IMAGES CAN BE ENLARGED WITH A CLICK, THAT CAN BE REPEATED IF REQUIRED
Steady rain today sent me to my colour slide archives, specifically to the Streets of London series from July 2005.
Ruskin’s Café on the corner of Museum Street and Little Russell Street WC1 is a popular source of, among other meals, a good English breakfast. Imago Mundi, dealers in antique maps is no longer next door. The shop takes its name from the Babylonian Map of the World, the oldest such, residing in the British Museum around the corner. Are the couple in the foreground still together, I wonder?
I was intrigued by the collage of reflections in the windows of Konaki Greek Restaurant, a family run taverna in the parallel Coptic Street.
Here is an extract from the website of the Cock and Lion in Wigmore Street, W1:
‘The Cock and Lion is on Wigmore Street just two minutes walk from the world famous Oxford Strret. Yet as soon as you enter its premises the first thing you notice is the ambience – something money can’t buy. The warm and inviting atmosphere is so apparent that you cannot help but grin on entering – a “must” for anybody from the local, to the business associate to family diners.
We are also uniquely situated on one of Londons most historic sites. This area was settled in Roman times and the corner of Wigmore Street and Marylebone lane beside the old River Tyburn. The river flows south from Hampstead through Marylebone and crosses Oxford Street near the bottom of Marylebone Lane, on it’s way down to the Thames. At the point where the river crosses Oxford Street was the village of Tyburn notorious from the 14th to 17th century for it’s connection with gallows. Boswell and Dr. Johnson would have visited this area as we know from their writing. Many infamous heads have rolled at these gallows including highwaymen, common miscreants and thieves, courtiers and clergy.’
According to https://www.hdwe.co.uk/about-marylebone-history.aspx ‘The Ossington Buildings estate, off Moxon Street, was built between 1888 and 1892 to house some of the area’s working class poor, who had previously lived at the same site in miserable slum dwellings.’ Kay and Company have a two bedroomed much modernised flat currently on their site advertised at £745 per week.
The rather new wall in Crinian Street N1, behind the hard-working gentleman sweltering on hardcore, has already been daubed upon.
Crumbles Castle free Adventure Playground must have been undergoing some construction work when I wandered past it, because it was barricaded off.
The UK HQ of the International WOSEM Christ Apostolic Church has its accommodation in what must once have been an Anglican place of worship in Gifford Street N7;
whereas another church in Offord Road N1 now sells paint. The Transco sign at bottom left would suggest there had been a suspected gas leak.
Roman Pizza apparently serves pizza in the Roman Way.
During all the years I walked past this abandoned property on the corner of St Clement’s Street N7 on my way to Parents for Children, I never saw any activity there. I wonder what it is like today?
Jackie answered this question the next morning by doing the Google Walk.
Back in WC1, what looks like a purple towel provides a touch of colour to the facade of a building in Mecklenburgh Square;
and the resident of a property in Ampton Street dries washing on the windowsill.
This evening we dined on seconds of Jackie’s superb beef pie, creamy mashed potato, and crunchy carrots, cauliflower and broccoli. Jackie drank Peroni and I finished the Malbec.
Another fun London tour, Derrick. It would be fun to eat in those restaurants. 🙂
I’ve certainly heard of the gallows at Tyburn. I’ve read that it was even marked on maps.
Many thanks, Merril. Tyburn certainly was a place of note
Interesting neighborhood.
Many thanks, Luanne
Now you have me curious about the Roman pizza. Thanks for taking us to the streets, Derrick. It’s always a pleasure!
I always think of you when I go there, Jill. Many thanks
It’s nice to be thought of. 🙂 Thank you.
Another great tour, wonderful photos and descriptions
Thanks very much, Lynn
I like how you took photos from your past areas of walking. That mess on the sidewalk and in front of the building was sad to see. Parents for Children sounds like a great program!
In our country, I used to attend Parents without Partners. They had interactive programs where you could bring children and have them meet other children being raised by only one parent.
Your commenting on the street, restaurant and other sights’ possibilities were filled with interesting observations. This was fun to read, Derrick. 🙂
Thanks very much, Robin. That was quite a sought after residential area, too. Your Parents without Partners looks a good project, as well.
Not to be putting a dampener on your weather Derrick, but I enjoy your rainy days when you are able to post your older slides.
🙂 That made me smile, Ivor. There are likely to be a few more coming up
😊
A fascinating series of photographs, Derrick. They took me back to my own SOAS student days spent in and around Russell Square, Bloomsbury, etc. Thanks so much for posting.
Many thanks, Roland. I trust you are OK
Yes, thanks, Derrick. I have plenty of family support (3 daughters, 5 granddaughters, 3 great granddaughters). Funeral on 1st May – have had to wait 4 weeks!
I wish you well with it
I enjoyed the tour and the pictures.
Thanks a lot, Andrew
Wow, to find a shop that deals in Antique Maps would keep me occupied for weeks, great info post Derrick.
Cheers
Thanks a lot, Ian
I could not help but grin at the self promotion of Messers Cock and Lion. I wonder if the name has a historical reference. I am surprised to learn you were still shooting slides in 2012! Do you still use film? My F80 is little else than an exotic toy on the mantelpiece of the audio-visual assemblage.
Thanks a lot, Uma. You weren’t to know, but you picked up an error. Although I was still shooting film during the first part of 2012, these were done in 2005! Now corrected. Your flu is either better, or hasn’t hampered your brain 🙂 In fact, when I moved to WordPress in May 2012, I used digital for the first time, because of the need for same day delivery 🙂 The Cock and Lion website was definitely worth a grin
Ha ha! The flu is unclasping its vicious hold on my sponge…
🙂
A great shot of the worker and the graffiti. 🙂 … we’re again in the depths of rain here too. Must be a Northern Hemisphere thing. 🙂
I liked that, too – like someone had outlined him in his work. : )
Well observed, Jodie
Thanks very much, Widders. Even more erratic a month than usual over here
Another great London tour. Well done Jackie on the Googling – interesting to see the current building. 🙂
Many thanks, Quercus. She’s far better than me on Google maps
They are fascinating things. I’ve revisited my childhood through Google maps.