As it is warmer today and the sun is shining, I thought I would take a longer walk and opted to start along Upper Street, despite the crowds I knew I would find there.

Monument to Sir Hugh Myddelton

I started with a visit to the monument to Sir Hugh Myddelton, instigator of the New River, at Islington Green.

Islington Green

There were plenty of people on the green, some on benches, others sitting on the grass. A typical spring day in the park, one might say.

Islington War Memorial

I took a photo of the Islington War Memorial from the street, for a change of view. From whichever angle you view it, it is a most unusual design for the purpose.

Not the Collins Music Hall

While I was there, I took this not very good photo of the 1897 façade (modified since) behind which stood the premises of Collins Music Hall. The hall burnt down in 1958 and everything behind the façade today is modern. The memory of Collins and his music hall, however, lingers on.

Screen on the Green

Nearby is another famous place of entertainment, extant this one. It is the cinema called Screen on the Green which opened in 1913 and has run continuously ever since.

St Mary’s Church

My next port of call was St Mary’s Church or, rather, the church garden, the church itself being closed and undergoing building works. The church has a long history but much of it was destroyed by bombs in WWII, though the spire survived.

St Mary’s Church Garden

As is the case with most churches in the metropolis, what was originally the burial ground is now a public garden. It contains a number of impressively large old trees and is, all in all, a very pleasant spot on a sunny day.

Old tomb

As is usual, while the smaller gravestones have been uprooted and stacked around the perimeter, a few of the larger tombs have been left in place, like this one. I don’t know how old it is because the inscription has all but eroded away. Missing also are the iron railings that once surrounded it and whose traces remain. I don’t know whether they were stolen by metal thieves or taken for armaments during WWII as were most iron railings and gates.

Squirrel

Almost inevitably, my path was crossed by a squirrel. Sensibly, he didn’t waste time on me but ascended into a tree.

Old Post Office

Opposite the church stands this impressive early 20th-century building that was once our main post office. It fronted an extensive site containing sorting and parcels offices. It has been replaced by a smaller modern shop-front post office and the site here has been redeveloped.

Caryatids

I like these four Classical- style caryatids, seemingly supporting the balcony above them. They add a focal point to the the design of the façade.

Waterloo House

I usually photograph this handsome building which I believe is called Waterloo House, though I know nothing about it.

Waterloo Terrace

Beside the building, I spied a street called Waterloo Terrace and, as I had never walked up it before, I decided to do so now.

Battishill Street Gardens

It wasn’t too much of a surprise when it led me to Battishill Street Gardens. Now, I’n sure you remember what notable artwork is to be found here. As I was here, I went to visit it.

Frieze by Musgrave Watson 1842

It is a frieze sculpted by Musgrave Watson in 1842. More about it and how it came to be here is set out in my post Visiting Musgrave Watson’s sculpture. Battishill Street, incidentally, is named after British composer Jonathan Battishill (1738-1801).

Moon Street

Continuing on, I found another street that was new to me, Moon Street, and entered it. Further on, it makes a right-angled turn to the left which led me into Almeida Street, where the post office’s parcels office used to be. I entered the precinct there and found myself on a broad roadway, part of the redevelopment of the old post office site.

Esther Anne Place

This new road is apparently called Esther Anne Place (no, I don’t know who Esther Anne is, either). It had a new, unlived-in feel to it, almost like a film set.

Back on Upper Street

I eventually emerged once more onto the familiar territory of Upper Street.

Business Design Centre

By now, I was looking forward to sitting down with a nice cup of tea (lockdowns have played havoc with my stamina) and so taking the shortest route home seemed best. I decided to go along beside the Business Design Centre into the Angel Centre opposite Sainsbury’s.

Entering the Angel Centre

I mentioned the Angel Centre and the building work going on in it in a previous post. Unlike then, the decorative lights were not lit today and it was looking dowdy. I hurried on through.

The Angel Wings

I passed by the famous Angel’s Wings into Liverpool Road and thence into Chapel Market.

Chapel Market

Unlike Exmouth Market yesterday, Chapel Market did have some stalls open. I did not tarry, though, but continued on and was soon at home. And yes, I did make myself a cup if tea!

I have often said that I don’t know the names of plants and trees. So Tigger had bought me a present:

Trees

It is a little book for recognising trees. There are lots a pictures to help ignoramuses like me and the book is small – less than 8.5cm by 12cm – so it can be stowed in my handbag. My arboreal education starts here!

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

We did bestir ourselves to go out again after a leisurely lunch. The day was grey and the air chilly, not conducive to long rambles but we made the most of it.

Myddelton’s deli closes at 3pm on Sundays and we left the house at 2:55. No chance of reaching them before they closed, did you say? That’s what I thought but Tigger was determined so we hurried along, not helped by slow moving pedestrians in our path.

If truth be told, we reached Myddelton’s a little after 3pm but luck was with us: there were customers still inside the shop and as they left, we rushed in.

Although it was a little chilly, as I have said, when Tigger proposed to take our coffee to our favourite spot, Percy Circus, I agreed.

Flowers by Tigger

I was carrying the coffee and so did not take any photos but Tigger did and captured these beautiful flowers.

Meditative cat
Photo by Tigger

In Prideaux Place, we came upon this feline neighbour sitting meditatively in a small garden. We spoke to him politely but received no response so we left him to his meditations.

“Fried egg” flower
Photo by Tigger

Also in Prideaux Place, Tigger took photos of some white flowers whose name we do not know but that she jokingly calls “Fried Egg Flowers”, for obvious reasons.

From “our” bench in Percy Circus

Arriving in Percy Circus, we found “our” bench unoccupied (in fact, all the benches were unoccupied) and from there I took the above video.

A farewell shot of the lovely Percy Circus

Having consumed our coffee and enjoyed the view and the peaceful atmosphere, we started back, passing through Bevin Court, as the path there is prettier than the road, passing as it does through gardens.

Pretty white flowers

I was enchanted by these tiny white flowers growing in a hedge.

White and delicate

This close-up shows how delicate they are, each perfect in its kind. As usual, I don’t know what they are called.

Squirrel

Then we spotted a pair of squirrels chasing one another. Was it aggression or play? It’s hard to know but first one chased the other then the chased one turned and chased the chaser. One disappeared while the other remained on a tree trunk watching us. Having decided we were not interesting, he disappeared into the foliage.

Bevin Court, a cliff of apartments

Bevin Court is quite a large development and I took this photo because I am impressed by what resembles a cliff of apartments. What is it like to live here, I wonder, in one flat ensconced among many others? I suppose it is agreeable enough as long as your neighbours are well behaved and not unduly noisy. Otherwise, I imagine it could be hell on earth.

Flowers by Tigger

Tigger spotted these flowers in a small plot in front of a house. They combine to make a very colourful and cheering display.

Squirrel observing us

Crossing through Pentonville Road, we met another squirrel and stopped to watch. He remained still for a while, observing us. This seems to be typical behaviour of town squirrels because there is always a chance that these pesky humans will have food to offer.

Squirrel departs

Having decided we had nothing to give him, the squirrel departed to get on with life elsewhere.

As for us, we continued on our way home to continue our Sunday in comfort in the warm.

Today, being dies dominicum, according to the Emperor Constantine, or, in our own debased but expressive tongue, Sunday, we set out just after 11am for Sainsbury’s to do our weekly shopping.

Chapel Market, closed to vehicles

As usual, we passed through Chapel market where these barriers were in position. Chapel Market leads an ambiguous existence as both a market and a one-way street open to motor vehicles. On Mondays, when the market is closed, it becomes an ordinary street with vehicles passing along it or parking while their drivers visit the shops. On Tuesday to Saturday, the lower half (to the right in the photo) is occupied by stalls and is therefore impassable to motor vehicles but the upper half (to the left) is empty and vehicles can drive through it. On Sundays, this section is occupied by the stalls of the Farmers’ Market and, for safety’s sake, the barriers are out in place to exclude vehicles.

In Sainsbury’s, we each sped off to collect our own list of items, thus reducing the amount of time we spend in the shop. After this we were lucky to find a checkout where a customer had just left.

Though it seems ungallant, on exiting the store, I leave Tigger with the shopping trolley and a supplementary bag, and hurry off to Mercer’s.

Near one of the fruit and vegetable stalls, I again saw this antique market barrow. One day, in the unlikely event that the stall is not busy, I will ask how old it is and for how many generations in has been in their family. Until then, I can only make (probably inaccurate) guesses as to its age.

This is the fruit & veg stall in question, doing a good trade, as always.

When I reached Mercer’s, I found that there were several customers ahead of me and some of these were ordering food as well as drinks. It was going to be a bit of a wait. I tried to be patient by telling myself that it was good that they were busy as that would ensure their survival to continue supplying us with coffee! Did it work? Well, partly. I tried to entertain myself by watching activity inside and outside the shop.

Outside, as usual, was the stall selling plants. It was quite busy, suggesting that gardeners are setting their gardens in order for the new season, is this where people come to buy plants for the window boxes I have mentioned in my posts? Quite possible, I suppose.

While I was in Mercer’s, Tigger was waiting patiently outside. I waved to her a couple of times to let her know it was busy but she could see this for herself.

At last, our order was ready and we hurried off home with it.

What shall we do after lunch? The weather looks a bit iffy but perhaps we shall go out for another walk. If so, I shall be sure to let you know! 🙂

As the title says, it’s a cloudy and chilly day. (Have you noticed that how cold you feel doesn’t necessarily correspond to how cold the thermometer thinks you should feel?) I think we would both have been happy to stay at home in the warm like two hibernating field mice but, happily, a desire for a coffee reward persuaded us to confront the Outside!

Tailbacks still

In passing through Pentonville Road, we saw that the traffic is still obstructed by the seemingly never-ending works, reduced to tailbacks and a slow crawl to the lights at the junction.

Bushy window box

As our walk to Myddelton’s was through very familiar territory, I did rather binge on window boxes and while some of them I had already, there seemed to be more than before. Perhaps they have declared “Window Box Season”. I collected a few samples.

Fine letterbox and lion knocker

I paused at this door because I have admired the letterbox several times in passing. Unfortunately, its details don’t show up well in the photo. I also like the lion door knocker. This design is traditional and very many houses in the neighbourhood have them in various styles. They would make an interesting study of their own. Lion decorations abound in the area and not only as door knockers.

Small but colourful

There are many different styles of window box displays, from the small and neat but colourful, like this one, to the big, bushy ones that seem to be trying to burst out of the confinement of their boxes.

The Circling Cyclist

And, yes: we again saw her whom I have for now denominated “The Circling Cyclist”, cycling round and round Myddelton Square. She was wearing her familiar red top but with a jacket over it today. She too must be feeling the chill in the air.

Variation on a theme

At this house, instead of a window box, they have plants in pots. Does that work? Maybe, but I think I prefer a well arranged box which is more like a miniature garden.

Talking of which, I wonder whether any of you remember the fad for “Chinese gardens” that swept through the nation in the decades after the war. Such a “garden” was a miniature, planted in a bowl, with tiny cactus plants and decorations such as a mirror, half-buried to represent a pond, and tiny porcelain figures such as pagodas, bridges and even diminutive human figures. The inspiration, I think, was the traditional willow pattern crockery. As with most of these fads, everyone seemed to have a “Chinese garden” at one point and then, suddenly, they all disappeared.

The family bicycle

We stopped to admire this very adapted bicycle, no doubt intended as transport for one parent and several children. The bicycle you can see chained to the area steps is perhaps the other parent’s vehicle. It too has been adapted though not as extensively.

Mainly foliage

This box with trailing stems (ivy?) contains mainly foliage but there look to be some flowers beginning to show as well.

My mother was superstitious about many things and ivy was one of them. You could not take ivy into the house or it would bring bad luck, according to her belief. Presumably, ivy in a window box outside is not a danger.

Still circling

Talking of bicycles (well, we were a moment ago), here comes the Circling Cyclist again. I don’t know how many circuits she does but this was one of the last for today – we later saw her parking her cycle in front of one of the houses in the square. I’m pretty sure she saw me photographing her but she didn’t react so perhaps she’s used to it.

Pretty flowering window box

This was perhaps my favourite of the boxes we saw today but, then, red is my favourite colour. No trailing greenery here, just a good display of pretty flowers.

Pennies Vintage
Photo by Tigger

On the way home, we passed in front of Pennies Vintage and, as I was carrying the coffee, Tigger took a photo for me. During lockdown, the shop has been closed, as was to be expected, but today the door was open and some of the stock was outside. I don’t think the shop was open for business, perhaps just getting ready for April 12th when, if all goes to plan, “non-essential” shops will open again.

Here, to end with, are some flowers from Tigger, photographed in Inglebert Street.

Flowers from Tigger