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.

    

A return Urban Wander around Brackenbury, London W6

From our offices, I frequently used to take lunchtime wanders out towards Brackenbury, which is a residential area of London with a village-like feel, situated near Hammersmith and Ravenscourt Park. When I looked back through the notes from my various urban wanderings, or dérive, I was surprised to see that I had not been here since 2013. With the weather clear, but crisp and cold, I wrapped up warm and headed out.

It never ceases to amaze me that I always spot something new, even on familiar wanders, and this building was no exception. This is a former mission hall, sitting rather curiously in the middle of a row of neat terraced houses, and now home to the John Campbell Scenic Studio.

John Campbell Scenic Studio, former Mission Hall, Iffley Road, London W6

Not far from Iffley Road, although I'm kicking myself now for not noting down the road name, was an unexpected and isolated piece of street art in an otherwise pristine neighbourhood.

Street art, London W6

I took the photo for the combination of chimneys, towers and scaffolding.

Holy Innocents Church, Dorville Crescent, London W6

I'm now wishing I had taken a picture of the full doors rather than just the stained glass windows.

Stained glass windows, Ravenscourt Park Mansions, London W6

And finally on this short drift, a brightly painted bridge carrying the Piccadilly and District lines. I'm always curious about this road and wonder whether the road itself was dropped beneath the level of the houses to allow higher vehicles to pass beneath. 

London Underground railway bridge, near Ravenscourt Park, London W6

    

A rural bike ride near Long Parish and Whitchurch, Hampshire

Last weekend I was lucky enough to be able to find time to make the most of the dry but cold weather, and took the opportunity for a bike ride down to Whitchurch in Hampshire. I've cycled this route, or more accurately a slightly off road version of it, before but as always each visit reveals new things. The first revelation was a little sad, and that was of yet another closed pub. A couple of summers ago I stopped here mid bike ride for lunch and a pint at the Hurstbourne Inn, in Hurstbourne Priors, but alas those days would now seem to be gone. I also noticed that The Coronation Arms in St. Marybourne had also closed.

The Hurstbourne Inn, Hurstbourne Priors, Hampshire

As my ride continued, I came across more relics of a bygone ear, although these buttresses which supported the bridge carrying the railway line south from Whitchurch towards Winchester would have been closed to business several decades earlier than the pub above.

Buttresses of a former bridge carrying the railway south from Whitchurch

Buttresses of a former bridge carrying the railway south from Whitchurch

Buttresses of a former bridge carrying the railway south from Whitchurch

Buttresses of a former bridge carrying the railway south from Whitchurch

Whitchurch itself is probably about two thirds, or 20 miles, of the way around this particular loop and I'm always pleased to arrive and treat myself to a coffee, and sometimes a cake, at H's. The next two pictures are of the White Hart which I'm pleased to say is still open and sits proudly opposite H's, as I sat on the bench outside the café, sipping my takeaway Americano.

The White Hart, Whitchurch, Hampshire

The White Hart, Whitchurch, Hampshire

    

An Urban Wander from Hammersmith to Latimer Road, London W11

Thanks to the mild weather, I started my 2016 Urban Wandering much earlier than expected. The weather was kind enough at lunchtime today to allow me to get out and about. My drift today took me from Hammersmith up towards Shepherd’s Bush and Latimer Road, the latter of which I have never explored before. En route I passed a building on Woodstock Grove, to the west of the London Overground railway line between Olympia and Shepherd’s Bush. I’ve seen the building and its chimney a few times before but never really stopped to take a look as I’m guessing it must have been largely obscured by trees in leaf. However with the trees more or less bare of leaves I managed a better look, although still slightly distant as it was across the railway tracks. What I particularly noticed was that there were sections of blue paint on the brickwork between each floor. As it would seem very unlikely that they were an original feature, my assumption was that it had been used to cover up some previous signage, most likely some sort of name or advert. As I walked past the building and looked back towards it, I was afforded a glimpse of the side of the building, which confirmed by suspicions and revealed a section of white painted brickwork, with some black lettering still just about visible. I carried out a few cursory internet searches but could not find out any history of the road or its buildings, other than that it now seems to house a few film studios. I have a vague recollection of trying to access this road from the other side but seem to remember it was private – worth another look though now I think.

Chimney on a building in Woodstock Grove, London W12

Chimney on a building in Woodstock Grove, London W12

The ghost sign is just visible behind the trees. Not sure how I could get a closer look as the railway tracks are in between.

Ghost sign on a building in Woodstock Grove, London W12

Heading towards Ladbroke Grove the whole area opened up a little, and although I had wandered there before, I had not really seen this side of it and it was good to connect the dots between my wander today and places I’d visited previously, and certainly not for the first time has provided me with another place to visit again.

Old house, Norland Road, London

Old house, Norland Road, London

There's something about wooden garage doors. I can't put my finger on what it is but I'm hard pushed not to take a photo, or two, each time I see some.

Wooden garage doors, Quensdale Road, London W11

Wooden garage doors, Quensdale Road, London W11

St. James' Gardens, London W11

Following that pleasant enough diversion, I made my way to my destination. I had only ever really seen the Latimer Road area from the Hammersmith and City tube before, and that view only really shows off high rise flats and offices, and as you get nearer to Wood Lane, the Westfield shopping centre. I was quite surprised to find some remnants of earlier times, with a few small terraces and some old buildings like the People’s Hall, Barker and Co Coachbuilders, and the Bramley Arms, all now seemingly serving different purposes to their original intent.

Probably the one of most interest is The People's Hall, which has its relatively recent history made as part of Frestonia, which was the name adopted by the residents of Freston Road when they attempted to secede from the UK in 1977. It's also home to the recording studios where The Clash recorded their Combat Rock album, and Frestonia was the name of the final album by Aztec Camera.

The People's Hall, Freston Road, London W11

The People's Hall, Freston Road, London W11

The People's Hall, Freston Road, London W11

I almost this old sign as the building looked quite new from a distance but as I drew closer I could see it had been renovated.

BARKER & CO (COACHBUILDERS) LTD

Old sign for Barkers Coach Builders, London W11

It's always a shame when a pub is closed and becomes either offices or a residential property, especially one with a history like this. The Bramley Arms was used in the film Quadrophenia, The Lavender Hill Mob, and The Sweeney.

Former pub, the Bramley Arms, Notting Hill, London

Former pub, the Bramley Arms, Notting Hill, London

Finally on my first Urban Wander of 2016, I ended up at Latimer Road tube station on the Hammersmith and City line. There are plenty of elevated sections with similar arches but unfortunately I was running our of time so these will have to wait for another day.

Bridge carrying the Hammersmith and City line, near Latimer Road, London

    

A rural wander around Crux Easton, Hampshire

A complete change of scene, and scenery, for today's post. These pictures were all taken during one of our recent post-Christmas walks, this one being a 5 mile loop around Crux Easton in north Hampshire.

Silhouetted trees in the late afternoon sun 

When this electricity pylon came into view, I was immediately reminded of the cover of the excellent book, The Unofficial Countryside by Richard Mabey.

Electricity pylon with the setting sun

Sunset near Crux Easton

It's been a while since I photographed any decay, dereliction or abandonment, either urban or rural, so here are a few pictures of a slightly forgotten but favourite subject matter.

Rural decay, a broken fence post

Rural decay, a derelict farm building, near Crux Easton

Rural decay, a derelict farm building, near Crux Easton

I must have taken tens of pictures of the sunset today, of which these are my favourites.

Sunset, near Crux Easton

Sunset, near Crux Easton

Sunset, near Crux Easton

There's something about poles and wires disappearing into the distance.

Sunset, near Crux Easton

And finally, the perfect ending to a perfect walk, the last glimpses of the winter sun as it sets behind the windmill at Crux Easton.

Crux Easton Windmill

    

A lunchtime urban wander around West Kensington and Baron's Court, London W14

For what will probably be my last 2015 blog post from an Urban Wander, I return to the Baron's Court / West Kensington area of London, that I managed to not only squeeze in during a lunch break, but also managed to avoid the rain. In fact there were a few rare moments when the sun was actually shining, allowing me to take a couple of pictures of some mansions in Baron's Court with the brickwork beautifully lit.

??? Mansions, West Kensington, London

Faraday Mansions, West Kensington, London

A little further through my wander I came across a mews which I don't recall having seen before, or if I have seen it then I certainly have never photographed it. This is Comeragh Mews, looking magnificent with its cobbled road between the two arches at either end. Unfortunately the light is not too good in either of these pictures, so they look a little drab.

Comeragh Mews, Baron's Court, London W14

Comeragh Mews, Baron's Court, London W14

Occasionally I take pictures of street names, but mainly to remind my increasingly failing memory of the place where I took the photo. However, I thought this was quite an unusual sign so have included it here.

Comeragh Mews, Baron's Court, London W14

In other news, one of my Christmas presents has completely renewed my interest in psychogeography, and that was A London Trilogy: The Films of St. Etienne. It's a great DVD comprising 3 short films, with extra features, of footage from various place in London from the Lea Valley to the South Bank, all set to a wonderful St. Etienne soundtrack. For anyone interested in London past and semi-present, I can't recommend it enough. It's also provided me with a few new references to check out, including Nairn's London, published back in 1968, and also to revisit a DVD I bought in the Spring but have not watched for a while, The London That Nobody Knows.

    

Psychogeography inspired urban wandering around London, various doorway mosaics and ghost signs

Work has been far too busy over the past few weeks, so this is my first post for a while. I thought today I would share some pictures of doorway mosaics and ghost signs taken from a few psychogeography inspired urban wanders around London.

This first doorway mosaic is one I have run past many times as I take an early morning run along to Hyde Park, but I'm usually far too focused on the run, or more likely out of breath to stop and take a photo. The building which this mosaic sits outside of has 3 inset windows or doorways, and each one has the same mosaic

CANDY

Doorway mosaic, Notting Hill Gate, London

This next picture is not a mosaic by any stretch of the imagination, but it does adorn a doorway, and I wonder if maybe there was a mosaic in the lower, inset part at one stage.

JAY

Doorway, Islington, London

No doubt about this one being a mosaic. Not sure what RG stood for though.

RG

Doorway mosaic, Islington, London

I'm sure at one time this would have been a magnificent ghost sign, but I'm struggling to make out any of the words on this one.

Ghost sign, Islington, London