Tigger is going into work today and tomorrow. Without her to encourage me, I tend to stay at home, looking up things on the Internet and not taking any exercise. This is not helped by the cold weather which tempts me to remain at home in the warm.

Today, though, I decided to make an effort and go for a walk. Quite an achievement!

Claremont Square

The temperature has risen to a heady 7°C today but it still feels cold. Bravely, I made my way round Claremont Square. I had an idea where I was going and that helped somewhat. (That and the thought of putting on the heating and making tea on my return home!)

Cruikshank Street

I next entered Cruikshank Street, named after George Cruikshank (1792-1878), an engraver, artist and caricaturist, who lived at several addresses in the neighbourhood.

Bevin Court

At the bottom of this street is a modern residential estate quite pleasantly set amongst greenery. The label st the gate identifies it as “_EVIN COURT” which, bring interpreted, stands for Bevin Court, named after the famous politician and sometime government minister, Ernest Bevin (1881-1951).

I hesitated to walk through the estate in case there wasn’t an exit on the other side but decided to chance it.

Footpath through gardens

Fortunately, there was a short narrow track that led onto a pathway that we had explored before. This took me through gardens with some fine old trees in them and eventually to the street.

Percy Circus, Great Percy Street

The street in question was Great Percy Street which ends in the pleasant square and garden called Percy Circus, where we have sat and enjoyed the calm atmosphere on a number of occasions. The name comes from Robert Percy Smith (1770-1845), lawyer and governor of the New River Company, apparently renowned for his wit and Latin verses.

King’s Cross Road and Penton Rise

A street called Vernon Rise leads down from Percy Circus and brings you to King’s Cross Road at its junction with Penton Rise. I wanted to remain in quieter neighbourhoods but before I turned back, there was something I wanted to see.

King’s Cross Baptist Church

The corner where Vernon Rise meets Penton Rise is occupied by Vernon Square which has a small public garden in it. I had remarked on this garden when we passed this way before but we had not explored it then.

Facing the gardens is the King’s Cross Baptist Church which bears a date of 1933. It replaces the original Vernon Chapel built in 1845.

Vernon Square Garden

I took a look at the garden and was somewhat disappointed to find that it was mostly paved with just a minimal amount of greenery around the edges. Better than nothing, though, I suppose.

An architectural oddity

I climbed back up Vernon Rise and was struck by this building on its corner. It has the general styling of Georgian houses but is a residential apartment or office block, not a house. This must be a later addition, styled to blend in with existing buildings. This is confirmed by something I spotted fixed to the wall between two first-floor windows. Perhaps you can see it in the photo.

Blue plaque to Lenin

It is a blue plaque in memory of Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov Lenin who resided here in 1905. What interested me, however, was the tailpiece of the inscription which reads “Stayed in 1905 at 16 Percy Circus which stood on this site”. This confirmed my contention that the building is (relatively) modern, having been built some time after 1905, replacing the original Georgian style houses. (It goes to show that blue plaques have their uses!)

Mysterious tunnel

Also in Vernon Rise, jarring with the period houses, stands this large complex. What it is I have no idea. This entrance tunnel allows a distant view of an open area. Maybe we’ll explore it another time.

Lonely umbrella. Forgotten? Dumped?

At the entrance to a block of flats in Great Percy Street I spotted this lonely umbrella patiently awaiting its owner beside the entrance. Has it been forgotten? Or perhaps cruelly abandoned? We shall never know!

Inviting steps

When nearly home, I spied these intriguing stairs. Don’t you agree they seem to invite one to climb them and see where they lead? No chance: they are inside the railings enclosing the Claremont Square reservoir and I took the photo by poking my phone between the bars. Not everything is as magical as it seems at first glance!