used to carry the Brentford Branch Line, or Brentford Dock Line, from the GWR line at Southall down to Brentford Dock. The bridge across the road is long since gone, but the railway arches still remain, although a bit too orange for my liking. A bit of internet research suggests this line could be re-opened.

Railway arches carrying the former Brentford Dock line

Railway arches carrying the former Brentford Dock line

Here are a few links to some of the books and walks I referenced earlier on in the blog post.

    

Thanks for reading. Your comments are always welcome and appreciated. Hopefully my future posts will not be so few are far between.

A Suburban Wander Around Moor Park, Hertfordshire

Inspired by a recent read of Metroland, I ventured out from Baker Street on the Metropolitan line in to the very heart of Metroland, Moor Park. As the tube approached Moor Park, I could feel the transition from the urban to the rural as we headed out through the borderlands of Pinner, through Northwood and Northwood Hills. Leaving the station at Moor Park, it’s hard to believe that this idyllic location is actually on the Underground network, just 15 miles from central London, but in Hertfordshire. This is the view north from the platforms.

The view, looking northwards from Moor Park tube station

And this is one of the relatively low bridges which carries the lines northwards.

Bridge carrying the Metropolitan line north from Moor Park

The station, like many towards the ends of the various tune lines spreading out from the centre, is above ground. The station  building itself is quite small, set on a crescent which seems to double up as a car park for what must be prime commuter territory. I was there around 1pm and whilst it was full of cars, I saw very few people at all. I imagine the rush-hour scene would be somewhat different.

Moor Park tube station

There’s a small parade of shops immediately outside the station, and some relatively modern flats.

Shop parade and flats, Moor Park

And then the houses start. This is the Moor Park Estate, a private residential estate.

Sign for the Moor Park estate

The word houses is perhaps an under-statement … these are what one might prefer to call homes, possibly mansions. These are mostly detached, all set well back from the road in mature gardens. Most of the houses had one, if not more, four wheel drive vehicles parked on their spacious driveways, many with personalised number plates. Most had visible CCTV, which no doubt caught me wandering in amazement.

I could have taken hundreds of pictures of the leafy avenues and magnificent houses, but these are some of my favourite ones. 

Moor Park estate, Hertfordshire

Moor Park estate, Hertfordshire

Moor Park estate, Hertfordshire

Moor Park estate, Hertfordshire

Moor Park estate, Hertfordshire

Moor Park estate, Hertfordshire

Moor Park estate, Hertfordshire

Moor Park estate, Hertfordshire

Moor Park estate, Hertfordshire

The next two pictures are of Main Avenue, the first looking up the hill away from the station, the second looking back down the hill towards the station.

Main Avenue, Moor Park estate, Hertfordshire

Main Avenue, Moor Park estate, Hertfordshire

The whole area was beautifully clean, no doubt kept that way but the estate’s various contractors who I saw as gardeners, builders and security guards. The one piece of litter I did see was, perhaps appropriately, a Waitrose paper cup, and even one small area of dereliction I spotted was neatly fenced off, presumably soon to be transformed into something more fitting for the area.

Behind the shops, Moor Park, Hertfordshire

Moor Park is also featured in John Betjeman’s, still available, wonderful 1973 documentary, Metro-land, as are several other places on my list. Croxley Green and Chorleywood to name but two. I’ve watched this many times and never tire of his commentary and wit.

    

In other news, I have recently finished reading Concretopia, which despite my kids asking me why I am reading a book about concrete, I have thoroughly enjoyed. It covers the history of the rebuilding of post-war Britain, from the Gorbals in Glasgow, to the new town of Milton Keynes, from Festival Hall to the Barbican. It will certainly make me look at 1950’s buildings, houses and tower blocks with a different eye now.

An Urban Wander from Hammersmith to Shepherd's Bush, London

Once again last week I was fortunate enough to be able to get out and about for a quick, lunchtime wander. Determined to try and go somewhere I'd not been before, which is becoming increasingly difficult within a lunch hour's stroll from the office, I headed out towards Loftus Road, home of Queen's Park Rangers. I'm not a QPR fan, although technically I should support them as I grew up in Ruislip which was just a couple of miles from where QPR used to train, and more importantly, Stan Bowls lived in my road. However, football nostalgia was not the purpose of my visit.

First up we have a  couple of pictures Sinclair Mansions, between Goldhawk Road and Shepherd's Bush. I particularly liked the brickwork and the arches on these buildings. The more modern look of the area can be seen in the far distance, as one of the office buildings near the Westfield shopping centre.

Sinclair Mansions, London W12

Sinclair Mansions, London W12

If I'm honest I didn't find very much that was inspiring on my wander, which I suspect was more to do with my mood than the environment. I'm sure, as is often the case, should I return I would see plenty of interest What did catch my eye though was these old Public Baths in Lime Grove on my way back, which are now re-purposed for residential and/or office use.

Hammersmith Public Baths & Wash Houses, Lime Grove, London

Pleased to see that the original signage is still intact though, although the signage above the doors, which I'm guessing would have said "Men" over one door and "Women" over the other, has been removed. Curiously there's a third door .. I wonder what this one would have read.

Hammersmith Public Baths & Wash Houses, Lime Grove, London

So, not actually that many pictures considering the wander was about an hour, but hopefully the pictures I did take are of interest.

    

An Urban Wander around Islington, London N1 (part 2)

Hot(ish) on the heels of my Psychogeography inspired first installment of an Urban Wander around Islington, is part two. First up, we have a couple of pictures of the former entrance and exit to Highbury Station. The station itself is still used, but this entrance is no longer in use itself, although has been refurbished over the past few years from the crumbling mess it once was. Also, as I was posting this, I noticed the interesting looking dome to the left-hand side of the station. Not sure what that is though.

Disused entrance to Highbury Station

Disused entrance to and exit from Highbury Station

I assume at one time these houses towards the end of Calabria Road were all shops of some.

Calabria Road, Islington, London N1

Calabria Road, Islington, London N1

I suspect this coffee shop is a real little gem, but alas we did not have time to sample its wares. Maybe another time perhaps.

Little Gem Coffee Shop, Corsica Street, Islington, London N1

An unusual ghost sign, displaying nothing more than the street name and number.

55 CORSICA ST. 55

Ghost sign, Corsica Street, Islington, London N1

Ghost sign, Corsica Street, Islington, London N1

Not as ornate as many utility buildings I've come across, but there is still something about this electricity substation that appeals to me.

Islington Electricity Department building, Islington, London N1

A former pub, the Old Parr's Head, now home to various clothes shops, which I suspect do not offer luncheons daily.

Ghost sign for former pub, Islington, London N1

Curiously the same building also has the signage

BARCLAY PERKINS & CO LTD

Ghost sign for former pub, Islington, London N1

Ghost sign for former pub, Islington, London N1

And finally on this installment we have a most impressive old sign 

ESTABLISHED 1850

P.B.SPOONER & G.A.BUSHMAN.

M.R.C.V.S.

VETERINARY SURGEONS

AND AT 18, HOLLOWAY ROAD.

Ghost sign for Veterinary Surgeons, Islington, London N1

Part three to follow soon ... hopefully.

    

An Urban Wander from Shoreditch to Islington, London

With the evenings firmly in the grip of winter darkness, it's very difficult to manage to do any urban wandering after work, but fortunately this week I had some time on my hands during daylight hours. For this particular Urban Wander, I have returned to one of my favourite haunts, Shoreditch, from where I drifted northwards until I hit the Regents Canal. The whole of Shoreditch and surrounding area is home to a wide range of ever-changing street art. Here are just a couple of examples that I'd either not seen previously, or not photographed before.

Street Art, Shoreditch, London N1

Street Art, Shoreditch, London N1

I'm not quite sure what this fabulous old building is used for now, but pretty sure it's no longer the Haggerston Branch of the Shoreditch Library.

Former library, Shoreditch, London N1

This ghost sign is not as old as many I've seen in this area, but I like it all the same.I can make out some of the writing, but not all of it.

Medallion
Homes

? Borders Limited
? Orford Road
Walthamstow

Ghost sign, Mill Row, Hoxton, London N1

Now we come to the part of the wander where I turned my attentions to the Regents Canal, walking from Kingsland Road to Islington. The first thing that struck me about this canal was how busy the towpath was. I really had to pick my timing to get some of these pictures to avoid the passing pedestrians and cyclists. Secondly, I had stumbled across a district in London that was new to me, De Beauvoir. I only really saw it from the canal, and like so many other places I only scratched the surface, so have made a mental note to return.

Thomas Briggs Factory, De Beauvoir Town, London N1

This ghost sign on the former Rosemary Works building, or rather two separate ghost signs, is across the canal from the Thomas Briggs factory above. Unfortunately it's almost impossible to decypher any of the words.

Rosemary Works, De Beauvoir Town, London N1

Rosemary Works, De Beauvoir Town, London N1

Back to the Thomas Briggs factory once more, which seemed to have something interesting on every facade.

Thomas Briggs Factory, De Beauvoir Town, London N1

Thomas Briggs Factory, de Beauvoir Town, London N1

Thomas Briggs Factory, De Beauvoir Town, London N1

Thomas Briggs Factory, De Beauvoir Town, London N1

Thomas Briggs Factory, De Beauvoir Town, London N1 

Conscious that I was running out of time, I made my way quickly along the canal towpath towards a chimney tower I could see in the distance. Initially I thought this was the one on the Diespeker building that I'd been to before, but was pleased to discover this was in fact another one at Eagle Wharf. Unfortunately the weather was rather overcast and I'm sure this tower would look much better with a blue sky background. Next time maybe.

Eagle Wharf, de Beauvoir Town, London N1

So this next chimney tower is the one on the former Diespeker marble works.

Diespeker Wharf, Islington, London

Having now run out of time, as I left the towpath near Islington, the sun had finally managed to burn through the early morning mist, allowing me to get at least one photo with a blue sky. This is an abandoned pub, just off the canal in Islington.

Abandoned pub, Islington, London