An Urban Wander from Primrose Hill to Kings Cross via Camden

Interrupting my suburban wandering along the London Loop Recreational Walk I had an opportunity to visit the area around Primrose for a couple of hours before an appointment. The Primrose Hill area has always been a bit of a favourite of mine, although I don't think I've ever really posted any pictures of it, apart from one possibly from the top of Primrose Hill overlooking London. So, with an opportunity to put this right I set about with my hand-me-down phone whose camera is unfortunately nowhere near as good as my old phone.

Painted houses, Chalcot Crescent, Primrose Hill, London NW1

I hadn't ventured very far but was already in need of sustenance when I stumbled across this wonderful café, Chloe's Espresso, on the bridge crossing the railway line out of Euston. The road is actually a continuation of Regent's Park Road but cars are prevented from accessing this part of it, making it an interesting pedestrian thoroughfare linking the distinctly upper class Primrose Hill with the more edgier Chalk Farm and Camden.

Chloe's Espresso, Regent's Park Road, London NW1

Chloe's Espresso, Regent's Park Road, London NW1

I've walked along this stretch of the Regent's Canal plenty of times before but had never looked at it from above.

Regent's Canal, Primrose Hill, London NW1

Quite a contrast looking from the bridge in the opposite direction, across the railway lines, towards Camden.

Camden from bridge over the Regent's Canal, Primrose Hill, London NW1

This wheel is not going anywhere, unlike it would seem the rest of the bike. Unless of course this is an installation.

Art installation or unfortunate cyclist?

Having wandered around Primrose Hill, poking my way through as many different streets as I could find, I dropped down on to the canal tow path and made my way towards Camden.

Former wharves lining the Regent's Canal, Camden, London NW1

Former wharves lining the Regent's Canal, Camden, London NW1

The old and the new, Regent's Canal, near Camden, London NW1

Always a bit of a sucker for a gas holder, mainly through reading London's Lost Power Stations and Gas Works I was pleasantly surprised that the former Kings Cross gas holders have been kept and have been incorporated into the design of these new apartments.

Gas holder, Kings Cross, London

Gas holder, Kings Cross, London

And so another urban wander reaches its end. Despite this one being through some fairly familiar territory, I once again saw it with new eyes inspired by Psychogeography.

    

An Urban Wander around Islington, London N1 (part 3)

So finally, here's the third and final installment of my recent urban wander around Islington, London N1. Follow the links to read part one or part two if you missed them. Before I start, and before someone points it out and embarrasses me, the pictures towards the end of this final post are not technically in Islington and you'll see a bit of Finsbury and Clerkenwell appearing, but I decided against changing the post title as it would have become a bit of a mouthful. Also it's a bit longer than the previous two installments, but I was determined not to stretch the wander to a fourth.

Narrow passageway, Islington, London N1

Beyond the main street that runs through Islington, it really does have a bit of everything. I was particularly impressed by this work of urban topiary on Cross Street. 

Urban Topiary, Islington, London N1

Narrow passageway, Islington, London N1

I'm always a sucker for an old car, and Citroens in particular. I am however not any sort of car officiando, so apart from telling you it's an old Citroen I can offer no further information.

Old Citroen, Islington, London N1

There is so much street art in London, and a lot of it not photo worthy, but I did like this one. A Warhol-esque which I assume is Madonna, but I could easily be wrong, complete with its own, overlaid installation of what looks to be some sort of fencing.

Street Art, Islington, London N1

I had to stand in the middle of the road to get this picture, but I think it was worth it. Fortunately most of the ghost sign is legible, but alas the left hand side has disappeared completely.

??? ZALIA

??? NIGHT CURE FOR

CATARRH

COLDS IN THE HEAD

??? INFLUENZA

???

Ghost sign, Islington, London N1

This is quite possibly my favourite ghost sign, spotted on a café in Islington.

Old sign, Islington, London N1

I'm not sure if these are actually bird boxes, and if they are whether they are functional or simply artistic. Either way they caught my eye and I like them.

Bird boxes, Islington, London N1

I had no idea what LATE BLAND was, but a bit of internet research suggests that this was previously a butcher's shop, owned by John Bland.

Old sign, Islington, London N1

This next selection of pictures are all from the same building, Lloyd's Diary on the corner of River Street and Amwell Street. Not only is there some fantastic signage above the windows and doorway, but there was also a doorway mosaic.

DAIRY FARMERS

Ghost sign, Islington, London N1

LLOYD & SON

Ghost sign, Islington, London N1

HIGH CLASS DAIRY PRODUCE

Ghost sign, Islington, London N1

LLOYD'S

DAIRY

Doorway mosaic, Islington, London N1

My wander had by now definitely drifted into Finsbury, as can be seen by the Sign above this café in Pine Street.

Café Postou, Finsbury, London EC1

These next three old signs in Clerkenwell Close are interesting. They are on the former, central storehouse of the Works Department of the London School Board.

STATIONERY DEPT

Ghost sign, Clerkenwell, London

NEEDLEWORK DEPT

Ghost sign, Clerkenwell, London

FURNITURE DEPT

Ghost sign, Clerkenwell, London

And finally for this wander, is an old sign for the

YANNEDIS & CO

BRASS

FOUNDRY

LOCKS

but I struggled to find any information about this ... and it's lunchtime.

Ghost sign, Clerkenwell, London

    

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 Early Morning Urban Wander around Hammersmith and Fulham, London

This is my first post of 2015, so Happy New Year everyone. My first Urban Wander of 2015 took me back to some familiar territory, but as always I spotted new things and things that had changed since my last visit.

The first picture is all about change. The last time I saw this building at Queen's Wharf, it was boarded up, awaiting demolition. My blog post from a few months ago has some pictures before the demolition started. Now the demolition seems well underway and no doubt this will soon become another new, residential development, wiping out all traces of the former industries that used to line the banks of the Thames, leaving just the names to preserve the memory.

Demolition underway at Queen's Wharf, Hammersmith, London

This café looked tempting, but alas my schedule did not allow me sufficient time to visit. Maybe next time.

Café Plum, Chancellor's Street, Hammersmith, London

This next picture is of the old Harrod's Furniture Depository, which is now residential. I have taken pictures of this magnificent building before, but it took on a whole different persona is the early morning sun.

Harrod's Furniture Depository, Fulham Reach, London

This next picture is the view looking along the River Thames towards Fulham and Putney, You can just make out Craven Cottage in the distance.

River Thames, looking towards Fulham and Putney, London

Palace Wharf was build in 1907 and initially started its life for importing marble, later a plaster works making architectural mouldings, and more recently artist studios.

Palace Wharf, Fulham Reach, London

Another view of the Harrod's Furniture Depository, with the remains of some sort of dock or pontoon in the foreground.

Harrod's Furniture Depository, Fulham Reach, London

And we end with a little bit of urban decay and abandonment. I do wonder if this shops is actually still open as I did not peer around the corner, and the signage still looks current and intact.

Boarded up shop, Petley Road, Fulham, London

    

An Urban Wander around Westbourne Grove, London W2

With time enough for a short lunch break one day last week, and still very much inspired by Psychogeography, I paid a visit to some familiar ground and, as always seems to be the case, found a few new things which caught my eye. Starting at the Beany Green café in Sheldon Square, where they make one of the best Flat White coffees I've had, I headed off towards the Westbourne Grove area.

Beany Green Café, Sheldon Square, Paddington, London W2

First up was this quaint, little mews, Bott's Mews, not far off the Westbourne Grove itself.

Bott's Mews, London W2

At the far end of this mews there are paths leading off both left and right. I have walked along the paths before but for some inexplicable reason never seem to have noticed the actual mews before. Maybe because I've never looked at it from this direction before. 

Bott's Mews, London W2

Bott's Mews, London W2

As I drifted along Artesian Road, I caught sight of an old and new sign for Courtnell Street. It wasn't until I had crossed the road and lined up the picture, that I realised that in addition to the ghost sign of the road name, there was also a ghost sign in the glass of the windows too.

ORDERS PROMPTLY DISPATCHED

Ok, so the last word is missing so I have guessed that maybe that's what it would have once said.

Ghost sign in Courtnell Road, London W2

On the other side of the building was more writing,

WINES BEERS

Ghost sign in Courtnell Road, London W2

This next ghost sign is in Powis Mews. I have previously walked along this mews and spotted a ghost sign at the other end, but this was the first time I'd seen this one. This is harder to read than its counterpart at the other end of the mews, but is also for

LEVERWTT & FRYE

Ghost sign in Powis Mews, London W2

No shortage of restaurants, pubs and cafés in this part of around London. Most of them I have never been into, including these two, but they both look good from the outside.

Wildflower Café, Chepstow Road, London W2

The Tin Shed, All Saints Road, London W2

Pub sign, Westbourne Park Road, London W2

Possibly the world's most technically sophisticated toilet which seems to have its own built-in telephone exchange.

Toilet-cum-telephone exchange, Bishop's Bridge Road, London W2

Initially I just thought this was a ghost sign for Alexander Street itself, but beneath that there's also an even older ghost sign for what the road was previously called.

SUTHERLAND
TERRACE

Ghost signs, Alexander Street, London W2

Westbourne Park Passage, London W2

I also noticed quite a few old cars dotted around the streets of W2 and W11. The Citroen is my favourite.

Morris Minor, London W2

Old Citroen, London W2

Old Volvo, London W11