Urban Wandering: Rossmore Road, London NW1

Having walked many times in most of the different directions from my London office, I was looking over a map of the surrounding area, trying to find somewhere new that was do-able in an hour. Almost immediately Rossmore Road leapt out of the page at me. I have absolutely no idea how I remember this, as I only ever recall hearing the song a few times on the radio back in 1980, probably courtesy of John Peel, but the one time member of XTC and Shriekback, Barry Andrews' song, Rossmore Road, was firmly back in my mind, and I could even remember the tune (in parts). So this was an urban wander with a purpose as opposed to the usual drift.

Street sign for Rossmore Road, London NW1

Rossmore Road, London NW1

The opening line of the songs is "The 159 runs along it" ... as true today as it was back in 1980.

Bus stop on Rossmore Road, London NW1

"Next stop on the tube
Marylebone Road
And you can see
Balcombe Street from Rossmore Road"

Ok, a bit of poetic license here as this is Marylebone train station as opposed to the tube station, and the road is Boston Road (Balcombe Street is the next one along).

View of Marylebone Station from Rossmore Road, London NW1

If you've never heard this song before then I urge you to check it out, and if you've never listened to XTC or Shriekback either, well, what can I say ... start with Fossil Fuel and work outwards and onwards from there.

    

Urban Wandering: King's Cross to Oxford Circus

My second urban wander of the week, my first being around Limehouse, took me from King's Cross to Oxford Circus. Admittedly the title does not sound that inspiring, but this was not a wander along the main roads, nor through the areas heaving with office workers, lunchtime shoppers and tourists. As soon as I had climbed the steps out of King's Cross tube station, I crossed the main road and made straight for the quieter streets, heading off in a south westerly direction. I had no real idea of where I was going today, but just decided to zig-zag my way towards somewhere I could catch a tube or bus back to the office. Initially this took me through quite a residential part of London, with a surprising number of green spaces. Pleasant though this was, it was not was I was really looking for, so I continued my diagonal wander until I found an intriguing series of mews and passageways. Being lunchtime however, and being in quite a busy area of London, many of these narrow passageways were filled with a constant stream of people so, feeling a little over conspicuous, I shied away from taking too many photos where there were people about. Those pictures I did take were of mews and passageways a little more off the beaten track, so unfortunately no pictures of Percy Passage this time. I opted instead to duck into Gower Mews, and after a few minutes waiting for the guy in the luminous jacket to get out of the shot, I eventually snapped this, unfortunately rather grey, picture.

Gower Mews, London WC1

Street sign, Gower Mews, London WC1

Marylebone Passage, London W1

For me Marylebone Passage was the highlight of today's Urban Wander, and in particular this ghost sign for a company called Pring and Rose, for Showcards, Ticket Writers and Printers.

Ghost sign for Pring and Rose, Showcards, Ticket Writers and Printers, Marylebone Passage, London W1

Street sign, Marylebone Passage, London W1

So, here ends the second consecutive week where I managed two urban wanders. I'm on leave next week and although not going away anywhere, am hoping to still have the opportunity to find some space - whether urban, rural or coastal will depend on the weather. Stay tuned.

    

Urban Wandering: the Great Wall of Marylebone

Despite being somewhat disappointed today that after a clear blue morning, lunchtime was overcast, I decided to venture out regardless for a bit more urban exploration. My wanderings today took me across from Paddington towards the area adjacent to Marylebone station. Whilst of course Marylebone station looks rather grand from the front, what I've always liked about it is the perimeter wall to the east of the station, that flanks the rail lines as they head on up through West Hampstead, Buckinghamshire and further afield.

The eastern perimeter wall of Marylebone Station, Boston Place, London.

 

Ghost street sign, Boston Place, Marylebone, London.

I wonder if these muse style houses in Boston Place opposite the great wall were perhaps railway worker's houses at one time.

Old houses in Boston Place, Marylebone, London.

Alleyway off Huntsworth Mews, Marylebone, London.

Still with a great thirst for my rekindled passion, I have now finished Merlin Coverley's Psychogeography. I won't say I found it an easy read, but it was full of information that I can see myself returning to as I get deeper into the subject. I've now moved on to my next psychogeography related books, and following some sound advice have decided to read them simultaneously as one requires a bit more concentration than the other. The first of the two books is Brendon Chase, by Denys Watkins-Pitchford, which is children's story written way back in 1944, and referenced in Edgelands which I have also recently finished reading. As you might imagine, written back in 1944 it's not particularly politically correct by today's standards, but so far it's been a great read and almost makes me wish that all the passive entertainment of games consoles, mobile phones and DVD's were not so readily available, and kids had to go out and explore more. My second book, the one requiring more concentration, is Lights Out for the Territory, by Iain Sinclair. I have only read the first few pages of this, and was tired at the time, so this is definitely one to read with my morning cup of tea, as opposed to my bed time cocoa.

    

Urban Wandering: Oldbury Place, London W1

Despite the train chaos in and out of Paddington today, caused by flooding and landslides in Somerset and Devon, I managed to escape for an hour at lunchtime to make the most of the beautifully crisp, clear day. I tramped my way through some pretty familiar territory around Marylebone High Street but stumbled across a small street I must have walked past many times but never explored, Oldbury Place. I particularly liked the curve of the street as it opened up to reveal a broader area, not quite a square though. Unfortunately the area was full of parked cars so no pictures of that I'm afraid.

Oldbury Place, London W1

I also liked the contrast of the orange (perhaps rusty?) roof girders against the blue sky that greeted me as I made my way down the street and looked right just before it curved away.

Oldbury Place, London W1

 Oldbury Place, London W1