It was sunny today and quite a bit warmer (around 13°C) than recent days, just the sort of weather for a leisurely walk. The one sour note was that I was on my own because Tigger is working every day this week except one. (The reason for the exception, Thursday, will become apparent nearer the day itself.) This photo shows the conditions.

Sunshine in Myddelton Square

At this point, I had only a vague idea as to where I might be going. I had earlier made a plan but I had already departed from it!

Myddelton Square Gardens

I thought about going into Myddelton Square Gardens but decided against it.

The Shakespeare’s Head

I passed through Myddelton Passage and took a photo of the Shakespeare’s Head pub as I haven’t done so for a while. It is still locked up, of course, hibernating until April 12th, assuming that the proposed timetable for lifting restrictions holds.

Spa Green War Memorial

In Spa Green, I spotted 7 people sitting together on the grass having a picnic. In theory, that’s one more than is currently permitted but I don’t suppose anyone will make a fuss about it. Some of the resident pigeons were enjoying the sunshine from a perch on the war memorial’s angel figure. Others were in the ground finishing of some food that had been left for them.

Old offices of the New River Company

This handsome building, once offices of the New River Company and now residential (I think), is visible for now but soon the fine old trees in front of it will be in leaf and it will disappear behind the foliage.

Old Finsbury Town Hall

The Borough of Finsbury no longer exists, having been absorbed into the London Borough of Islington and its late Victorian (1895), Grade II* listed town hall has been assigned other roles but it continues to exist and charm us with its beautiful design.

Spa Fields Park

I found myself at Spa Fields Park and went inside. Spa Fields was once much more extensive but today only bits remain, the rest having been built on. In Tudor times, it was used for men to practise their archery skills as they were required to do by law. The park was crowded, every bench occupied, and I walked quickly through.

Pigeon feast

I did, however, pause to photograph this group of pigeons enjoying a feast that someone has left for them.

Exmouth Market

Leaving Spa Fields, I soon came to Exmouth Market. The name may seem ambiguous and there is indeed an Exmouth Market in the town of Exmouth but it is an upstart that has existed only since 1980. This is the original Exmouth Market, dating from Victorian times. Like Chapel Market, it is both a road and a street market, the latter operating Monday to Friday, though during the pandemic, the market has been closed.

Fast-food stalls

The only stalls I have seen here during the pandemic are these two selling fast food.

The Exmouth Arms

It is from this pub, the Exmouth Arms, that the street and the market take their name. There has been a pub here from at least the 1820s though the pub we see today is as it was rebuilt in 1915.

Church of the Holy Redeemer”

Opposite the pub is the Italianate style Church of the Holy Redeemer, built 1888. Like all churches – and pubs – it is currently closed.

Cafe Sport Bar, once called Cafe Kick

Walking along Exmouth Market, I encountered the Cafe Sport Bar. It must once have been known as Cafe Kick because, unusually for a cafe, this one has a clock outside, though unfortunately, not in working order. I wonder how a cafe came to have a clock. I speculate that the premises was once occupied by a clockmaker or jeweller and that Cafe Kick, in taking over the premises, had its own name put on the clock. That’s just a guess and it would be interesting to know whether it is correct.

One stall in the market

A little further along, I found one stall in the market, even if it is one belonging to a restaurant. Does that count? I don’t see why not!

My legs were telling me that I had walked a long way and so I entered Amwell Street whose lower end is close to the end of Exmouth Market,

Catholic Church of St Peter and St Paul

Here we find another Church, this one Catholic and dedicated to St Peter and St Paul and closed, like the others, owing to Covid-19. I wonder how many people, previously regular church-goers, are beginning to ask themselves “If we don’t have to go to church during a time of crisis such as this pandemic, do we really need to go the church the rest of the time?” It does rather seem to have made church attendance appear unnecessary.

From here, it was a question of putting my best foot forward (to quote a somewhat strange expression), and climbing the hill to home. I was glad to arrive and rewarded myself with a nice cup of tea.

As I was writing the above, Tigger texted me the glad news that she is on the way home and sent me this photo of the city sunset, taken from the number 100 bus.

City sunset
Photo by Tigger