Old signage on the Hugh Myddelton School and the London School Board's Warehouse, Clerkenwell, London

 Up in London for the weekend, we found ourselves with some time to wander around Clerkenwell before our Migrateful cookery class started, we came across what was once a massive school, the Hugh Myddelton School. Originally opened in 1893, it closed in 1971 and was converted into flats in 1999.

 The former Hugh Myddelton School, Clerkenwell, London

As well as the rather obvious main building, there are plenty of other tell-tale signs pointing back to its history as a school. Firstly the entrance for the SCHOOL KEEPER.

The Schoolkeeper's Entrance, Hugh Myddelton School, Clerkenwell, London

The Schoolkeeper's Entrance, Hugh Myddelton School, Clerkenwell, London

The school entrance for SPECIAL GIRLS

The Special Girls Entrance, Hugh Myddelton School, Clerkenwell, London

The Special Girls Entrance, Hugh Myddelton School, Clerkenwell, London

The entrance for GIRLS & INFANTS

The Girls & Infants Entrance, Hugh Myddelton School, Clerkenwell, London

The COOKERY & LAUNDRY

The Cookery & Laundry, Hugh Myddelton School, Clerkenwell, London

The Cookery & Laundry, Hugh Myddelton School, Clerkenwell, London

Close to the school are the former premises of the London School's Board (LSB) warehouse, with its own reminders of the building's former purpose.

Needlework Dept., London School Board, Clerkenwell, London

Needlework Dept., London School Board, Clerkenwell, London

Stationery Dept., London School Board, Clerkenwell, London

Stationery Dept., London School Board, Clerkenwell, London

As always, thanks for reading, and stay tuned for more posts hopefully coming soon.

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

    

Urban Wandering: Clerkenwell, London EC1

Despite having wandered around London for many years now, it never ceases to amaze me that there are still so many parts of it that I've not seen. I'm not talking about the odd street here and there, but whole areas that my wanders have yet to take me to. This week it was Clerkenwell, which sits to the south east of King's Cross, more or less due south from the Angel. This walk however was more of a wander with a purpose as opposed to a drift, as I needed to get to an appointment. My route weaved a little bit as I found myself sucked into interesting looking side streets, parks, etc., but definitely plenty of scope for a return visit.

This first picture is of an old sign, not really sure if I can call it a ghost sign, with manicule, on Old Street, advertising the Finsbury Van & Wheel Works.

Ghost sign for Finsbury Van and Wheel Works, Old Street, London EC1

I didn't manage to get the name of this mews, and the maps I've looked at have not helped much, but I think it may be between St. John Street and Woodbridge Street.

A quiet mews, Clerkenwell, London EC1

I can never resist an angled building on a street corner, so was very pleased to find this one on the corner of Sekforde Street.

Sekforde Street, Clerkenwell, London EC1

St. James Church sits just to the north of Clerkenwell Green, which bizarrely is not green at all. Beyond the church were a series of small, twisty roads but for some reason these pictures were all too dark so none to share I'm afraid.

 St. James Church, Clerkenwell, London EC1