Today is again warm (21° C, 70° F) and cloudless.

The curvaceous tree

We started our ramble by walking round Myddelton Square. On the way I photographed the curvaceous tree. (I think “curvaceous” sounds kinder than “crooked” 🙂 ) We tried to work out what sort of tree it is, neither of us being expert at arboreal recognition. Tigger suggests it is a sycamore.

Myddelton Passage

We walked through Myddelton Passage which the above photo shows. You may remember that this is where Victorian police officers have carved their names and badge numbers in the bricks of the wall on the right.

The Shakespeare’s Head

William Shakespeare looks down benignly from the sign of the pub named in his honour. Unlike some of the other pubs in the area, this one shows no sign of partial re-opening as a takeaway outlet.

Chess board and seats

We took a turn through Spa Green Park. Here there is a permanent chess (or chequers) board with seats. Whether anyone ever uses the board, I do not know. For now it remains as a silent invitation to passers-by.

Sole blossom

This frail but beautiful flower was bouncing in the breeze. It was all by itself, well away from any other flowers, and so was probably seeded by the wind or birds.

Urban landscape

I took this view in the oddly named Wynyatt Street. Apparently, it is named after Compton Wynyates, a Grade I listed Tudor house in Warwickshire. I think the tall building in the centre may be the Peregrine House, that I mentioned in Two pubs no longer pubs.

Cat confined

In Earlstoke Street we spotted this cat surveying the street from an upper window. He seemed to take a great interest in us, perhaps because we were the only moving objects in view. He followed us with his gaze until we were no longer visible.

Midway House

We reached Goswell Road near this formidable-looking apartment block. It’s no doubt quite comfortable inside but the outside does seem (to me, at least) reminiscent of a fortress.

I seem to remember reading somewhere that the name of Goswell derives from “God’s well”, the name of a well once situated somewhere along the street. However, I have not managed to recover the reference (if it exists) and so the information remains subject to verification.

Student Living Heights

This boldly designed building rejoices (if that’s the right word for it) in the somewhat clumsy name of Student Living Heights. Recent years have seen the proliferation of apartment blocks for students so there must be money in developing them. In my student days, we had nothing so grand but lodged in houses with families or individuals who wanted to earn extra money from a spare bedroom. We would not have been able to pay the sort of rents charged in these places (£335 per week).

Looking back along Goswell Road

Here, I am taking a last look back down Goswell Road before the final stretch to Jusaka for our daily ration of coffee.

Our daily walks may not take us far from home or to new and exciting destinations but they at least provide some exercise and a chance to blow away the proverbial cobwebs.

New rules regarding social distancing have been promulgated by the government and although they do not make a huge difference to our lives, they are an indication that the situation is slowly changing. More shops and businesses will be opening and some people currently on furlough or laid off will start returning to work.

The process of a return to something resembling normal is not without its dangers but it has to be undertaken. We can but hope for the best.

Update re Goswell Road, May 30th.

According to Streets with a story, The book of Islington (PDF) by A Willats, Goswell Road “Takes its name from an ancient spring called Godewell (Goodwell) afterwards Godeswell, Gosewell and Goswell”.

However, according to another source, the Wikipedia Street names of Clerkenwell and Finsbury, the origin is disputed, some agreeing with Willat’s etymology and others claiming that the road “was named after a nearby garden called ‘Goswelle’ or ‘Goderell’ which belonged to Robert de Ufford, 1st Earl of Suffolk”.

See both these sources for further details.